KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (KHON2) — It’s September, and there aren’t that many things happening across the island. But Kona has something special happening for everyone.
Kona Pride began with small gatherings at a local bar. Six years later, the event has grown into a full community festival spread across multiple venues.
“This is our sixth annual Kona Pride here,” said Rocco Vick, co-founder and co-director of Kona Pride. “It actually started out of smaller events that were being held at a local bar here. Every year in June, we would have a pride party at my bar in Kona. And it just kept growing bigger and bigger, and it became very apparent that we needed to expand and make it a bigger community event.”
A festival for everyone
The main festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Marriott King Kamehameha Beach Hotel in downtown Kona. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to all ages. Entry is free for anyone under 18, and adults are asked for a $10 donation to Kona Pride.
“So this Saturday is the main festival,” Vick said. “We have multiple performances all throughout the afternoon. And deejays, we have a huge vendor village that has over 40 people contributing, mostly local vendors, crafts and things like that and, that are either connected to the LGBTQ community or they’re just allies that are here to support us.”
Entertainment includes mainland DJs Mitch Ferrino and DJ China G, plus drag performers from across the West Coast.
No Pride celebration is complete without the contribution of drag queen performers, and Kona Pride has a special lineup that will guarantee to entertain.
“We have some performers from all over the West Coast and two RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, Selena s and we also have Jax, and then we have Tila Pia and Scarlett Business,” Vick said. “All of our entertainers are always super high energy acrobatics.”
No Pride celebration is complete without the contribution of drag queen performers, and Kona Pride has a special lineup that is guarantee to entertain.
Swag bags and VIP perks
Kona Pride’s swag bags have developed a reputation over the years as one of the hottest items of the festival weekend and have become a sought-after item.
“They are legendary. Yes. My husband, who’s also co-director of Kona Pride, spends six months out of his year curating special items that are perfect for the weekend,” Vick said. “Everybody fights over these swag bags and unfortunately, we have a limited amount of them.”
Even though the limited-edition bags sold out quickly, festival-goers still have the chance to pick up some exclusive merchandise at the Kona Pride booth.
“I will say, the one thing that I’m very excited about is the Kona Pride Special Edition La Booboo,” Vick added.
Beyond the swag, Kona Pride’s VIP tickets have become their own kind of golden pass that offers perks that make the packed weekend smoother and more memorable.
“The VIP ticket is special because not only do you get that VIP swag bag, but it’s a small contribution to helping us make this happen,” Vick said. “You jump the line at every venue because we have six different events. It just gets you in and out of events a lot easier, which as people who come regularly know, Kona Pride is pretty packed.”
Building community
What began as a single celebration has now blossomed into a full weekend where the entire town gets involved. Beyond the six official events, local businesses and community members have stepped in to host their own gatherings — everything from pool parties and after-hours bar crawls to snorkel excursions and women’s nights.
The effect is that Kona Pride feels less like a series of events and more like a shared festival of belonging.
“KonaPride.com has a list of everything that’s happening this weekend,” Vick said. “It’s really cool to see a lot of people pulling together their resources and their ideas to make the weekend special.”
List of events
1. Friday Kick-Off Social
- Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 12.
- Venue: TBD.
- Entertainment: Casual social gathering.
- Perks: Mingle with fellow attendees and kick off the weekend’s celebrations.
2. Saturday Festival
- Date & Time: Saturday, Sept. 13, from 1 p.m.
- Venue: Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
- Entertainment: Live performances, vendor booths, community activities.
- Perks: Family-friendly; diverse entertainment options; welcoming environment for all ages.
3. Saturday After Party
- Date & Time: Saturday evening, following the festival.
- Venue: TBD.
- Entertainment: DJ sets and dancing.
- Perks: Vibrant nightlife experience to continue the celebrations.
4. Sunday Pool Party
- Date & Time: Sunday, Sept. 14, from 12 p.m.
- Venue: TBD.
- Entertainment: Poolside music, games, and socializing.
- Perks: Relaxed atmosphere; cool off while enjoying the company of fellow attendees.
5. Sunday Last Call Tea Dance
- Date & Time: Sunday evening, concluding the weekend.
- Venue: TBD.
- Entertainment: Dance music and socializing.
- Perks: Final opportunity to dance and celebrate before the weekend ends.
6. Snorkel Meetup at Kailua Bay
- Date & Time: TBD.
- Venue: Kailua Bay.
- Entertainment: Snorkeling, music, games.
- Perks: Free ice cream tasting; outdoor adventure and community bonding.
7. LezEvent
- Date & Time: TBD.
- Venue: TBD.
- Entertainment: Special performances and activities.
- Perks: Dedicated event celebrating lesbian culture and community.
Some venues and specific times are not yet announced. For the latest details and tickets, click here.
So, if you’re looking for some fun, family-friendly events for the weekend, look no further than Kona’s Pride celebrations. Happy Pride, Kona!