Honolulu to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Celtic-themed block party, Waikiki parade
Honolulu will be a touch greener than your average Tuesday tomorrow.
Each March 17, thousands of visitors and residents head into Waikiki for a noon parade before flooding Chinatown Arts District’s so-called “Irish Corner,” near the intersection of Nuuanu Ave. and Merchant Street. There, nighttime revelry stretches into the wee hours with a block party reportedly heralded by Ireland’s Guinness Brewery as, “the single biggest St. Patrick’s Day party any one bar throws in the United States.”
This year’s “Irish Corner” activities kick off as early as 11 a.m., when Murphy’s Bar and Grill will begin serving corned beef and cabbage, Gaelic steak, lamb shank, fish and chips, fresh-shucked oysters and of course, beer, to early revelers from their restaurant and adjacent booths. If you find yourself looking at the menu and feeling indecisive, order the corned beef—the restaurant is donating $2 from every pound sold during the week to the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation.
The pub will then host a keiki carnival— with face painting, balloons, crafts and storytelling—in the lot across the street from 12 p.m. til 3 p.m., a great family-friendly second stop after taking in the 48th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
This year’s 800-participant-strong Celtic-themed parade will include green bedecked marching bands, floats, community groups, members of the military and keiki from area schools. The parade runs through Waikiki from Fort DeRussy Beach Park to Kapiolani Park beginning at noon.
Around 5:30 p.m., Nuuanu Ave., Merchant St., and Marin Ln. will be closed to through-traffic for the adults-only 28th annual Downtown St. Patrick’s Day open-air festival. Doolin Rakes and Elephant bands will perform Irish classics while festival goers dance, peruse food and craft booths and enjoy the lively party atmosphere stemming from Murphy’s and neighboring Irish pub O’Toole’s. There is no admission fee required to enter the block party.
To make sure partygoers get home safely, this year Murphy’s is partnering with UBER to offer free rides for first-time users. Use the code “MURPHY’S” through UBER’s website or app for a lift worth up to $20.
Wear green. Have fun. Be safe. Erin go bragh!
