Best Craft Fairs in Hawaii 2026: Top Shows for Vendors & Shoppers

Hawaii's craft fair scene is unlike anything on the mainland. The islands have a thriving maker community rooted in traditions that go back generations: lei making, Koa woodworking, shell jewelry, handmade soaps with tropical botanicals, and locally poured candles with island-inspired scents. Tourists and locals alike are willing to pay for genuine handmade goods, especially when there's a story behind the product. Whether you're a local vendor looking for your next market or a mainland crafter curious about island shows, here's what's happening across the islands in 2026.

We pulled together the top craft fairs happening across Hawaii in 2026, using real data from our database of 55 Hawaii craft fairs on TheCraftMap. Here are the ones worth marking on your calendar.

Oahu: Honolulu and Beyond

Oahu is where most of Hawaii's population lives, and it's where you'll find the highest concentration of craft events. Honolulu and the surrounding areas host everything from massive cultural festivals to weekly night markets. The tourist traffic in Waikiki adds another layer of potential customers that most mainland vendors can only dream about.

The Waikiki Artfest series puts you right in front of both locals and tourists in one of the most foot-trafficked areas on earth. Free admission means people wander in casually, and the live music keeps them browsing longer than they planned. If you sell visual art, jewelry, or anything that photographs well against a beach backdrop, this is prime territory. The recurring format means you can build a following over multiple editions.

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii has a built-in community of supporters who show up for their events. This craft fair has a family-friendly feel, and the cultural center setting attracts shoppers who appreciate craftsmanship and attention to detail. If you make ceramics, textiles, or anything with clean, thoughtful design, this audience will connect with your work.

This is one of the biggest events on the island calendar. The Honolulu Festival runs for three full days in March and draws thousands of people. The Pacific Rim cultural focus means you get an audience that's genuinely interested in artisan goods from different traditions. If your products reflect any Asian, Pacific, or Hawaiian cultural influence, this is the show. Even general artisans benefit from the sheer volume of foot traffic. Apply early because vendor spots fill up.

Weekly markets are gold for vendors building a customer base. The Village Night Market at Pearlridge Center runs every Saturday evening, which means you can test products, adjust pricing, and build a following without committing to a single high-stakes event. The shopping center location gives you parking and existing foot traffic. The evening time slot (5 to 9 PM) catches people in a relaxed, spending mood after the workweek.

If your brand leans toward wellness, natural ingredients, or spiritual aesthetics, this is your market. The Conscious Creators Night Market curates vendors who fit a specific vibe, which means the shoppers who show up are already primed for what you sell. Handmade soaps, natural candles, crystal jewelry, herbal products, and botanical skincare all do well in this setting. Smaller events like this often lead to higher per-customer spending because the audience is targeted. Soap makers can dial in their pricing with tools like Soaply to make sure every bar turns a profit.

Community benefit events like INSPO! draw a crowd that's already in a generous mood. People come specifically to support local organizations and small businesses, which translates to good sales for vendors. The family-friendly format with keiki (kids) activities means parents are browsing your booth while their children are entertained. Free admission keeps the barrier to entry low. Events tied to nonprofits also tend to generate positive social media buzz, which is free marketing for your brand.

The Body Mind Spirit Expo is a national touring show, and the Honolulu edition brings mainland-level production value to a local audience. Two days indoors, juried vendor selection, and an audience specifically interested in wellness and holistic living. If you make essential oil products, herbal remedies, handmade wellness items, natural soaps, or soy candles with therapeutic scents, this is a premium placement. The juried format keeps quality high and competition low. Candle makers can use WickSuite to track costs and make sure their pricing holds up at a show of this caliber.

Big Island: Hilo and Kona

The Big Island has a maker community with deep roots. Hilo's art scene thrives around Merrie Monarch Week, and the Kona side has its own circuit of fairs that cater to both locals and resort tourists. The Big Island also has the most diverse agriculture in the state, which means food-adjacent vendors (jams, honey, botanical soaps, beeswax candles) have a natural home here.

Merrie Monarch Week is the biggest cultural event on the Big Island, and this craft festival rides that wave of visitors. Thirty years of history means this isn't some pop-up experiment. The Nani Mau Gardens venue is gorgeous, the admission is free, and the crowd comes from across the state and beyond. If you can only do one Big Island event all year, this is the one. The juried format means your competition is other serious artisans, not resellers.

One hundred fifty vendors is a serious show by any standard, and in Kailua Kona, you get the resort tourist crowd mixed with locals doing early holiday shopping. The "Christmas in July" theme gets people thinking about gifts months ahead of the rush, which is great if you sell ornaments, candles, jewelry, or anything giftable. Free admission and prize giveaways keep the energy up. The fair specifically promotes island artists and craftspeople, which means the organizers are on your side.

Kauai: The Garden Isle

Kauai is the smallest of the main islands in terms of population, but its craft scene punches above its weight. The island attracts visitors who specifically seek out quieter, more authentic experiences, and that translates to shoppers who value handmade goods and local artistry.

