What the Hawaii 4-H Livestock State Show and Sale Is
The State Show and Sale is the finale of the Hawaii 4-H livestock season, where market livestock projects raised by youth from across the islands come together for judging and an evening auction. The 2026 show ran July 11 and 12 at Whitmore Village in Wahiawa, Oahu, with showing starting at 9 a.m. both days and the livestock auction on Saturday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. The shows are free and open to the public.
The Hawaii State 4-H Livestock Council sponsors and runs the event, including its management and accounting. The council exists to promote the educational development of Hawaii's livestock industry through 4-H projects, help clubs run statewide shows, promote good practices and show ethics, and set the rules for market livestock projects that lead to a statewide event. CTAHR staff, including the Oahu livestock extension agent and a program coordinator, organize the shows with volunteers.
Who Can Take Part
The statewide shows are for youth ages 5 and up enrolled in Hawaii 4-H. Participants do not need a farming or ranching background, and many raise animals in their backyards. Species include steers and heifers, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, poultry and other livestock. New members must register by October 1; enrollment is otherwise open year-round.
To reach the state show, members must complete the mandatory judging contests and then attend their county show. The 2026 season began at Maui AgFest on May 30, continued with the Molokai county show on June 6 and the Big Island county show on June 20, and reached the State Show on July 11 and 12.
How the Season Works: The Timeline
- Cattle projects begin in January; smaller animals begin in March.
- Members complete the required livestock judging contests.
- County shows are held in late spring and early summer.
- State Show on July 11 and 12, with the auction at 5:30 p.m. on July 11.
The Auction and What Youth Get
Youth write a business plan to sell their animal for food, so the sale shows how raising animals can earn revenue and be a livelihood. The council's Buyers Committee works to secure buyers for the animals shown, and the council hires an auctioneer for animal sales at the state show only. The council also runs a livestock evaluation contest, including oral reasons, so 4-Hers from each island or county can take part. Along the way, members learn record keeping, money management, organization and public speaking, and younger and older participants learn from each other. Animal welfare is a priority, and organizers provide housing dimensions based on each animal's size and species.
The public can take part by attending with family, volunteering, partnering with the program, or bidding in the animal auction.
Where
Whitmore Village, 885 Whitmore Ave., Wahiawa, HI 96786 (Oahu).
Questions
Is admission charged?
The 4-H livestock shows are free and open to the community.
Can a child go straight to the state show?
No. Members complete the judging contests and attend their county show first.
Where are the rules?
The State 4-H Livestock Rules were last updated September 20, 2023 and are posted on the State Livestock Council page below.
Who do I call?
The CTAHR 4-H program coordinator's office: (808) 956-2255.
Official Links
- Hawaii 4-H invites public to summer livestock show season
- Hawaii State 4-H Livestock Council
- Hawaii 4-H livestock events teach youth real-life skills
- 2026 livestock show season schedule (Kauai Now)
University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension: The Essentials
The CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Hawaii offers science-based help in agriculture, natural resources and family living through county offices, with more than 65 agents, specialists and staff, per the Extension overview.
What you can get
Consultations, workshops, free publications and the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center, which handles insect identification, nematode counts, disease diagnosis and soil, plant, water and feed analysis.
Find an office
Offices operate on Hawaii Island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai; see this published office list and confirm phone numbers before you go.
Master Gardeners
On Kauai, about 64 hours of training runs February to May, per the program page.
Consultations and publications at county offices are described as free, while workshops may carry a small fee. A Kauai plant doctor booth also offers advice Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Puhi Grove Farm Farmers Market.
Ask your county office about 4-H and local workshop fees.
Read the full guide: University of Hawaii CTAHR Cooperative Extension
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Hawaii 4-H Livestock State Show
Statewide 4-H show on Oahu for steers, heifers, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry, with a livestock auction at 5:30 p.m. on the first day. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 11-12, 2026.
Wahiawa, HI | Organizer: University of Hawaii CTAHR / Hawaii 4-H Official event details - Made in Hawaii Festival
More than 400 exhibitors sell Hawaii-made foods and locally grown produce, with buyer, VIP and public sessions. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 20-23, 2026.
Honolulu, HI Official event details - Ewa Carnival
Weekend carnival with rides, games, pony rides and a petting zoo on the Wai Kai Events Lawn. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 15-16, 2026.
Ewa Beach, HI Official event details - Hawaii 4-H Horse Club State Show
Hawaii 4-H horse club members compete at Kualoa Ranch in Kaneohe, closing the summer 4-H livestock show season. Held each year; the most recent date was August 22, 2026.
Kaneohe, HI | Organizer: University of Hawaii CTAHR / Hawaii 4-H Official event details - Hawaii Farmers Union State Convention
Sixteenth state convention themed Mahiai Makahiki, with farm tours, soil health and cacao workshops, Makahiki games and an open public day; first Oahu convention since 2017. Held each year; the most recent dates were October 16-18, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.