Humpback Whale Program & Film

January 13, 2026 to April 1, 2026 on every Tuesday

Join the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site for an educational program on Hawaiʻi's humpback whales.

From 9:00am to 12:00pm, park staff and volunteers from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will be on site to help look for humpback whales and answer any questions you might have about our amazing yearly visitors to Hawaiʻi's waters.

From 10:30am to 11:10am, there will be a humpback whale movie that teaches how humpback whales communicate, sing, feed, play, take care of their young, why humpbacks are the most acrobatic of all whales, why they sing their songs, and more. The forty minute movie is an extraordinary journey into the mysterious world of one of nature’s most awe inspiring marine mammals.

2026 Ka'ū Coffee Farm Care Field Day Events

All are welcome! Register early and join the upcoming Thursday coffee events in Kaʻū! These are free events from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and open to all coffee producers. Lunch is included, but you must register. A spanish speaker/translator will be present.

• Jan. 22 – Coffee farm record keeping workshop @ Ka'u Coffee Mill
• Feb. 26 – Tissue/soil sampling, end-of-season sanitation and pruning field day @ R&G Farms' Pear Tree Location
• Mar. 19 – CBB and CLR management, sprayer calibration and pesticide calculations field day @ R&G Farms' Olson Location
• Apr. 23 – Coffee tree nutrition and fertilization field day @ TBA
• May 21 – Mid-season sanitation and desuckering field day @ R&G Farms' Olson Location

These events are funded by UH-CTAHR, the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center, USDA NIFA, and supported by the Ka'u Coffee Growers Cooperative, Hawaii Coffee Association, R&G Farms, Cloud Rest Farms, and the Ka'u Coffee Mill.

33rd Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival

Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9 AM to 3 PM at Waimea Church Row Park (65-1196 Mamalahoa Highway Waimea, Hawaii 96743)

There is a full lineup of hands-on Japanese and multi-cultural activities and performances. This free, multi-venue event celebrates the park's annual blooming of historic cherry trees.

The 2026 festival honors Hawai‘i Island natives and long-time Waimea residents Fred and Nancy Nonaka. The festival power couple worked behind the scenes with each of them playing a dominant role— Fred with the planting and care of the many Church Row Park cherry trees while Nancy served as the spark plug behind the many cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities offered at the Kamuela Hongwanji Mission adjacent to Church Row Park.

The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is annually produced by the Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section. The event is a community-wide effort by a dedicated team of businesses and volunteers. For info, call 808-961-8706. Find updates on Facebook: WaimeaCherryBlossomHeritageFestival.

Wiliwili Love Fest

Saturday, February 14th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Waikōloa Dry Forest

Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative invites the community to fall in love with Hawaiʻi’s native forests at the 15th Annual Wiliwili Festival. This year’s theme, “Wiliwili LOVE,” celebrates the shared affection for the rare and resilient wiliwili tree with a vibrant celebration of the region’s unique lowland dry forest and its iconic wiliwili tree. 

Festival-goers can enjoy a full day of activities across two event locations at both the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve and Waikōloa Stables. Attendees can explore the forest through guided hikes, participate in hands-on workshops, and visit educational booths hosted by local conservation and cultural organizations. The festival will also feature a native plant giveaway, nursery tours,  presentations, live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

Grow Hawaiian Festival

9 AM to 2:30 PM at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

Join Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden to celebrate native plants, Hawaiian culture, and community with hands-on activities, cultural demonstrations, talks, music, and food. Learn from farmers, practitioners, and local organizations working to care for ʻāina and nourish our community.

The Art of Beekeeping - March 2026

Bird and Bee Hawaiʻi is offering a four-part in-person Sunday course from beginner to experienced beekeepers covering hive basics, inspections, equipment building, honey extraction, and pest management. Located in Honokaʻa, sessions run on Sundays throughout March, starting on March 1st. Cost is $290