On Friday April 17th and Saturday April 18th, the Iolani School campus converted into a massive carnival for the annual Iolani Fair. The theme this year featured “Beneath the Island Skies”, which showcases local culture, community, and connection. Thrilling rides, classic games, and the Keiki Kountry Tent. are the key events that contribute to this fair being a staple every-year. Bringing together students and families from all over the island and giving them a chance to join an environment that’s centered on socializing and sharing local traditions.
E.K. Fernandez Rides
The fair featured many attractions that kept visitors busy throughout the whole day. A fan favorite was the high-speed attractions provided by E.K. Fernan
dez rides which lined the campus. Lola Scurto, an attendee at this year’s carnival stated that she spent the most time on the rides to get the full carnival experience. “I tried Zero Gravity and it was fun because it felt like I was flying,” she noted. Other rides featured include Seven Seas, Jungle Twist, Lolli Swings, Magic Maze, and Balloon Race.
Midway Games
Aside from the rides, the fair also featured classic carnival midway games, not limited to Pepsi Ring Toss, Roll-a-Ball, Dragon Treasure, Frog Bog, and Ping Pong Toss. Sofia Bretschneider found that the more traditional games were where she made her favorite memories. “My favorite memory was going to the arcade and playing the games,” Bretschneider said. She also mentioned participating in the “Magic Maze” and the “Ring Toss,” which are long-standing traditions of the fair’s midway.
Food and Flavors
Beyond the entertainment, the food at the Iolani fair was a huge hit. The Iolani Malasadas remain the most demanded item, with the longest stretching lines as volunteers serve the sugar-coated treats fresh from the fryers. Other than that, this year’s menu also featured local favorites like huli-huli chicken, poke bowls, truffle fries and more. Lola Scurto mentioned that her favorite part of the night was, “getting boba because it tasted similar to a melon bar.”
In other areas, there were also more gourmet foods such as kimchi fried rice and beef stew. Behind the variety of food options was hours of hard work and planning by the students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as local booths alongside.
Keiki Kountry
For younger children coming to the fair, the Keiki Kountry Tent was there as a dedicated space for kid-friendly activities. This section of the fair is designed to be a smaller-scale carnival which features a petting zoo and other attractions like face painting and fish pond games. In comparison to the high-speed attractions, the tent allowed for kids to participate in fair traditions without being at risk.
The General Store
A central part of the Iolani Fair’s fundraising efforts was the General Store. This was a marketplace where lei po’o, plants, quilts, sweets, and more were sold to benefit Iolani School student programs. It was organized into several specialty booths featuring donated and handcrafted items by the school and community. The money explicitly went towards student activities/clubs, educational travel, and campus programs.
Coming To a Close
Once people started fading out of the carnival on Saturday night, the 2026 Iolani Fair concluded another year of bringing a mix of communities together. The combination of rides, games, and delicious food is what contributed to the fair being a memorable event. For the students and families who attended, the “Beneath the Island Skies” theme was reflected in the two days of connection and shared traditions on the Iolani campus.
