United States laws currently establish eleven public holidays for Federal employees. Most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. Therefore, if the holiday falls on Saturday the holiday is observed on Friday. And, if the holiday falls on Sunday, it is observed on Monday.
Official federal holidays 2024
Listed below are the 11 Federal Holidays for 2024 (opm.gov). If a federal holiday fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
- Monday, January 01, 2024: New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 15, 2024 (3rd Monday): Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- *Monday, February 19, 2024 (3rd Monday): Washington’s Birthday (aka Presidents Day)
- Monday, May 27, 2024 (last Monday): Memorial Day
- Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Thursday, July 04, 2024: Independence Day
- Monday, September 02, 2024 (1st Monday): Labor Day
- **Monday, October 14, 2024 (2nd Monday): Columbus Day aka Discoverers’ Day
- Monday, November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 28, 2024 (4th Thursday): Thanksgiving Day
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Christmas Day
*Washington’s Birthday is the federally recognized holiday though many locations use Presidents Day, President’s Day, or Presidents’ Day.
**Columbus Day is the federally recognized holiday since it was adopted in 1937. Federal facilities such as federal courts and post offices are closed as these employees take a federally mandated holiday off from work. However, many states have adopted other observations. In 1989, South Dakota became the first state to celebrate Native American Day instead of Columbus Day. In Hawaii, Discoverers’ Day is observed on the second Monday in October, although it is not an official state holiday. Therefore, state facilities (such as DMV, public schools, and libraries) are open as usual. It’s a tiny bit confusing, but not by much. More info: Polynesian Discoverers’ Day in the Hawaiian Islands (2nd Monday in October)
What’s closed and open on federal holidays
Listed below are businesses that typically close and those that remain open on federal holidays. Many non-government businesses also observe the federal holiday schedule. Of course, for many retail, restaurant, and public service employees (such as park personnel, bus drivers, and other public-facing employees), it’s a regular workday—usually with holiday or overtime pay.
- Closed: All federal government facilities. Post offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. A few private schools or other businesses may close or reduce hours in observance of the day.
- Open: All state facilities such as DMV, public schools and libraries, plus retail stores, shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, parks and botanical gardens, and municipal golf courses are open.
Garbage collection:
- County of Hawai‘i does not provide curbside collection. Recycling and Land Fill locations are closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or designated emergencies such as natural disasters.
- Kauai Solid Waste Division collects five days a week including holidays.
- Maui, Lanai, Molokai: follow the Residential-Refuse-Pick-up-Holiday-Schedule (mauicounty.gov)
- County of Honolulu Curbside Collection/Schedules (opala.hnl.info) is normal on all holidays except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (then it is one day later). More info: ʻŌpala, i.e. garbage (honolulu.gov)
Public Transportation:
- Hawai’i Island Hele-On Bus operates on a Sunday schedule on County observed holidays: Holiday Schedule | HI Mass Transit Agency.
- Kauaʻi Bus operates daily, including most holidays. See Kauai Bus Schedules or use free TheKauaiBus app for real-time updates.
- Maui Bus operates 7 days a week, including holidays. See Maui Web Bus Schedule or use the Live App.
- Oʻahu | TheBus varies per holiday and operates on a Saturday, Sunday, or State Holiday schedule. See TheBus Holidays
Depositphotos_100934070_l-2015 American flag closeup
Official federal holidays 2025
Listed below are the 11 Federal Holidays for 2025 (opm.gov). If a federal holiday fall on a Saturday or Sunday, it is usually observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
- Monday, January 01, 2025: New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 20, 2025 (3rd Monday): Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- *Monday, February 20, 2025 (3rd Monday): Washington’s Birthday (aka Presidents’ Day)
- Monday, May 26, 2025 (last Monday): Memorial Day
- Thursday, June 19, 2025: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Friday, July 4, 2025: Independence Day
- Monday, September 2, 2025 (1st Monday): Labor Day
- **Monday, October 13, 2025 (2nd Monday): Columbus Day aka Discoverers’ Day
- Tuesday, November 11, 2025: Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 27, 2025 (4th Thursday): Thanksgiving Day
- Thursday, December 25, 2025: Christmas Day
*Washington’s Birthday is the federally recognized holiday though many locations use Presidents, President’s, or Presidents’ Day.
**Columbus Day is the federally recognized holiday since it was adopted in 1937. Federal facilities such as federal courts and post offices are closed as these employees take a federally mandated holiday off from work. However, many states have adopted other observations. In 1989, South Dakota became the first state to celebrate Native American Day instead of Columbus Day. In Hawaii, Discoverers’ Day is observed on the second Monday in October, although it is not an official state holiday. Therefore, state facilities (such as DMV, public schools, and libraries) are open as usual. It’s a tiny bit confusing, but not by much. More info: Polynesian Discoverers’ Day in the Hawaiian Islands (2nd Monday in October)
Event calendar of free and affordable things to do
Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do across the Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina.
Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.
Find more free and cheap events, discounts, and deals at Hawaiʻi on the Cheap – affordable living and things to do (hawaiionthecheap.com)
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