The 11 Best Events on O‘ahu in March 2019

Two reasons to run, local comedy giants and a Hōkūle‘a-inspired symphony performance take center stage this month.

By Christi Young

FESTIVAL

Wanderlust

Thursday, February 28–Sunday, March 3

Photo: COURTESY OF WANDERLUST FESTIVAL / MELISSA GAYLE

Try stand-up paddleboard, aerial and horse yoga, meditate on the beach, learn to grow organic food, listen to lectures and the music of Corinne Bailey Rae, all with a kombucha in your hand, at this four-day inspiration fest.

Turtle Bay Resort, $20–$420, wanderlust.com

SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to Wanderlust O‘ahu 2019

FITNESS & SPORTS

HONOLULU Family Fun Run

Saturday, March 2 | 7–9 a.m.

PHOTO: GREGORY YAMAMOTO

Princesses and superheroes will kick-start this run around Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island. Missed the deadline to register online? Head to the race early and stop by the registration booth. We’ll be taking last-minute sign-ups starting from 5:30 a.m.

Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park, 1201 Ala Moana Blvd., $20–$25, hnltix.com

SEE ALSO: HONOLULU Family’s Guide to Getting Ready for a 5K in Hawai‘i

COMEDY

Augie T’s Last Stand

Saturday, March 2 | 6 p.m.

Photo: Courtesy of blaisdell center

This time it’s really happening. Augie T closes out his farewell-to-stand-up tour with local comedy giants Andy Bumatai and Frank DeLima. For the end of his 27-year stand-up career, the comedian promises his characteristic clean humor, some of his greatest hits and more than a few last laughs.

Blaisdell Arena, $10–$60, blaisdellcenter.com

SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2019 Honolulu Festival

CULTURE

Honolulu Festival

Friday, March 8–Sunday, March 10 | Various times

Photo: courtesy of honolulu festival foundation

The website may proclaim the Honolulu Festival as “an attractive event to your Hawaiian vacation,” but there is a lot for locals to enjoy at the 25th annual celebration. Performers from around the world, but mostly Japan, will dance, play music and create crafts. The food is always a draw, as are the keiki games. And you won’t want to miss the Sunday parade, which ends with a giant fireworks show in Waikīkī.

Hawai‘i Convention Center, Waikīkī and other locations, free, honolulufestival.com

SEE ALSO: Best of the Fests: O‘ahu’s 21 Annual Ethnic Festivals

FITNESS

North Shore Triathlon

Saturday, March 9 | 6:15 a.m.

Photo: Getty Images

Fat Tuesday is March 5, so you can carbo-load with malassadas (or not) before this 15.25-mile triathlon on the North Shore. Tackle the first triathlon of the year alone or as a team, or register for the less competitive Beach Cruiser category. Just don’t feel bad if a middle schooler blazes past you. Last year’s top youth contender, 14-year-old Jayden Golden from ‘Ewa, completed the course in just 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Mokulē‘ia Beach Park, $105–$130, northshoretriathlon.com

SEE ALSO: 10 Hawai‘i Races to Watch in 2019

Look up the evening of March 10 to see the last big and bright supermoon of 2019.

THEATER

Something Rotten at Diamond Head Theatre

Friday, March 22 to Sunday, April 14 | Times vary

Photo: Courtesy of Diamond Head Theatre

DHT says it’s the first community theater to perform this Broadway spoof of Shakespeare, musical dramatics and more. We can’t wait to see it.

Diamond Head Theatre, $15–$50, diamondheadtheatre.com

SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2019 Honolulu Biennial’s Immersive Art Event

CULTURE

Prince Kūhiō Parade

Saturday, March 23 | 9:30 a.m.

PHOTO: courtesy of wikipedia

Grab a spot near Queen’s Beach to watch the parade pass by, then walk over to the ho‘olaule‘a at Kapi‘olani Park in honor of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole.

Kalākaua Avenue, free, princekuhiofestival.com

SEE ALSO: 5 Free Events in Honolulu in March 2019

CONCERT

Thomas Rhett’s “Very Hot Summer Tour”

Saturday, March 23 | 7:30 p.m.

Photo: courtesy of blaisdell center

Technically, it’s spring, but we won’t quibble about when this country star stops in Honolulu.

Blaisdell Arena, $49.50–$119.50, blaisdellcenter.com

SEE ALSO: 7 Can’t-Miss Honolulu Concerts to See in March 2019

PREMIERE

Ho‘āla (To Awaken)

Thursday, March 28 | 7:30 p.m

When Hōkūle‘a returned home, part of the celebration was a seven-minute original composition by Roosevelt High graduate and UH professor Michael Thomas-Foumai. This month, his complete work Rise Hawaiki debuts, chronicling the voyages of the canoe through music. The world premiere brings together the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra and choirs from UH Mānoa and Kapi‘olani and Windward community colleges to bring to life words inspired by interviews with crew members Eddie Aikau, Sam Low, Nainoa Thompson and others.

Blaisdell Concert Hall, $29–$59, hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org

SEE ALSO: For more events in March, visit honolulumagazine.com’s online calendar

FOOD

Noodle Festival Hawai‘i

Saturday, March 30 | 3–9 p.m.

Photo: Getty Images

Slurp up the atmosphere and be ready for splashback at this food vendor-packed street fair at Ward Village.

Auahi Street, free, noodlefesthawaii.com

Aloha to Super CW

Photo: Aaron k. Yoshino

For more than a decade, Christa Wittmier was the heart of Honolulu’s nightlife scene. The blogger, DJ and promoter brought her exuberance, giant smile and passion for connecting people to events including Pow! Wow! Hawai‘i, and HONOLULU’s BrunchFest and Rose Soirée in 2018. In January, she died after a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Read more about the always super CW, here.

Looking for fun new ways to experience the city? HONOLULU’s got you covered with HNLTix, your brand-new local resource for all things social—fundraisers, concerts, comedy shows, expos and everything in between. Discover your next can’t-miss event, share your favorites with friends, or promote your own event and sell tickets online. To see what’s coming up next in Honolulu, visit HNLTix.com.

Find more events at honolulufamily.com/calendar and honolulumagazine.com/calendar.