Aloha Festivals Part 1 - Waikiki Ho'olaule'a

The 62nd Annual Aloha Festivals began its celebrations in Honolulu this past weekend. What is known today as Aloha Festivals was created in 1946, as Aloha Week - a cultural celebration of Hawaii’s music, dance and history intended to perpetuate our unique traditions. This is the oldest and largest Hawaiian cultural statewide celebration in the United States. The events are held throughout the month of September, each island creating their own unique festivities.


The Aloha Festivals faced economic challenges recently and there were even thoughts of discontinuing it. The festival theme, “Hula: The Art of Hawaiian Dance,” energized the community, especially the hula enthusiasts, and with the support of local volunteers and sponsors the Aloha Festivals proved to be a success once again. It is through the sale of Aloha Festivals ribbons and merchandise, corporate and private donations, and the support of thousands of volunteers that the Aloha Festivals will prevail. Please support this wonderful event.


Let me tell you about the Waikiki Ho’olaule’a that took place Friday evening. “Ho’olaule’a” means “celebration”, and what a wonderful way to kick off the Aloha Festivals with a block party spread along Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Five stages of entertainment focused on hula and Hawaiian music. Food and beverage vendors, lei makers and crafts merchants made for a wonderful variety of activities.

Crowds of people down Kalakaua Avenue, around 6:30 pm.


The wonderful aromas of food attract the hungry crowd.

So much food to choose from!
 

Hearty Bar-B-Q…so ono, yummy!
 


There were many craft booths however the lei stands are the favorites at the Aloha Festivals.
 


Over 56 vendors participated this year.
T-shirts with lei decorations.
 



You must support the Aloha Festivals and buy ribbons for $5.
Just like our Honolulu Festival, the Aloha Festivals is a non-profit organization and relies strictly on the donations and support of its sponsors and volunteers. It is a festival truly of the people of Hawaii by the people of Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible and welcomed.

The arrival of the Royal Court kicks off the Ho’olaule’a.
 

This is a tradition that has been carried on for 62 years.

Next are the hula performances.
 


Manoa DNA on stage.


As they were participants in our 14th Annual Honolulu Festival, Manoa DNA has a special place in my heart.
 



From left are Dad, Alex and Nick. The Kawakami Family lives in Manoa. Take their initials and thus their name, Manoa DNA.


Manoa DNA with Miss Hawaii.


…with Miss Aloha Hula.

Their beautiful hula…simply mesmerizing.


Other performers on stage who previously participated in our Honolulu Festival included Maunalua, Raiatea Helm and Taimane Gardner.

The Aloha Festivals Waikiki Ho’olaule’a was so much fun. Please stay tuned for Part 2.

Honolulu Festival Foundation

“Heart of the Pacific, Creating Our Future”

The Honolulu Festival Foundation is very excited to announce its sub theme for the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival to be held on March 13-15, 2009.

Throughout the years our Festival has grown with our constant theme “Pacific Harmony” in mind.Our sub theme for the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival is “Heart of the Pacific, Creating Our Future.” As we celebrate our 15th year of organizing this premier cultural event in Hawaii, it is our intent to target our future and grow our programs.

The Honolulu Festival has continued to develop from Hawaii, the heart or “piko” (Hawaiian word for “navel”) of the Pacific. The sense of aloha that is ingrained in the hearts of the people of Hawaii is displayed in many ways. It is “ho’okipa”, the warm hospitality that is shown by the Hawaiian people to the visitors from abroad. It is also “ohana”, the ability to embrace others as family, to accept and include the cultures and traditions of our immigrants from various countries, and thus create a unique and complex culture that is truly “Hawaiian”. In recent years our cultural exchange programs have expanded based on the strong relationships established with our neighboring Pacific Rim countries. It is our vision to pass on these valuable cultures and traditions to our future generations.

The 15th Annual Honolulu Festival will be a milestone, a celebration commemorating 15 years of bringing this cultural extravaganza to Hawaii. We will pull out all the stops in regards to performances, programs and participation. We need your support more than ever.

The Farmers' Market at Kapiolani Community College

There are many farmers’markets held throughout the week in Hawaii. People in general love to buy their fresh produce at these outdoor markets. There are many reasons for this. I find the fruits and vegetables to be fresh. Prices are better too, especially the produce that are homegrown. And as we strive for sustainability within our community, it’s always good to support your local farmers. One of the more popular markets is the one held every Saturday morning from 7:30 to 11:00 in the parking lot of University of Hawaii’s Kapiolani Community College near Diamond Head. It gets busy with a huge crowd every Saturday but you will usually be able to find parking because people are constantly coming and going.

