The 78th annual Aloha Festivals Island of Hawaii celebrates Hawaiian culture, language, arts, and traditional Hawaiian customary practices. We strive to keep alive century-old traditions, formalize historical protocols, celebrate, teach, and share with kamaʻāina and visitors alike the customs and practices of Hawaii’s native culture by providing the opportunity for all to participate, learn, observe, and understand the value and importance of the Hawaiian culture and people to the world.  These festivities include engaging in island-wide makahiki-like events, festivals, and contests such as the Moananui Ocean Festival Event, The Paniolo Festival Event, The Art of The Hula Competition Event, and The Ali‘i Ball Event. These events provide an opportunity for Hawai’i’s visitors to participate in an authentic cultural experience and gain an understanding of Hawai’i and its people all while engaging and educating Hawai’i’s people (native and local) about the origins of these practices and their perpetuation for continued existence, and providing a platform for these festivities to be showcased and presented.

 

Aloha Festivals Island of Hawaii is a new project with old roots. Reformed in 2024, this brand-new festival project shares relations to the original Aloha Week / Aloha Festivals and Hawaii Island Festivals that were run by the Waimea community for many years. During the pandemic, this annual festival was put on pause, giving time for the festival to restructure, reform, and reinvigorate for a better festival. The new committee aims to merge new ideas with old traditions and bring back some oldies but goodies contests, festival events, and celebrations. The festival is being operated by the Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Association 501(c)3 native Hawaiian organizations, led by Festival Director Kumu Micah Kamohoalii.