The Aloha Friday Nights series runs weekly through the warmer months in downtown Lihue. It's a recurring event, which means you get multiple chances to build a following on Kauai without committing to a one-off high-fee show. The free concert format brings people out for the music, and they stay to shop. Different bands each week keep the crowd fresh. If you're a Kauai-based vendor, this is your bread-and-butter weekly market. The series runs from June through October with different monthly editions.

A week-long celebration is rare anywhere, and on Kauai it's a major deal. The Waimea Town Celebration gives vendors multiple days of exposure to both locals and tourists on the island's west side. The heritage focus means the audience appreciates tradition and craftsmanship. If you can commit to several days, the extended format lets you really settle in and make connections. West side Kauai has a more laid-back vibe than the resort areas, and the shoppers reflect that.

Maui: Valley Isle Markets

Maui's craft fair scene has a strong tradition, anchored by events at schools, community centers, and agricultural venues. The upcountry towns like Makawao have an especially strong arts community, and the tourist traffic along the coast brings in buyers from around the world.

The Seabury Hall Craft Fair is one of Maui's most anticipated annual events, and the timing is no accident. Held the day before Mother's Day, it catches every last-minute gift shopper on the island. Over 100 juried artisans means this is a serious show with quality vendors. The upcountry Makawao setting is beautiful, the community support is real, and the extras (live music, food, plant sales, silent auction) keep people on-site for hours. If you're a Maui vendor, this is probably already on your calendar. If you're not, it should be.

The Maui Agfest (also known as the Made in Maui County Festival) is a four-day event that brings together agriculture, food producers, and artisan crafters. The farm bureau backing means strong organization and community trust. If your products use local ingredients or have a farm-to-table angle, this is where your story resonates most. The multi-day format across a long weekend gives you plenty of selling time, and the free admission keeps foot traffic steady.

Cultural Festivals with Vendor Opportunities

Hawaii's cultural festivals aren't just concerts or parades. Many of them actively welcome artisan vendors, and the audience at these events tends to be particularly receptive to handmade, locally crafted goods. Here are a couple worth considering even if they're not traditional craft fairs.

Three days in Waikiki during peak tourist season. The Pan-Pacific Festival celebrates the cultural connections across the Pacific, and the vendor opportunities put you in front of an international audience. If you make anything that travels well as a souvenir or gift (jewelry, small art prints, packaged food products, candles, soaps), this is a chance to sell to visitors who want to bring home something genuine from Hawaii, not a mass-produced trinket from a gift shop.

Military base craft fairs are an underrated circuit in Hawaii. The Fall Craft Fair at Hickam Air Force Base draws over 100 vendors and a captive audience of military families who are often far from their hometowns and looking for unique, handmade gifts to send back to the mainland. The base access requirement limits your competition (not every vendor can get on base), and the military community is loyal to vendors they like. If you have base access or can arrange it, these shows are worth the effort.

Tips for Vendors at Hawaii Craft Fairs

Selling at craft fairs in Hawaii is a different game than the mainland. Here's what you need to know:

• Shipping costs are real. If you're a mainland vendor considering a Hawaii show, factor in shipping your inventory and display. It adds up fast. Many successful Hawaii vendors are island-based for this reason. If you're local, this is actually your competitive advantage.
• Sun and rain happen fast. Even in "dry" areas, a passing shower can roll through in minutes. Always have tarps, plastic bins for inventory, and a plan for quick teardown. A good canopy tent with sidewalls is non-negotiable.
• Tourists buy different things than locals. Visitors want compact, packable items they can bring home: jewelry, small art, packaged soaps, candles in travel-friendly containers. Locals want practical, quality goods. Know your audience at each event and adjust your display accordingly.
• The "Made in Hawaii" label matters. Shoppers actively look for it. If your products are genuinely made in Hawaii using local ingredients or materials, make that visible in your signage and packaging. It's a real differentiator.
• Hawaii GET is not sales tax. Hawaii charges a General Excise Tax (GET) of 4% (4.5% on Oahu). Unlike sales tax, GET is charged on the seller, not the buyer, though most vendors pass it through. Get your GET license before your first show.
• Recurring markets build loyalty. Weekly and monthly markets (Village Night Market, Aloha Friday Nights, Waikiki Artfest) let you build a following over time. One-off shows are great for testing, but regular appearances are where you build a sustainable vendor business.
• Koa wood is king. Hawaii shoppers have a deep appreciation for Koa wood products. If you work with wood, sourcing local Koa (ethically and sustainably) is a major selling point. Other local materials like kukui nut, shell, and volcanic glass also resonate.
• Price with confidence. Hawaii's cost of living is high, and shoppers know that. Don't underprice your handmade goods. Soap makers can use Soaply and candle makers can use WickSuite to calculate true costs and set prices that reflect your craft and your location.

Find More Hawaii Craft Fairs

This list covers the standout shows, but there are 55 craft fairs listed in Hawaii on TheCraftMap and we're adding more every week. Create a free account to save your favorites and get notified when new Hawaii events are added.

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