The Aloha Festivals are an annual series of free cultural celebrations observed in the state of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

based on the Makahiki, the beginning of the

Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians; , , , and ) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, Indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiʻi was set ...

year marked by the sighting of the

Pleiades The Pleiades (), also known as Seven Sisters and Messier 45 (M45), is an Asterism (astronomy), asterism of an open cluster, open star cluster containing young Stellar classification#Class B, B-type stars in the northwest of the constellation Tau ...

(''Makali'i''). It is the only statewide cultural festival in the nation. Highlights include the presentation of the Royal Court, a ho'olaule'a in Waikiki, and the Floral Parade. Approximately 30,000 people volunteer to plan, organize, and provide labor for the Aloha Festivals each year. Their efforts entertain over 1,000,000 people from throughout the state and visitors from all over the world.

History

Establishment

In the spirit of preserving the Hawaiian culture and

heritage Heritage may refer to: History and society * A heritage asset A heritage asset is an item which has value because of its contribution to a nation's society, knowledge and/or culture. Such items are usually physical assets, but some countries also ...

, the Aloha Festivals were established in 1946 as Aloha Week by former members of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce. The former manager of the festivals, Goriann Akau, has said, "In 1946, after the war, Hawaiians needed an identity. We were lost and needed to regroup. When we started to celebrate our culture, we began to feel proud. We have a wonderful culture that had been buried for a number of years. This brought it out again. Self-esteem is more important than making a lot of money."

Scaling down

The festival was celebrated on six of Hawaii's islands, but in 2008 festival organizers decided to hold most events on Oahu due to a lack of funding. There was also the chance that the Floral Parade would be cancelled altogether, but it was saved by private donors and funds from the City and County of Honolulu. No Aloha festival was held in 2020. (This was first year of the

Covid-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, a year which had many disruptions)

Events

Presentation of the Royal Court

The court is selected from a pool of applicants, all of whom must be of Hawaiian ancestry and of certain ages. The festival itself begins with the presentation of the royal court during the opening ceremony. The ceremony takes place at Helumoa, a section of Waikiki near the Royal Hawaiian Center.

Floral Parade

The Floral Parade starts at the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard and Kamakee st. and goes through Waikiki before finishing at Kapiolani Park. The parade features p'au riders, marching bands, hula halaus, and that year's Aloha Festival Royal Court.

Hoʻolauleʻa

The Hoʻolauleʻa is a block party held in Waikiki. There is Hawaiian music,

hula Hula () is a Hawaiian dance form expressing chant (''oli'') or song (Mele (Hawaiian language), ''mele''). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli ...

, and food. Attendance is typically in the thousands.

Themes

Each year has a specific theme: *2023: Piliʻaina - kinship with the Land *2022: Aloha ʻAina - Love of the Land *2021: Ke Ala I ka ma mua ka wa Mahope: The road to the future leads through the past(Royal court investiture only, held virtually) *2020: Parade Cancelled due to 9/11/20 *2019: Nā Mo'olelo ʻUkulele: 'Ukulele Stories. * 2018: No Ke Kai Kakou E ("We are of the Sea") *2017: He Lei Aloha ke Keiki: Children are our Garland of Love *2016: ''Hāli‘a Aloha'' ("Treasured memories") *2015: ''Hula Aloha'' ("Beloved Feather Treasures") *2014: Maluhia Honua, World Peace with Aloha *2013: Moana Nui Akea - Celebrating Ocean Voyaging Flickr - Official U

*2012: Hoʻonui ʻIke - to Increase Knowledge *2011: Mele Ailana - Celebrate Island Music *2010: ''?'' (info needed for this years) *2009: ''Hula'' ("Let the Story Be Told") US Navy 081127-N-5476H-013 nformation Technician 2nd Class Brandon Hayes serves beverages during the 19th annual Operation Aloha

US Navy 081127-N-5476H-013 nformation Technician 2nd Class Brandon Hayes serves beverages during the 19th annual Operation Aloha

*2008: ''Hula'' ("The Art of Hawaiian Dance") *2007: Ke Kahua Lani o Hawaii *2006: Na Paniolo Nui o Hawaii - The Great Cowboys of Hawaii *2005: ''Nā Honu Hawaii'' ("The Spirit Within") *2004: ''No Nā Kamalii'' ("For the Children") *2003: ''E Mau Ana Ka Hula I Ke Kanaka'' ("Hula Lives Through Its People") *2002: ''Ka Uhane O Ka Loea'' ("The Spirit of the Masters") *2001: ''Hoohanohano I Nā Holokai'' ("Honor the Voyagers") *2000: ''He Makana O Nā Lei Nani'' ("A Gift of Beautiful Leis") *1999: ''Hui Pū I ka Hula'' ("Together in Song and Dance") *1998: ''Ola Ka Ōiwi'' ("The Natives Endure") *1997: *1996: *1995: Hoʻala Hou - To Reawaken *1994: Lokomaikai: Of gracious and beautiful spirit *1993: E Pilimain: Come together as One *1992: He ʻOhana Kakou - We are all Family *1991: E Pupukahi *1990: Na Kamalei *1989: Mai Kupuna Mai *1988: Pulama - We Cherish *1987: We are Enriched *1986: This Land of Aloha *1985: *1984: Kulia I ka Nuʻu: Strive to Reach the Summit *1983: He Makana Makamae ʻo Ke Aloha *1982: Hawaii - the Isles of Smiles *1981: Rainbows of Aloha *1954: Pule Hoʻohakahala

References

{{Reflist

External links

* http://www.alohafestivals.com Celebrations in Hawaii Festivals in Hawaii Polynesian festivals Cultural festivals in Oceania Native Hawaiian culture 1946 establishments in Hawaii Music festivals established in 1946 Folk festivals in the United States Flower festivals in the United States