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The countdown is on for the Aloha Festivals of 2019: a celebration of Hawaiian culture that has grown bigger and more colorful every year since its humble beginnings in 1946. This year the Aloha Festival runs from August 31st to September 28 and features more than 100 events on all of the Hawaiian Islands. What better way to explore and share the culture, cuisine, and art of this fascinating archipelago?
The 2019 theme for the Aloha Festivals is “Na Moʻolelo ʻUkulele” or “Ukulele Stories”. Hawaiian music would not be the same without this small but powerful instrument! There will be workshops, talk-story events and of course many concerts and kanikapila, Hawaiian jam sessions, throughout the festival and beyond. The Ukulele is not only the state official musical instrument of Hawaiʻi but also a part of everyday life and there is hardly a home without one.
The month of festivities will commence with royal protocol on August 31st at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, where the historic home of Princes Pauahi, Coconut Grove, once was. Starting at 4 pm the Royal Court Investiture & Opening Ceremony will set a regal tone for what is to come and perpetuate the memory of the rich history of Hawaiiʻs monarchy. Watch the appointed Queen and King (mō‘ī wahine and mō‘ī kāne) together with their court portray the legacy of old Hawaiʻi. The formal event will be followed by chants, hula, and music to create an unforgettable evening right in the heart of Waikiki, on historic ground.
Another highlight of the Aloha Festivals is the biggest block party in all of Hawaiʻi. The Waikiki Hoolaulea invites you to put on your rubber slippers and enjoy an amazing kaleidoscope of music, dance, cuisine, art, and more, which is sure to tickle all of your senses. The 67th Waikiki Hoolaulea takes place on September 21 from 6 pm to 9:30 pm and will transform Kalakaua Avenue into a giant party of Aloha, that you won’t want to miss. Parking is available in the area; however, it is limited and can get pricey. A great way to get to and from the festival events without worries is to use a festival shuttle so that you can just focus on having fun.
All comes to a colorful finale with the breathtaking 73rd Annual Floral Parade on September 28 from 9 am to noon. Watch traditional pāʻū Riders, creative floats decorated with thousands of flowers, Hula Hālau, and bands make their way from Ala Moana Park to Kapi‘olani Park all along Kalakaua Avenue. A feast for the eyes and a memory that wants to be made. Make it easy on yourself and avoid looking for a parking space by taking advantage of a festival shuttle.
Reserve a charter shuttle or private luxury car to Aloha Festival events today!