The Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr is a federal holiday, always celebrated on the third Monday in January. The holiday is a celebration of Dr. King’s immeasurable contribution to the United States and to humankind.
- Martin Luther King Jr Day will be celebrated on January 16, 2023.
The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968) was an American Baptist minister and leader of the modern American Civil Rights Movement from December 1955 until he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Dr. King is regarded as one of the greatest non-violent leaders in world history, advancing civil rights and legal equality through civil disobedience. His non-violent methods were inspired by his Christian beliefs and the activism of Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) who employed non-violent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule in 1930.
Dr. King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. (YouTube link below), his 1963 manifesto “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” in Alabama, and his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize lecture “The quest for peace and justice” in Oslo, Norway, are among the most revered orations and writings in the English language.
Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” banner via Depositphotos_137777500
What’s closed and open on Martin Luther King Jr Day 2023
Closed: All government facilities, non-retail businesses or services (banks, offices, etc.), public libraries, and community centers. Post offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. For parking lots and meters, check signage and follow restrictions on days and hours.
Open: Retail stores, shopping malls, grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, restaurants, movie theaters, parks, and golf courses are open. Garbage collection is normal.
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 Holiday Schedule for federal and state holidays.
- 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 will operate on Holiday schedule for Martin Luther King Jr Day, January 16, 2023. See TheBus – Routes & Timetables
2023 Federal Holiday Dates
Listed below are the 11 Federal Holidays for 2023 (opm.gov)
- *Monday, January 2: New Year’s Day – observed (January 1)
- Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
- **Monday, February 20: Presidents’ Day aka Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day (4th Monday in May)
- Monday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day
- Monday, September 4: Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- ***Monday, October 9: Discoverers’ Day aka Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- *Friday, November 10: Veteran’s Day – observed (November 11)
- Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday)
- Monday, December 25: Christmas Day
*When federal holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
**Washington’s Birthday is the federally recognized holiday though many locations use President’s Day
***Columbus Day is still the federally recognized holiday though many states have adopted other names
2023 Hawaii State Holidays
Hawaiʻi State Government offices and facilities observe the following state holidays. Public schools are closed on Prince Kūhiō Day and Good Friday (they are not in session during summer). Federal offices are open. Retailers and the community have special celebrations.
- *Monday, March 27: Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Day – observed (26th of March)
- Friday, April 7: Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
- *Monday, June 12: King Kamehameha I Day – observed (11th day of June)
- Friday, August 18: Statehood Day (3rd Friday in August)
*When state holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
More info: https://dhrd.hawaii.gov/state-observed-holidays/
2023 Other Holidays & Special Events
- Sunday, January 22, 2023: Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit (or Cat for Vietnamese Tet)
- Monday, February 2: Groundhog Day – six more weeks of winter if sunny or an early spring if cloudy
- Sunday, February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ
- Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day
- Tuesday, February 21: Mardi Gras
- Tuesday, March 7: Holi (Festival of Colors)
- Sunday, March 12: Daylight Savings time begins (2nd Sunday)
- Friday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
- Monday, March 20: Spring equinox
- Thursday, March 23: Ramadan begins (ends Saturday, April 22 with Eid al-Fitr)
- Wednesday, April 5: Passover begins at sundown
- Sunday, April 9: Easter Sunday
- Monday, April 17: Federal Income Tax Day
- Monday, May 1: Lei Day
- Friday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- Sunday, May 14: Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)
- Wednesday, June 21: Summer solstice
- Sunday, June 18: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June)
- Friday, September 22: Autumn equinox
- Tuesday, October 31: Halloween
- Wednesday, November 1: Day of the Dead
- Sunday, November 5: Daylight Savings ends (1st Sunday)
- Friday, November 24: Black Friday aka Native American Heritage Day (day after Thanksgiving)
- Friday, December 7: Chanukah (Hanukkah) begins at sundown
- Thursday, December 21: Winter solstice
- Sunday, December 24: Christmas
- Tuesday, December 26: First day of Kwanzaa
- Sunday, December 31: New Year’s Eve
Event calendar for MLK weekend
Listed below are events on our calendar for the weekend leading up to Martin Luther King Jr Day.
Friday, January 13, 2023
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr
Monday, January 16, 2023
For more things to do anytime, see our calendar of free and cheap things to do every day (hawaiionthecheap.com)
multiple locations
