Celebrate Heritage and Community at the 2024 Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival
Celebrate Heritage and Community at the 2024 Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival
Join the Honoka‘a Heritage Center for our inaugural 2024 Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival, a community celebration marking the 30th anniversary of the final harvest and closure of the last sugar plantation on the Hāmākua Coast. From October 5th to October 20th, the festival will honor the rich history and legacy of the sugar era and the lasting impact it had on the culture and development of the region.
This family-friendly Festival offers something for everyone, with a wide range of activities designed to entertain and engage all ages. Enjoy fun contests, exciting kids’ activities, and interactive educational displays that bring Hāmākua’s history to life. There will be live music, local food vendors, and cultural performances celebrating the diverse values and traditions of our plantation community. With a spotlight on Hāmākua’s storied agricultural past, the Festival will also highlight modern agricultural innovations which offer promise for the future.
Don’t miss this celebration of resilience, culture, and community as we come together to pay tribute to the workers, families, and traditions that built the Hāmākua we know today. Bring the whole family for a day of fun, learning, and connection!
Here’s a look at the exciting lineup of events:
Honoring the Legacy of Sugar Workers – October 5 (Free to attend)
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the closure of the last local sugar plantation. Honoring the Legacy of Sugar Workers Luncheon on October 5 is an event dedicated to honoring the workers who labored on the plantations (invite-only). Families with ties to Hāmākua Sugar can call 808.437.1947 to inquire about participating.
Throughout the festival, attendees can also view screenings of a new film based on the oral history project completed in 2023. Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar, a documentary that shares the powerful stories of plantation workers and the lasting impact of the sugar industry and the subsequent closure of the last sugar plantation in the region.
October 5 at 2 p.m. at the Honokaʻa Peopleʻs Theatre
The documentary film, directed by the Honokaʻa Heritage Center, Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar, features 26 compelling oral histories from local sugar workers, their families, and community members, capturing the profound impact of the last sugar plantation’s closure on the Hāmākua Coast.
Additional Showings of Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar:
October 11 (Two Showings) 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
October 13 (Two Showings) 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
On October 6 Softball Tournament (Free to attend)
The festival will host an Intergenerational Softball Tournament at Honokaʻa County Park, bringing back the competitive spirit of old “camp against camp” games.
Family Friendly Fun at the Hāmākua County Fair – October 12 (Free to attend)
The Hāmākua County Fair, held on October 12 at the Honokaʻa Park Complex, promises a day full of excitement for everyone:
10:00 a.m.: Parade through Honokaʻa
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Live music on the main stage at the Honokaʻa Park Complex
Hālau Kuaunu, Ryan Hiraoka, Kingside, Pas & Sala, Hui Hoʻokahi, The Honokaʻa Jazz Band and more!
All Day:
Vendors throughout the County Park, including local food and artisanal crafts
Keiki activities: Races, STEM games, face painting, bounce house and much more!
“Sugar Town” inside the county gym: Features sugary, sweet vendors, student art, festival merchandise, lucky number drawings, demonstrations, commemorative Pogs, Live music and more!
On Māmāne Street visitors can enjoy the Plantation Worker Car Show at Honokaʻa CarQuest, and a Cultural Village at the Honokaʻa Heritage Center with cultural exhibits and demonstrations featuring several island museums. The Plantation Worker Hub at the Honokaʻa Union Hall will be a place for workers and their families to gather, share stories, and even record oral histories.
11:30 Inaugural “Mutt Contest” taken straight from the Historical Hāmākua Fairs in the 1940s, with 3 modern-day categories: Most indistinguishable breed, owner-mutt look-alike, and a Poi Dog Pageant with judging in both talent and beauty. To benefit the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society.
Agriculture and Sustainability Expo – October 12 (Free to attend)
At the Honokaʻa Park Complex, the Hāmākua Energy Ag and Sustainability Expo will run during the fair, with exhibitors offering information, demos, games, and giveaways focused on sustainable agriculture and ranching. Attendees will have the chance to learn how to incorporate sustainable practices and explore traditional and modern farming techniques.
Enjoy a Pumpkin Patch with carving and costume contests, hosted by and benefiting the Hāmākua Youth Foundation.
Cultural Heritage Nights – October 14-17 (Free to attend)
Celebrate the diverse immigrant groups that contributed to the plantations during Cultural Heritage Nights:
Japanese Night: October 14 – Featuring a talk by Patsy Iwasaki about Katsu Goto, plus food and bon dancing.
Portuguese Night: October 15 – Portuguese games, demos and exhibits.
Filipino Night: October 16 – Guest speaker and exhibit
Puerto Rican Night: October 17 – Dance to Katchi Katchi music at the People’s Theatre, with food and exhibits.
Plantation Night at Honokaʻa High School Football Game – October 18 ($4 Seniors, $8 General admission)
Join us to root for the home team while honoring the Sugar Workers.
Charity Golf Tournament – October 20 (Paid player registration required, free to watch)
The festival will conclude with a Charity Golf Tournament at the Honokaʻa Country Club. Proceeds will support the Honokaʻa Heritage Center’s mission to preserve and educate the community about Hāmākua’s history.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We extend our deepest gratitude to the generous sponsors who make the Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival possible. Your support helps us preserve the rich history of our community and allows us to continue offering engaging cultural experiences for all.
Sponsors include (list in progress):
Hāmākua Energy, Honokaʻa Hospital and Skilled Nursing, KTA, CPB Foundation, Kualoa Ranch and Private Nature Preserve, Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company, Isemoto Contracting Co. Inc., Honua Ola Bioenergy, Dodo Mortuary Inc., and Crematory, Big Island Mechanical and Construction LLC, Creative Arts Hawaii, Hawaii Johns, HFS Federal Credit Union, Charlie Umamoto, Rick Sakata, Kenji Shiba, Sanchez and Kopplin Ohana, HPM Building Supply, Walmart, Hawaii Affordable Properties, Janice Kimora and Roland Higashi
Community partners include:
The County of Hawaiʻi, Hāmākua Kohala Health, CFT, Honokaʻa Peopleʻs Theatre, Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
About the Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival
The Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival is organized by the Honokaʻa Heritage Center, with support from local businesses, cultural groups, and volunteers. The festival celebrates the Hāmākua community’s rich cultural heritage while fostering a sense of unity and pride. The Honokaʻa Heritage Center works to preserve and share the stories of the region’s culture and history, ensuring that future generations understand and appreciate their roots.
For more information, a full schedule of events, or to register as a vendor or volunteer, visit [www.hamakuasugardays.org](http://www.hamakuasugardays.org).
