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The sound of hundreds of thousands of firecrackers, the time-honored Lion Dance, and bountiful feasts mark Chinese New Year in the islands. It takes place in early February, and anyone can take part.

This long-running springtime festival perpetuates the rich heritage of Japanese culture through activities like the Heritage Fair and the Hawai’i International Taiko (Drum) Festival. The celebration culminates with the Festival Ball where a Cherry Blossom Queen and her Court are chosen.

“May Day is Lei Day” say the lyrics of a popular Hawaiian song. Not that anyone in the islands needs an excuse to make, wear, or give a lei , but May 1st is the day when master lei makers showcase their amazing skills.

The highlight of the June events marking the King’s birthday is O’ahu’s colorful Floral Parade, which wends its way through Honolulu and Waikīkī, ending at Kapi’olani Park. Other activities include concerts, a Folklife Festival and an international hula competition.

An annual benefit for Easter Seals Hawai’i, this three-day culinary extravaganza attracts more than 50,000 guests and a powerhouse of local chefs. There’s plenty of entertainment, wine tastings, and cooking demonstrations, too. It’s held at the end of June.

Held annually on the third Saturday in July at lovely Moanalua Gardens, the festival is the largest and oldest noncompetitive hula event in Hawai’i. It is named for Prince Lot, who reigned briefly as King Kamehameha V and was known for his commitment to the perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture.

Sponsored by the Hawai’i Farm Bureau Federation, this county-style fair is held in mid-July to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Perennial favorites are the Country Market, which sells fresh produce from Island farms, the 4-H Livestock Exhibition, and the Plant Sale.

Contemporary Hawai’i is celebrated from mid-September to mid-October every year. The festivities begin on O’ahu and move through the island chain with at least a week-long celebration at every stop. A “royal court” is chosen on each island, and there are floral parades, concerts, and craft fairs.

The fact that renowned Chicago-based film critic Roger Ebert attends each year is enough to give HIFF some well-deserved national weight. Started in 1981 as a project of the East-West Center when seven films from six countries were screened, today HIFF screens approximately 100 international films at two-dozen locations on six islands.

Children of all ages look forward anxiously to the evening in early December when the switch is flipped that lights up the city Christmas tree, signals the start of the Honolulu City Lights Electric Light Parade, illuminates the entire civic center area, and, of course, marks the beginning of the holiday season. The light displays, which adorn all city department buildings, are truly magical.