8 Places to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2024 on O‘ahu

Photo: Courtesy of Lanikai Brewing Co.

Originally a Bavarian tradition to celebrate a prince’s wedding, Oktoberfest has spread around the world as a festival celebrating great German beers, food and music—even in the middle of the Pacific. So grab a stein, bring an empty belly and enjoy these festivals around O‘ahu.

SEE ALSO: Beer Lab Opens a Fun Bar and Lounge with Food at Puck’s Alley

Photo: Courtesy of Salt at Our Kaka‘ako

Oktoberfest at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako

When: Saturday, Sept. 21, and Saturday, Sept. 28, 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St.
Tickets: Free entry, pay as you go

The popular multi-week event from Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room features stein hoisting competitions with prizes and German beers from classics such as Ayinger, Spaten, and Paulaner. German food specials will be available for purchase from Butcher & Bird (sadly their last event before closing). Also featuring live entertainment by Chamber Music Hawaiʻi’s Honolulu Brass Quintet & The Matterhorns.

Lanikai Brewing Oktoberfest

When: Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Lanikai Brewing Company, 167 Hamakua Dr., Kailua
Tickets: Free entry, pay as you go

This local brewery on O‘ahu’s Windward Side is throwing their own Oktoberfest celebration all day. In addition to their onsite Valentina’s Brick Oven Pizza, they’ll have a selection of pretzels, bratwurst, and sauerkraut. On the beer side, they have THREE releases that day, including a surprise collaboration with Punalu‘u Bake Shop.

Photo: Courtesy of Hana Koa Brewing

Hana Koa Brewing Oktoberfest Beer & Food

When: Sept. 21 to Oct. 5
Where: Hana Koa Brewing Co., 962 Kawaiaha‘o St.

This year, Hana Koa Brewing continues their annual tradition with the release of Hammershlager Festbier Lager in cans and on draft. Buy their “Das Boot” glassware for discounted pours. Daily food specials of soft pretzels with mustard and beer cheese and build-your-own-brat with toppings like sauerkraut will be available, plus a Saturday-only dinner special of schweinbraten plate with mustard gravy and potato salad.

Waikiki Brewing Co. Beer Flights & Food Pairings

When: Sept. 21 to Sept. 28
Where: Waikīkī Brewing Co., 1945 Kalākaua Ave.

Waikīkī Brewing has gone through a lot of changes in the last year, with many of them direct issues after the Lahaina wildfires. Thankfully, they are pulling through with a robust beer program kicking off with Oktoberfest. They’ll be releasing FOUR traditional beers: Pūpū Pils, Waikiki Fest, Dad’s Dunkel Lager, and Dunkelweizen. To taste them all, they’ll be offering a flight of all four with the option to purchase a full pint of your favorite at a discount. For the week, they’ll also have German food specials, including pretzels, brats, schnitzel sandwiches, Black Forest brownies and apple strudel.

Photo: Courtesy of Hale Koa Hotel

Oktoberfest 2024 at Hale Koa Hotel

When: Friday, Sept. 27, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Hale Koa Hotel, 2055 Kālia Rd.
Tickets: Pre-sale $65–$75, buy tickets

Held in the Lū‘au Garden in Waikiki, this festival is only open to Active, Retired, US Military and DOD ID holders and their guests. It also sells out quickly, so book tables in advance. This event features a large selection of German favorite foods, like Sauerbraten, Schweinshaxe, Bratwurst and more, with a few German beer selections for purchase. A live German band plays songs for dancing all night, with breaks for stein hoisting competitions.

Photo: Courtesy of International Market Place

Oktoberfest Hawai‘i at International Market Place

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 4 to 10 p.m.
Where: International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave.
Tickets: Free on the first floor, general admission to second floor $45, VIP on third floor $85, buy tickets

Held in previous years at Aloha Stadium, this year, they’re using a new venue and concept. Each of the three floors of the International Market Place will have part of the festival: the first with free entry and cash bars, the second with beer tickets or beer/food combo tickets and the third with exclusive beer and food pairing tickets. All three levels have the option of purchasing more drink tickets as well.

Kailua Fall Festival

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m
Where: Multiple locations in Kailua
Tickets: General admission $20, VIP $85 at tickettailor.com/events/krave/1327304

The third annual block party and trolley crawl in Kailua is back, with Oktoberfest beers, food menus and free entry to the street festival for the whole family including pets. If you’re drinking, upgrade your experience with a wristband that grants access into nine bars around the Windward Side including Kailua Town Pub and Maui Brewing Kailua. VIP tickets grant guaranteed seating and discounts at some of the venues. See website for parking, transportation and entry details.

Photo: Courtesy of MWR Hawai‘i

Oktoberfest 2024 at Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Weyand Field, Schofield Barracks, 1 Trimble Rd.
Tickets: Early entry $25, late entry $30, race $30, hawaii.armymwr.com/calendar/event

Another one open to Military/DOD ID holders and their guests, this family-friendly event includes all the traditional German beer, food and music by the 5^th Infantry Division Band. There will also be a Keiki Root Beer Festival, Mr. & Mrs. Oktoberfest Competition, Keg Competitions and bounce houses. The evening starts off with a Wurst 5K Fun Run with pretzels, brats, and chocolate cake to eat along the way.

Oktoberfest Honolulu Bar Crawl

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 4 to 11 p.m.
Where: NextDoor, 43 North Hotel St.
Ticket presales: $17–$20, buy tickets

A new one this year from PubCrawls.com, this Oktoberfest-themed self-guided pub crawl of Chinatown starts at NextDoor and grants guaranteed admission to the bars on the list with discounted drink and food specials for purchase at each.

Also, keep an eye out for local breweries releasing Oktoberfest beers this year, including Landbier Before Time Dunkel from Kalili Beer. Prost!