The Aloha Festivals are an annual series of free cultural celebrations observed in the state of Hawaii in the United States based on the Makahiki, the beginning of the Native Hawaiian year marked by the sighting of the Pleiades (Makali'i).[1] 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.
Aloha Festivals
Aloha Festivals
Status
Active
Genre
Festivals
Frequency
Annually
Venue
State-wide
Location(s)
Hawaii
Country
USA
Years active
1946–2019, 2021–
Inaugurated
1946 (1946)
Founder
Former members of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce
Most recent
2009
Participants
30,000
Attendance
1,000,000
Activity
Concerts, parades, street parties
Historyedit
Establishmentedit
In the spirit of preserving the Hawaiian culture and heritage, 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."[2]
Scaling downedit
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.[3]
No Aloha festival was held in 2020.
Eventsedit
Presentation of the Royal Courtedit
The court is selected from a pool of applicants, all of whom must be of Hawaiian ancestry and of certain ages.[4] 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.[5]
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
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")
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 Hawaiʻi ("The Spirit Within")
2004: No Nā Kamaliʻi ("For the Children")
2003: E Mau Ana Ka Hula I Ke Kanaka ("Hula Lives Through Its People")
2002: Ka ʻUhane O Ka Loea ("The Spirit of the Masters")
2001: Hoʻohanohano 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 ʻŌiwi ("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
Referencesedit
^Paradise of the Pacific. Vol. 71. Press Publishing Company. 1959. p. 133.
^Foster, Jeanette (7 July 2011). Frommer's Maui 2012. John Wiley & Sons. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-118-10069-1. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
^Char, Sherie; Bailey, Chris (2009-09-19). "Aloha Festivals 2009 ho'olaulea block party, parade coming up. Here's the schedule". Hawaii Magazine. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
^VOK. "Aloha Festivals Seeks Applicants for 2016 Oahu Royal Court and Floral Parade | The Voice of Kapolei". thevoiceofkapolei.com. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
^"Your Guide to the 2017 Aloha Festivals Celebrating Hawaiian Culture". Retrieved 2018-05-31.