Besides federal government and Hawaii State employee holidays there are many other holidays, observances, and special events that occur throughout the year. Popular holidays are often recognized by communities with celebrations such as festivals, parades, shopping discounts, and other revelry.
2024 Holidays & Observances
Listed below are current year dates for federal holidays (in bold) along with Hawaii State holidays and popular public observances. For religious holidays, we focus on secular or public events, or simply mark the date with well wishes for observers in our community.
- Monday, January 01, 2024: New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 15, 2024: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Friday, February 2, 2024: Groundhog Day
- Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 3:30 PST: Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. Usher to perform halftime show.
- Tuesday February 13, 2024: Mardi Gras aka Malasada Day
- Wednesday, February 14, 2024: Valentine’s Day
- *Monday, February 19, 2024: Washington’s Birthday (aka Presidents’ Day)
- Saturday, February 24, 2024: Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon
- Sunday, March 10, 2024: Ramadan begins at sundown (ends Monday, April 9 with Eid al-Fitr)
- Sunday, March 17, 2024: St. Patrick’s Day
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024: Spring equinox
- Monday, March 24, 2024: Holi (Festival of Colors)
- Tuesday, March 26, 2024: Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Day
- Friday, March 29, 2024: Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
- Sunday, March 31, 2024: Easter
- Monday, April 15, 2024: Federal Income Tax Day
- Monday, April 22, 2024: Passover begins before sundown (end after nightfall April 30)
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024: Lei Day
- Sunday, May 5, 2024: Cinco de Mayo
- Sunday, May 12, 2024: Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)
- Monday, May 27, 2024: Memorial Day
- Tuesday, June 11, 2024: King Kamehameha I Day
- Sunday, June 16, 2024: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June)
- Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Thursday, June 20, 2024: Summer solstice
- Thursday, July 04, 2024: Independence Day
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024: Ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Restoration Day) – first National Holiday of the Hawaiian kingdom
- Friday, August 16, 2024: Statehood Day (3rd Friday in August)
- Monday, September 2, 2024: Labor Day
- Sunday, September 22, 2024: Autumn equinox
- **Monday, October 14, 2024: Columbus Day (not observed in Hawaii, replaced with Discoverers’ Day)
- Thursday, October 31, 2024: Halloween
- Saturday, November 2, 2024: Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
- Tuesday, November 5, 2024: General Election Day (First Tuesday in November following the first Monday of even numbered years)
- Monday, November 11, 2024: Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 28: La Kuokoa (Hawaiian Independence Day) – second National Holiday of the Hawaiian kingdom
- Thursday, November 28, 2024: Thanksgiving Day
- Friday, November 29, 2024 Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving)
- Friday, December 20, 2024: Winter solstice
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Christmas Day
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Chanukah (Hanukkah) begins before sundown (ends January 2, 2025 at nightfall)
- Thursday, December 26, 2024: First day of Kwanzaa (ends January 1, 2025)
- Tuesday, December 31, 2024: New Year’s Eve
*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)
You will find these holidays and any other observances and special events on our Calendar of free and cheap things to do every day (hawaiionthecheap.com).
Porcupine puffer fish photo by NKay via iStock by Getty Images
Annual list of Public Holidays & Observances
The following is a generalized list of holidays and other observances that we publish every year. The eleven federal holidays are listed in bold font.
For a list of dates for the holidays this year, scroll down to list below.
- January 1st: New Year’s Day
- January (3rd Monday): Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- January or February (1st New Moon): Lunar New Year
- February 2: Groundhog Day
- February (2nd Sunday): NFL Super Bowl
- February 14: Valentine’s Day
- * February (3rd Monday): Washington’s Birthday (aka Presidents’ Day)
- February or March (47 days before Easter): Mardi Gras aka Malasada Day
- March 17 (date of his death): St. Patrick’s Day
- March or April (Friday before Easter Sunday): Good Friday (Hawaii State holiday)
- March or April: Easter Sunday
- March or April: Passover
- March (20-22): Spring equinox
- March 26: Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Day (Hawaii State holiday)
- (can fall in any season): Ramadan (ends with Eid al-Fitr)
- April 15: Federal Income Tax Day (if April 15 is a weekend or holiday, the date is adjusted)
- April 22: Earth Day
- May 1: Lei Day (aka May Day)
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- May (2nd Monday): Mother’s Day
- May (last Monday): Memorial Day
- June (3rd Sunday): Father’s Day
- June 11: King Kamehameha I Day (Hawaii State holiday)
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- June (20-22): Summer solstice
- July 4: Independence Day
- July 31: Ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Restoration Day) – first National Holiday of the Hawaiian kingdom
- August (3rd Friday): Statehood Day (Hawaii State holiday)
- September (1st Monday): Labor Day
- September (22-24): Autumn equinox
- ** October (2nd Monday): Columbus Day (not observed in Hawaii, replaced with Discoverers’ Day)
- October 31: Halloween
- November 2: Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)
- November (First Tuesday in November following the first Monday of even numbered years): General Election Day (Hawaii State holiday)
- November 11: Veterans Day
- November (4th Thursday): Thanksgiving Day
- November (day after Thanksgiving): Black Friday
- November 28: La Kuokoa (Hawaiian Independence Day) – second National Holiday of the Hawaiian kingdom
- November or December: Hanukkah (Chanukah)
- December (21-22): Winter solstice
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: Kwanzaa
- December 31: New Year’s Eve
*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)
