It’s Time for the Aloha Festivals

In 1946 three former Honolulu Jaycees had a vision of a celebration to share the culture of Hawaii. To get the needed start-up cash, one even mortgaged his home. They believed that a celebration of Hawaii’s diverse heritage would foster pride and sharing and bring out the best for all to enjoy. The long legacy of Aloha Festivals, Hawaii’s festival celebrating all things Hawaiian, proves they were right.

Aloha Festivals was first held in 1946 as Aloha Week, and over the past six and a half decades has become a celebration of Hawaiian culture, integrating the traditions and cultures of the Islands through music, dance, cuisine and art. All festivities are coordinated by a volunteer board of directors.

Pa’u riders wearing colors representing the different islands add grace and majesty to the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade. Pink represents the Island of Maui. Photo courtesy of Communications Pacific.

The festival began as a stage pageant in Kapiolani Park. From the beginning a “royal family” was selected from volunteers and presented. This “royal family,” now called the Aloha Festivals Royal Court, have always been people from the community willing to preside over events, representing Hawaii’s royalty.

Every year a Royal Family and attendants are chosen to honor the kings and queens of Hawaii’s past. Known as the Royal Court, they preside over the ceremonies and make special appearances. Photo courtesy of Communications Pacific.

The following year the Aloha Festival’s Parade brought legions of fans to the curbside of Waikiki.

It was always the rule that marching units, floats, bands and horse riding units were, and still are, garlanded in only fresh flowers.

The magnificent parade attracted the attention of CBS and was filmed each year. Through the ‘90’s it was shown to 50 million viewers, nationwide. The only slightly confusing moment was that the Parade was televised, tape delayed, on Thanksgiving Day.

2015 Theme: Beloved Feather Treasures

Shown here are the yellow and red feather details of a royal cloak. Yellow and red signify royalty in Hawaiian culture. The feathers were gathered from endemic Hawaiian birds, and the birds were released back into nature. The red feathers were gathered from the ‘i‘iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) and the ‘apapane (Himatione sanguinea) birds. The yellow feathers were gathered from the ‘ō‘ō (Moho nobilis) and mamo (Drepanis pacifica) birds. Photo courtesy of Napua Heen.

“Aloha Festivals has been around for 69 years and we are excited to present another inspiring theme for Hawai‘i’s largest cultural celebration,” said Helene “Sam” Shenkus, Aloha Festivals board of directors co-chair. “This year’s theme, ‘Hulu Aloha – Beloved Feather Treasures’ was carefully crafted to recognize the art of featherwork and the dedication to create such masterpieces.”

Two legends in the art of Hawaiian featherwork are the honorees of the 69th Aloha Festivals. The work and the memory of the late Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa and her daughter, the late Paulette Kahalepuna will be celebrated across the island of Oahu.

Left: Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa, feather making master. She is holding up her father’s hat with a pheasant lei around it (Gregory Yamamoto/Honolulu Star-Advertiser Archives). Right: Paulette Kahalepuna as the 2008 Lei Queen (Craig T. Kojima/ Star-Advertiser Archive).

The Hawaiian culture has long incorporated intricate featherwork into its symbols and traditions. The 2015 honorees, through their Kapahulu Avenue shop, Na Lima Mili Hulu Noeau, were no doubt responsible for providing classes, advice, direction and suppling the feathers for hundreds of feather head and neck lei worn by hula dancers, members of the royal court and parade participants.

Here you can see the Royal Court complete with yellow and red kāhili (feather standards), mahiole (feather head dresses) on the men, and feather lei on the women. All of these feather adornments signify high rank. Photo courtesy of Aloha Festivals.

The kāhili, (feather standard for Hawaiian royalty), ‘ahuʻula (cloak), mahiole (helmet), and lei are treasured works of art that distinguished the Aliʻi (ruling class) of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Now held in high regard because of their history and ceremonial significance, featherwork and other symbols of rank are worn each year by the Aloha Festivals Royal Court to perpetuate the pageantry and magnificence of the Ali‘i.

An ‘ahuʻula (cloak) belonging to King Kamehameha the Great on display at the Queen Emma Summer Palace in Honolulu. Photo courtesy of Napua Heen.

Featherwork techniques differed among groups throughout Polynesia, practiced by Tahitians, Maoris and Hawaiians. However, the refined skills and techniques that exemplify the Hawaiian hulu (featherwork), elevated these artifacts and their craftsmanship to a revered status throughout the Pacific and with collectors around the world.

Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, Aloha Festivals board of directors co-chair, says the Festivals “are proud to pay tribute to the amazing artistry and skill of the two masters of Hawaiian featherwork.” Both Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa and her daughter, the late Paulette Kahalepuna, served as Mo’i Wahine (Queen) of the Aloha Festivals Royal Court.

Aloha Festivals Events Line-up

Aloha Festivals Floral Parade. Photo courtesy of Communications Pacific.

This year’s Aloha Festivals takes place from Sept. 5 to 26 at various locations on O‘ahu, sharing the history and traditions of Hawai‘i and the unique spirit of aloha with both kamaʻāina, local residents, and malihini, visitors.

All events are free and open to the public. They are supported by the sale of Aloha Festivals ribbons and merchandise from participating retailers. Aloha Festivals merchandise will also be sold at all events.

Aloha Festivals Royal Court Investiture & Opening Ceremony, Saturday, September 5th from 2 to 4 p.m. takes place at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel Coconut Grove followed by the Opening Ceremony in the Royal Grove at the Royal Hawaiian Center.

The Ali‘i (royalty) – king, queen, prince and princess – take their places in the 2015 Aloha Festivals Royal Court. Court members receive the royal cloak, helmet, head feather lei and other symbols of their reign. Traditional chant and hula kahiko (ancient hula) highlight the event.

On Saturday, September 12th the Keiki Ho‘olaule‘a, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pearlridge Center Uptown – Pearlridge Center will celebrate Aloha Festivals with a variety of activities, demonstrations and continuous stage performances by participating keiki (children’s) musical groups and hula hālau (schools). The 2015 Aloha Festivals Royal Court will make a special appearance. For more information, visit pearlridgeonline.com.

On Saturday, September 19th it will be time for one of Hawaii’s best “really big parties”, the Waikīkī Ho‘olaule‘a, starting at 7 p.m.,on Kalākaua Avenue. The annual Waikīkī Ho‘olaule‘a is Hawai‘i’s largest, most festive block party. Thousands of people will take to the streets for food, fun and entertainment. Top Island entertainers will perform along with hula hālau (hula groups) while Hawaiian crafts and floral lei will be on display and available for purchase.

The following Saturday, September 26th, the 69th Annual Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, begins at 9 a.m., on Kalākaua Avenue in Waikiki, traveling from Ala Moana Park to Kapi‘olani Park. Always a colorful equestrian procession of pā‘ū, long-skirted horse riders, exquisite floats with cascades of Hawaiian flowers, hula hālau, marching bands and dignitaries will enliven Kalākaua Avenue. Any spot along the route is good for watching. Making it to the park to see riders and floats as the parade ends is picture perfect for visitors.

More information about Aloha Festivals and its events can be found at www.alohafestivals.com, Facebook (facebook.com/AlohaFestivals), Twitter (@AlohaFstvls), Instagram (@alohafestivals) or by calling (808) 923-2030.

If you’re on the Big Island, the Hapuna Prince Beach Hotel will be hosting its Annual Festival of Aloha on September 20, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Free and open to the public, the Festival of Aloha is sister event to the Aloha Festivals. The Aloha Festivals Royal Court will be visiting the Big Island for the Festival of Aloha.