Aloha Festivals, the only statewide Hawaiian cultural festival in the country, showcases Hawai‘i's music, dance,
and history and traditions each year during the months of September and October. The first annual event was held
at the end of October in 1947 and continues to be an island tradition enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Celebrating a time when Hawai‘i claimed the only reigning monarch in the United States, Aloha Festivals illuminates a culture and experience found nowhere else in the world. Events such as the Royal Court investiture, where the new Ali‘i court king, queen, prince and princess receive the symbols of their reign can be enjoyed by many. The event is punctuated by traditional Hawaiian chant and hula kahiko.
The festivals are funded through grants from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the counties of Maui, Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i and the City and County of Honolulu. Major funding also comes through corporate sponsorships, membership, private donations and the sales of Aloha Festivals ribbons and merchandise. Each island ribbon signifi es the annual theme and signifies specific island colors.
Each year, Aloha Festivals chooses a theme with the intention of having it mirror the organizations mission "to foster the Aloha Spirit through the preservation of Hawaiian culture and the perpetuation of the diverse customs and traditions of Hawaii". Two recent themes were "Nā Honu Hawai‘i" and "Nā Paniolo Nui O Hawai‘i".
The "Nā Honu Hawai‘i" theme was a tribute to the "honu" or sea turtles. The honu are significant in Hawaiian culture as they are a symbol of longevity, are the ultimate navigators and have long been considered the aumakua or family guardian angel, who act as protectors and advisors.
The "Nā Paniolo Nui O Hawai‘i" theme recognized the powerful parallels that exist between the ancient Hawaiian culture and the life of the paniolo. Their lifestyle is an ultimate expression of cultural fusion because they came from afar, but adopted and maintained, to this day, the values and ideology prevalent in the Hawaiian culture.
Aloha Festivals features over a hundred events on the six major islands, including 40 signature events. Over a million residents and visitors, volunteers and participants continue to enjoy the events and activities each year. Each island features a parade and ho‘olaule‘a with thousands of party goers taking to the streets or parks to enjoy hula hālau, musical entertainment, Hawaiian food and international cuisine and many Hawaiian arts and crafts including lei made of flowers, shells, feathers and seeds.
The Aloha Festivals falsetto contest connects the festivals to the 1800s when females were forbidden to sing and male performers took their place by throwing their voices into the upper registers of the musical scale. Contests are held on the islands of Maui, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i and O‘ahu.
Aloha Festivals also showcases events that are unique to some of the islands such as the Ms. Aloha Nui Contest on Hawai‘i island honoring the large stature of island women. Other contests such as the poke contest inspires amateur chefs to share their best poke (traditional Hawaiian appetizer of raw fish) recipe, as they compete for cash and prizes while attendees have the opportunity to taste the delicious recipes.
Other events highlight the hula, such as the two day Kupuna Hula Festivals in Kona and the "E Hula Mai Kāua" Couples Hula Competition at Keauhou. And Hana jumps in with their country events including a sports day, talent day and culminates their full week of activities with their annual luau with many Hawaiian food favorites and the best of Hawaiian entertainment. For the most current schedule of events, visit www.alohafestivals.com. To support Aloha Festivals and allow this tradition to carry on into the future, you can purchase an island Aloha Festivals ribbon ($5) and/or t-shirt at signature events or at the Aloha Festivals headquarters at Ward Warehouse, above Nohea Gallery. For more information, call (808) 589-1771 or email us at info@alohafestivals.com. Ribbons sales support the funding of this statewide festivals and provides discounts or free admission to some of the listed events.
Celebrating a time when Hawai‘i claimed the only reigning monarch in the United States, Aloha Festivals illuminates a culture and experience found nowhere else in the world. Events such as the Royal Court investiture, where the new Ali‘i court king, queen, prince and princess receive the symbols of their reign can be enjoyed by many. The event is punctuated by traditional Hawaiian chant and hula kahiko.
The festivals are funded through grants from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the counties of Maui, Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i and the City and County of Honolulu. Major funding also comes through corporate sponsorships, membership, private donations and the sales of Aloha Festivals ribbons and merchandise. Each island ribbon signifi es the annual theme and signifies specific island colors.
Each year, Aloha Festivals chooses a theme with the intention of having it mirror the organizations mission "to foster the Aloha Spirit through the preservation of Hawaiian culture and the perpetuation of the diverse customs and traditions of Hawaii". Two recent themes were "Nā Honu Hawai‘i" and "Nā Paniolo Nui O Hawai‘i".
The "Nā Honu Hawai‘i" theme was a tribute to the "honu" or sea turtles. The honu are significant in Hawaiian culture as they are a symbol of longevity, are the ultimate navigators and have long been considered the aumakua or family guardian angel, who act as protectors and advisors.
The "Nā Paniolo Nui O Hawai‘i" theme recognized the powerful parallels that exist between the ancient Hawaiian culture and the life of the paniolo. Their lifestyle is an ultimate expression of cultural fusion because they came from afar, but adopted and maintained, to this day, the values and ideology prevalent in the Hawaiian culture.
Aloha Festivals features over a hundred events on the six major islands, including 40 signature events. Over a million residents and visitors, volunteers and participants continue to enjoy the events and activities each year. Each island features a parade and ho‘olaule‘a with thousands of party goers taking to the streets or parks to enjoy hula hālau, musical entertainment, Hawaiian food and international cuisine and many Hawaiian arts and crafts including lei made of flowers, shells, feathers and seeds.
The Aloha Festivals falsetto contest connects the festivals to the 1800s when females were forbidden to sing and male performers took their place by throwing their voices into the upper registers of the musical scale. Contests are held on the islands of Maui, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i and O‘ahu.
Aloha Festivals also showcases events that are unique to some of the islands such as the Ms. Aloha Nui Contest on Hawai‘i island honoring the large stature of island women. Other contests such as the poke contest inspires amateur chefs to share their best poke (traditional Hawaiian appetizer of raw fish) recipe, as they compete for cash and prizes while attendees have the opportunity to taste the delicious recipes.
Other events highlight the hula, such as the two day Kupuna Hula Festivals in Kona and the "E Hula Mai Kāua" Couples Hula Competition at Keauhou. And Hana jumps in with their country events including a sports day, talent day and culminates their full week of activities with their annual luau with many Hawaiian food favorites and the best of Hawaiian entertainment. For the most current schedule of events, visit www.alohafestivals.com. To support Aloha Festivals and allow this tradition to carry on into the future, you can purchase an island Aloha Festivals ribbon ($5) and/or t-shirt at signature events or at the Aloha Festivals headquarters at Ward Warehouse, above Nohea Gallery. For more information, call (808) 589-1771 or email us at info@alohafestivals.com. Ribbons sales support the funding of this statewide festivals and provides discounts or free admission to some of the listed events.
Organized by the
Aloha Week Hawai‘i, Inc. d.b.a. Aloha Festivals
P. O. Box 15945
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96830
Telephone: (808) 589-1771
Fax: (808) 589-1770
Email: info@alohafestivals.com
Website: CLICK HERE
