Hawaii's culture, customs, traditions and aloha spirit will be showcased and celebrated in one of Hawaii's most-prominent events, the Aloha Festivals.
This Year's Theme
The mission of the Aloha Festivals is to preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture and to celebrate the diverse customs, traditions and aloha spirit of Hawaii. This year's Festival theme is Mele 'Ailana: Celebrate Island Music.
The annual theme is chosen carefully and this year focuses on celebrating island music and presenting Hawaii's history and culture through this art form."
Here is how the festival organizers explain their choice of this year's theme.
The unparalleled beauty of Hawaii, its vibrant people and proud heritage have been the inspiration of mele - chants and songs - for scores of generations. Whether in olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language) or English, island music is an artful expression of Hawaii's unique way of life as experienced by kamaaina (locals) and malihini (visitors) from around the world.
Contemporary genres of island music often weave elements of tradition with modern trends and influences. European-introduced ukulele and guitar combine with ancient instruments and state-of-the-art technology. Add to that the rich voices of talented island artists and you get a kind of musical magic that soothes the spirit. Nahenahe - meaning sweet and melodious - is a term synonymous with island music.
E ho 'olohe a e nanea mai i ka leo nahenahe o Hawaii pae 'aina - 'o ia no ia 'o Mele 'Ailana. Experience and enjoy the sweet voice of Hawaii.
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.
View our gallery of photos of the 2008 Aloha Festivals Floral Parade.
NEXT PAGE > 2011 Oahu Calendar of Events
