| If you're thinking about going on a Hawaiian | | | | enjoying the traditional welcoming aspects of |
| vacation and you want the full on cultural | | | | Hawaiian culture. |
| experience, there's no better time to take | | | | |
| your trip than the fall, when the Aloha | | | | Food and drink are plentiful, and everything |
| festival celebrates the islands' royal | | | | is decked out with garlands of flowers. |
| heritage. | | | | |
| | | | The scent of these flowers fills the warm |
| The first Aloha Festivals took place in 1946, | | | | island air. Free festivals in every major |
| when a group of Jaycees staged a grassroots | | | | city offer the chance to discover local arts |
| cultural celebration reminiscent of the | | | | and crafts and watch local dancers perform |
| Makahiki season of ancient Hawaii. | | | | for the public. Hula dancing is particularly |
| | | | popular, with Waikiki Beach famously playing |
| The event now encompasses some 300 events on | | | | host to the world's longest hula line. |
| six islands spanning a two-month period. | | | | There's also the prestigious Hawaiian |
| Nearly 30,000 volunteers work together to | | | | falsetto contest, held on O'ahu. |
| stage the various events, which are attended | | | | |
| by nearly a million people each year. | | | | For those who want to see something with more |
| | | | ancient roots, there are the royal |
| The Aloha Festival runs through mid-October. | | | | ceremonies, at which symbolic royal court |
| Each island chooses a king, queen, prince, | | | | officials are provided with their titles for |
| princess and attendants, all of whom are of | | | | a year. Strangers are welcome to greet the |
| Hawaiian descent. The investiture of each | | | | court if they bring gifts and garlands. It's |
| island's alii is a wonderfully colorful | | | | a superb opportunity to get involved in an |
| affair, accompanied by conch shell blowers, | | | | event of great historic significance. |
| kahili (feather standard) bearers, | | | | |
| ladies-in-waiting and others. | | | | There are also ceremonies to honour Queen |
| | | | Lili`uokalani, Hawaii's last reigning |
| The festival encompasses the traditional | | | | monarch, in the park which bears her name. |
| royal investiture ceremonies, last of their | | | | You'll find music, dancing, special food, and |
| kind in the Americas, and also involves | | | | storytellers recounting the islands' |
| tributes to Pele, goddess of the volcanoes | | | | traditional tales. |
| which light up the night sky. | | | | |
| | | | The Aloha festival offers a wonderful way for |
| The stated mission of the Aloha Festivals is | | | | visitors to get to know Hawaiian culture. |
| to "preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture | | | | Even if you don't stray far from your |
| and to celebrate the diverse customs and | | | | vacation condo, you'll find block parties at |
| Aloha Spirit of Hawaii." | | | | which everybody is welcome. |
| | | | |
| From a vacation condo base in Honolulu, you | | | | So choose fall for your next Hawaiian |
| can watch street parades go by and get | | | | vacation, and you won't be disappointed. |
| involved in partying with the locals, | | | | |