Hawaii’s largest block party, the Waikiki Hoolaulea, happens this Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The hoolaulea (“celebration”) features food, fun, and entertainment, including various performances of Hawaiian music and hula, different local craftspeople selling their wares, and a variety of food vendors available all night long. Let’s take a nostalgic journey back to this captivating celebration of island life.
What to Expect
We aren’t kidding about being Hawaii’s largest block party: the event attracts thousands of attendees, closing off seven blocks of Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki for the celebration. The Waikiki Hoolaulea is part of the larger Aloha Festival, which takes place in Waikiki every September.
The block party continues off from this year’s Royal Court Opening Ceremony, a short event that was held on September 9th at the Royal Hawaiian Center. The Royal Court Investiture presented the king, queen, prince, and princess of the Aloha Festival Royal Court, and also granted the members of the Alii court their royal cloaks, helmets, and head feather lei. The Royal Court and Alii Court will kick off the Hoolaulea by making an appearance wearing the traditional garb that they received at the Opening Ceremony. The celebration continues with live performances on four stages scattered around Kalakaua Avenue and food vendors that will be selling various types of cuisine throughout the night.
More of the Aloha Festival
The following Saturday, September 30th, will be the day of the Floral Parade, the last event of the Aloha Festival in which various floats, marching bands, and pa’u riders (equestrians) will stroll down Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue, from Ala Moana Beach to Kapiolani Park.
This year’s Aloha Festival has the theme of “He Lei Aloha Ke Keiki – Children Are Our Garland of Love,” centered around the importance of children in our society and, like budding flowers that are grown for use in a lei, must be carefully nurtured.
Check out the Waikiki Hoolaulea this Saturday, September 23rd!
