Founded in 2004 as an annual free nonprofit event by local publishers, booksellers, and nonprofit leaders; the first Hawai‘i Book & Music Festival (HBMF) was held in 2006 as a free community event, and thereafter the first weekend in May on the Frank M. Fasi Civic Grounds, in historic downtown Honolulu. HBMF remained free, and became the most content-rich event in the state, drawing on average 15-20,000 attendees.
In 2020 HBMF entered into a partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, adding to its dedicated program on Hawaiian culture three new program venues, on Sustainability, Wellness, and Innovation, focused on “Hawai‘i 2.0” — the future of Hawai‘i. HBMF was to continue on the beautiful campus of UH Manoa. UH Manoa provided its facilities, and HBMF provided the program and its funding.
The pandemic forced HBMF to become virtual. In 2020-2021 the HBMF program was presented in 65+ events over the month of October. In 2023 HBMF presented a hybrid program of in-person/Zoom events. A new dimension evolved in the form of virtual national and international VIP speakers, including a number through the year, sometimes in collaboration with the UH Manoa Better Tomorrow Speaker Series. Promotionally, HBMF developed a strong social media presence.
We are looking forward to a full in-person event in the Fall of 2026..
HAWAIʻI BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL is a 501 (3)(c) nonprofit organization
HBMF Mission Statement
The Hawai‘i Book & Music Festival is
Dedicated to exploring and presenting the wonderful diversity of books, arts, music, storytelling and ideas that define the Hawai‘i community;
Committed to advancing its mission through collaboration with partners such as the University of Hawaiʻi and to serving the larger Hawaiʻi community.
Board of Directors
Chair
Lyla Berg
Lyla Berg & Associates
Treasurer
Robert Perkinson
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Secretary
Josh Wisch
Holomua Collective
Stacey Aldrich
Hawai‘i State Library
Roger Jellinek
Founder
Avi Soifer
Dean Emeritus
William Richardson School of Law
CONTACT
Roger Jellinek, Executive Director
rgr.jellinek@gmail.com
Amy Hammond, Event Coordinator, Public Relations
specialeventshawaii@gmail.com