There are over 50 booths. Not only do the booths offer vegetables and fruits. There are plants, Hawaii products such as jams and jellies, spices, honey, salad dressings and much more. You can also buy plate lunches too.

Nalo Farms sell their fresh greens, very popular with the locals and the local restaurants.

Kona Coffee, Hawaiian Chocolate, Ohana Seafoods and Ali’i Kula Lavender from Maui.

Tomatoes on Parade!

There’s a variety of vegetables, some that you wouldn’t know how to cook.

Come and enjoy breakfast at the Farmers’ Market. Or take home lunch.

Local plants and flowers galore.

Sweet Maui Onions.

The Farmers’ Market at Kapiolani Community College is definitely a place that you will enjoy. It’s a nice way to start your weekend. Have fun and also get some of your grocery shopping done!

Bon Odori…in Hawaii we call it Bon Dance!

Obon or simply Bon is a Japanese Buddhist custom honoring the spirits of one’s ancestors who are no longer with us. This custom is still practiced in Japan and is a family reunion. People return to their family home to get reacquainted, visit and clean their ancestors’ graves and await the return of their ancestors’ spirits. This custom is also known as the Feast of Lanterns because at the end of Obon, usually held in mid August, paper lanterns are illuminated and floated down rivers. This symbolizes the return of the ancestors’ spirits to the world of the dead.

Hawaii has been celebrating Obon for many years in the form of a festive Bon Odori or Bon Dance. There are many Buddhist temples in Hawaii and each summer from June through August many of them have Bon Dances on the weekends. The local community anxiously waits for the Bon Dance schedule to come out. Hard to believe that this summer there are over 30 Bon Dances just in Honolulu! The festivities are fun for the whole family. There’s plenty to eat, many traditional Japanese food, and you can practice your bon dance to the music and beat of the drums.

Honolulu Weekly, a free publication geared towards the young audience, promotes Bon Dance with a full page layout. And according to the writer it is best to dance in the inner circle closest to the professional dancers so that you can learn the dances quickly and become real good at it. That’s determination!


The Koganji Temple Bon Dance was held on Friday and Saturday, August 1st and 2nd from 5:30 to 10:30 P.M. at 2869 Oahu Avenue in Manoa Valley. This beautiful temple is located on the slopes of Manoa Valley. There’s a large parking lot on the top and as you walk down you will see the main temple. And that is where the Bon Dance is held.

Their official name is beautifully displayed in Japanese kanji characters.

On the grounds you will see an area dedicated to the “Ojizou-san”, Ksitigarbha (bodhisattva who looks over children, travelers and the underworld).
And the offerings include andagi (Okinawan donuts), chichidango (sweet rice cakes) and plate lunches. So local!

These are mini “ojizou-san”.

The landscape is immaculate and the gardens are heavenly.

There are many temples in Hawaii and many other bon dances but somehow the Manoa Koganji Temple makes you fee l spiritual and refr eshed. Perhaps it is due to itslocation and the total atmosphere of the surroundings.

A commencement prayer is read as members bow their heads.And then the Bon Dance begins!
Participants wear yukata (cotton kimono) and happi (happi coats) and dance around the yagura which is a high wooden scaffold/bandstand where the musicians and singers perform their Obon music. The dance steps are quite easy to learn for each of the songs. Usually the Bon Dance association members who have been dancing each year will teach the other participants and repeat the dances so that everyone can practice. It is really a lot of fun. I particularly recall watching the Hawaii teenagers enjoying the dance steps and jazzing it up to resemble a line dance something similar to the Electric Slide! This is a true example of “cultural exchange”! The music that is played is not limited to traditional Obon music and Japanese folk songs. New tunes focusing on kids anime such as Pokemon are also popular.

The Pokemon Dance

There was also a Children’s Lantern Parade and Taiko (Japanese drum) performance. Food booths offered local and traditional food including grilled corn-on-the-cob, andagi (Okinawan donuts), bento(Japanese box lunches), yakisoba (fried noodles), and plate lunches (local version).

What a wonderful way to spend an evening in Honolulu…Bon Dance at the Manoa Koganji Temple.

The Bon Dance season during Hawaii’s summer is a cultural event that you won’t want to miss.