Celebrating the Aloha Spirit

By April Randolph, Elizabeth Galang, & Matthew Ulanski

The Aloha Festivals is a 61-year-old Hawaiian culture celebration that spans two months and includes events on 6 islands. Oahu events include the Waikiki Ho’olaule’a and new events like the world’s longest hula line.

The festivals were started in 1946 as a public celebration of Hawaii’s vibrant and rich culture. Many visitors and residents take part in the festivities and have adapted it into yearly family traditions.

One of the biggest events that many people look forward to every year is the annual Waikiki Ho’olaule’a, which took place on Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. The ho’olaule’a is a big block party that takes place on Kalakaua Avenue between Lewers Street and Kapahulu Avenue. This year it celebrated it’s 55th anniversary.

Food vendors and arts and crafts tables lined the crowded streets of Waikiki.  Many people arrived wearing aloha pride shirts or carrying the Hawaiian flag. Local radio stations sponsored 8 stages along the avenue, where live music concerts were performed.

“We stopped at the Krater 96 FM stage and ended up staying there all night!” Kaneohe resident Melody Harris said. “They had amazing performances so we didn’t want to leave.”

Another set of events geared towards children took place at Pearlridge Shopping Center the next day, on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007. The 4th Annual Keiki Ho‘olaule‘a took place at both the Uptown and Downtown center stages. It featured clowns, presentations by Mad Science of Hawaii, and artwork by I¢olani School elementary students.

The most awaited for event of the day was the presentation of the 2007 Aloha Festivals Royal Court. The royal court included volunteers of Hawaiian descent. Out of these volunteers, a prince and princess were chosen.

Later that day, people from all over the world gathered to hula on Waikiki beach They were attempting to set a record for the world’s longest hula line.  The Guinness Book of World Records shows that the current record was set on Sept. 21, 1996 with 3,500 dancers. 

Thousands of people began lining up at 3:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Within an hour, the line of people stretched out from the Hilton all the way down to Queen’s beach, on the opposite end of Waikiki. Halaus, part-time dancers, tourists and local residents were among those who participated. 

“It’s been 11 years since the last one, so hopefully we break the record,” said one participant.

At 4:00 p.m. the thousands of dancers began swaying back and forth to Andy Cumming’s “Waikiki” followed by Kimo Alama Keaulana’s “Aloha Week Hula”.

Due to participants not registering in advance, the number of dancers is still not known.       

The Aloha Festivals will come to a close on Oahu on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 with the Hawaiian Falsetto Contest.  The event will take place at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel at 7:00 p.m.