State guide
Hawaii
The Hawaii Book and Music Festival has an official site, in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and that site says there will not be a festival in 2026. It explains that the event now costs over $250,000 and that federal funding cuts left the organizers unable to raise that sum. The same note says they hope to return in fall 2027 and may hold smaller interim events if funding allows. Inquiries go to Roger Jellinek. The Hawaii State Public Library System is the library agency that did publish a current public program: its site says more than 25,000 readers joined the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge and logged more than 8.8 million minutes.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State library or arts office
- Hawaii State Public Library System
- Festivals we verified
- Hawaii Book and Music Festival
- Official program page
- Official page →
The festival page is honest about a pause. It thanks donors for retiring a debt, points to the 2024 schedule as an archive, and does not pretend a 2026 fair is on the calendar. That is why this guide names the festival and also says it is not being held in 2026. Readers should not buy inter-island tickets for a book festival weekend that the organizer has canceled for the year. If smaller events appear, the site says they depend on funding.
The State Public Library System is the practical literary service while the festival is dark. Beyond the summer-reading totals, the fetched pages describe staff book picks, Filipino American History Month reading lists, and the system’s slogan of reading, learning, and connecting. Those are library programs across the islands, not a single downtown stage. A family that wanted the festival can still use a public library summer challenge and the system’s recommended-reading posts.
No replacement statewide festival was verified. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa remains the partner named on the festival site, which is useful context if the event returns in 2027. Until then, the library system is the agency to watch. Check librarieshawaii.org for branch programs, and check the festival site only for a reversal of the 2026 cancellation or for news of a smaller interim gathering. When two Hawaii pages disagree, use the page that states the date or the service, and ignore an undated repost.
Official resources in Hawaii
Official site stating there is no 2026 festival and expressing hope for a return in fall 2027.
State public library system, including the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge results.
Official about page for the Hawaii State Public Library System.
Key facts for Hawaii
- The festival site says it is in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
- The site says there will not be a festival in 2026 because the event costs over $250,000.
- The site says organizers hope to return in fall 2027 and may host smaller events if funded.
- The site names Roger Jellinek for inquiries and programming suggestions.
- The Hawaii State Public Library System says more than 25,000 readers joined the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge.
- The system says those readers logged more than 8.8 million minutes.
Verified festivals and programs in Hawaii
| Festival | city | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Book and Music Festival | Honolulu | Official site, partnered with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, says there is no 2026 festival and hopes for fall 2027. The fetched page does not name a 2026 venue. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Do not travel for a 2026 Hawaii Book and Music Festival; the official site says it is not happening.
- Watch the same site for any funded interim event or a 2027 return.
- Join a public library summer reading program if you wanted a statewide reading activity.
- Use the library system’s reading lists for themed months such as Filipino American History Month.
Not seeing your festival or county?
We list a festival only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Hawaii, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Hawaii's population center, for comparison only):
- Bay Area Book Festival, California · about 2401 miles
- Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, California · about 2547 miles
- Portland Book Festival, Oregon · about 2598 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Hawaii State Public Library System
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Hawaii page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- How to use a state book festival guide
- What a book festival typically includes
- The National Book Festival
- Finding author events at the state library