Made in Hawaii Festival

NOTE: This post was from a previous Made in Hawaii Festival. It’s now being held at the Honolulu Convention Center! For 2024, I recommend checking out this guide from Honolulu Magazine and the official Made in Hawaii Festival website. 

Despite the crowds, ridiculous parking fee, and the fact that I spend more than I budget every time, I love the Made in Hawaii Festival and I continue to go every year when I’m in Hawaii.

It’s a chance to support local small businesses and to see what’s new from around the state. This year there were more vendors from the outer islands (especially Maui) and it’s great to see their products showcased here on Oahu.

Here’s a look at some of my favorites from the 2013 Made in Hawaii:

Maui Favorites (Booth 373) & Da Secret Sauce (Booth 400)

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Loved the samples of the guava salad dressing ($8) and Chamorro hot sauce ($6) from Maui Favorites. Also came close to getting their yummy poha jam.

Da Secret Sauce ($6) is my favorite garlicky chili pepper water, made by Rex Moribe from Kauai. This is my absolute favorite over saimin noodes but you can put it on anything!

>> Click “next” above for the rest of the slideshow

Admittedly, I did not have time (in the 3 hours I spent there) to visit every single booth, so I’m sure I missed some gems. However, I think I did well by my “greatest hits” and got to try some new things as well. Not pictured above, but worth a visit are: [Ki-ele] jewelry in booth 237, Maui Preserved (I missed this one, shucks!) in booth 538.

Tips for your visit to the Made in Hawaii Festival

• Parking at the Blaisdell costs $7. Carpool with friends or allow yourself extra time to walk a little bit to find street parking around Thomas Square or down towards Kapiolani Boulevard.
• Admission is $4 per person (kids 6 and under are free) and you can save $1 off if you snag a coupon from a First Hawaiian Bank branch.
• The festival is HUGE! Don’t miss both sides – the Exhibit Hall is the largest, but there are also lots of booths in the Arena. If you have limited time, check out the list of vendors and their locations in the official program.
• Food demos and entertainment happen throughout the weekend! Check out bands like Kapena, commedian Frank Delima, and chefs from Cactus, Tiki’s, Chai’s, and more. The program lists all the entertainment & demos.
• Bring cash. Although many vendors now accept credit cards, there are some which are cash only. The ATMs at the Blaisdell charge a fee.
• Go early & be patient. It gets really crowded at the festival, try to go as early as you can – 10am is less crowded than mid-day. Some vendors also sell out – Kanemitsu Bakery from Molokai did not even last the whole first day!

Made in Hawaii Festival 2013
Neil Blaisdell Arena & Exhibition Hall
Dates: Friday 8/16 – Sunday 8/18
Hours: Friday & Saturday 10am – 9pm, Sunday 10am – 5pm
Cost: $4 per person, $7 parking