| Aloha Festivals 2002 | |
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When August
arrives and fall is just around the corner, it's
time for the Aloha Festivals in Hawaii. The Aloha Festivals are celebrating
their 56th anniversary in 2002. They are not only Hawaii's largest festival, but also America's only statewide multicultural
celebration. The festivals run from August through October.
This Year's Theme
The theme for this year's Aloha Festivals is
"Ka 'Uhane O Ka Loea - The Spirit of the Masters."
The Aloha Festivals 2002 president, Carol Pregill, selected this theme "to
showcase island artisans and the importance of their work in preserving Hawaii's cultural heritage.
Works of art, the creations of artists and artisans, define the civility of a
society. Whether it be lauhala, kapa, feather cloaks and lei, or literature,
music and woodcarvings, the distinguishing feature between the masterpiece and
the mundane is the creator, the artist or artisan, the master.
Utilitarian objects become works of art at the hands of the talented and the
skilled. The heart and spirit of the master become part of the object and impart
an infinite value to that object.
This year's theme gratefully acknowledges Hawaii's masters, from unknown
ancestors whose creations we treasure in our museums, to contemporary artists
and artisans who continually honor us with their works of art.
This is the cultural heritage that Hawaii shares with the world. The spirits of
the masters are the universal language that transcends time and ethnic diversity
and defines the civility of our Island society."
History of the Aloha Festivals
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 preserve the
unique traditions of Hawaii. It took a year to plan the first Aloha Festivals, and in the
fall of 1947 the festivities began. Since then, the celebration has expanded to include
over 300 events on six Hawaiian islands over a two-month period. In 1991 the name of the
celebration was changed to Aloha Festivals.
The Festivals now encompass all of the many and varied cultures of the people of Hawaii, be they Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino or any other races that call Hawaii their home.
Each year, nearly 30,000 volunteers participate in the staging of the events, which are attended by nearly one million people, in what has been called "a festival truly of the people of Hawaii by the people of Hawaii."
Fall was chosen for the Aloha Festivals for two primary reasons; first to honor the makahiki, the ancient Hawaiian time of music, dance and feasting when war was not permitted, and second to attract visitors to the islands after the summer rush. Today, the celebration has become an island tradition.
The festivals are funded through appropriated funds from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, corporate sponsorships and private donations, as well as through the sale of Aloha Festivals ribbons and other merchandise.
Schedule of Events
Big
Island of Hawaii Events
Kauai
Events
Lanai
Events
Maui
Events
Molokai
Events
Oahu
Events
Aloha Festivals Official Homepage
Images are copyrighted and under the exclusive control of Aloha Festivals. Used with permission of Aloha Festivals.
