The 4th Annual Kāhuli Festival’s theme focuses on renewing and restoring cultural connections for conservation and is titled Ke Kani Nei Ka Pūpū – The Land Snails Sing. Through this theme, we acknowledge the resilience of our Hawaiian land snails in an everchanging landscape and how the aliʻi of Hawaiʻi remembered them in the naming of places, like Kamehameha III’s Nuʻuanu home, Kaniakapūpū, and in storytelling. The festival offers an opportunity for the research, conservation, education, and natural cultural resource community to showcase how we mālama pū i ka ʻāina, especially through the cultural lens surrounding endangered Hawaiian land snails and other native species.

The Royal Court Investiture and Opening Ceremony will kick off the month-long Aloha Festivals celebration with its treasured cultural protocols. The evening will begin with The Royal Court Investiture. In a stately ceremony that honors Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi (ruling chiefs), this year’s Aloha Festivals Royal Court will don regalia worn only by aliʻi of the highest rank. As representatives of Hawaiʻi’s past, the Aloha Festivals Royal Court ensures the festival is rooted in the most cherished traditions of Hawaiʻi. Following the Investiture, the Opening Ceremony will feature hula and musical performances for a special evening in the heart of Waikīkī.

Mele Hula Festival debuts June 18!✨

Witness mele and hula like never before, where each performance is paired with newly-composed mele. This groundbreaking competition closes out our Mele Conference and celebrates the future of mele and hula.

Mele Hula Festival debuts June 18!✨

Witness mele and hula like never before, where each performance is paired with newly-composed mele. This groundbreaking competition closes out our Mele Conference and celebrates the future of mele and hula.

Mele Hula Festival debuts June 18!✨

Witness mele and hula like never before, where each performance is paired with newly-composed mele. This groundbreaking competition closes out our Mele Conference and celebrates the future of mele and hula.

Puʻuwai Haokila:The Story of How Hawaiʻi Shaped Modern Music, a PBS Hawai‘i documentary, reveals how Hawaiian musicians, through their unique sound and invention of the steel guitar, helped shape blues, country and bluegrass. 

Narrated by Raiatea Helm, the film uncovers Hawaiʻi’s deep, global impact on modern music despite the political struggles they faced at home.

Following the screening, join us for a conversation with the filmmaker and featured guests.

An exhibition featuring multimedia works by artist and musician Douglas Pooloa Tolentino and the late artist and designer Mary Philpotts McGrath.

Opening reception on October 11th from 6-8p

On view: October 4th - November 17th

Our bodies are mostly water, it makes complete sense that one of the most powerful "pulls" in our psychic and physical selves would be ka mahina, the moon! Let's move together with the universe around us! Nai'a is here to get us there! 

The Royal Court Investiture and Opening Ceremony will kick off the month-long Aloha Festivals celebration with its treasured cultural protocols. The evening will begin with The Royal Court Investiture. In a stately ceremony that honors Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi (ruling chiefs), this year’s Aloha Festivals Royal Court will don regalia worn only by aliʻi of the highest rank. As representatives of Hawaiʻi’s past, the Aloha Festivals Royal Court ensures the festival is rooted in the most cherished traditions of Hawaiʻi. Following the Investiture, the Opening Ceremony will feature hula and musical performances for a special evening in the heart of Waikīkī.

More than 30 hula hālau will gather in Waikīkī at the end of the month for the Hula ʻOni E Hula Festival.

Presented by Hālau Hula ʻO Hokulani, this year's event marks its 30th year and prides itself on perpetuating hula traditions and culture for practitioners and spectators alike. The festival also features a craft fair of 40 local vendors from across the State of Hawaiʻi.

Hula hālau from Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island and Japan will be participating in the festival contest and a hālau from Europe will perform.

The hula competition invites haumāna (students) ages six and up to participate in showcasing ʻauana and kahiko (modern and ancient) styles. The festival craft fair features dozens of local vendors and their Hawaiʻi made products of Hawaiian designs and various local snacks. The craft fair is free and open to the public. The hula festival requires a ticket.

More than 30 hula hālau will gather in Waikīkī at the end of the month for the Hula ʻOni E Hula Festival.

Presented by Hālau Hula ʻO Hokulani, this year's event marks its 30th year and prides itself on perpetuating hula traditions and culture for practitioners and spectators alike. The festival also features a craft fair of 40 local vendors from across the State of Hawaiʻi.

Hula hālau from Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island and Japan will be participating in the festival contest and a hālau from Europe will perform.

The hula competition invites haumāna (students) ages six and up to participate in showcasing ʻauana and kahiko (modern and ancient) styles. The festival craft fair features dozens of local vendors and their Hawaiʻi made products of Hawaiian designs and various local snacks. The craft fair is free and open to the public. The hula festival requires a ticket.

More than 30 hula hālau will gather in Waikīkī at the end of the month for the Hula ʻOni E Hula Festival.

Presented by Hālau Hula ʻO Hokulani, this year's event marks its 30th year and prides itself on perpetuating hula traditions and culture for practitioners and spectators alike. The festival also features a craft fair of 40 local vendors from across the State of Hawaiʻi.

Hula hālau from Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island and Japan will be participating in the festival contest and a hālau from Europe will perform.

The hula competition invites haumāna (students) ages six and up to participate in showcasing ʻauana and kahiko (modern and ancient) styles. The festival craft fair features dozens of local vendors and their Hawaiʻi made products of Hawaiian designs and various local snacks. The craft fair is free and open to the public. The hula festival requires a ticket.

Since 1940, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation’s Nā Hula Festival has celebrated the artistry and grace of Hawai‘i’s premiere dance form - hula.  The festival is Hawai‘i’s longest-running, annual, non-competitive hula event.

Puʻuhnoua Society, a long standing community arts and culture nonprofit, alongside local collaborator Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea and national collaborators from the initiative One Nation One Project: ARTS FOR EVERY BODY, is demonstrating real-time how the arts can lead to healthier people and healthier communities. Artists, civic leaders, and community health providers in 18 cities and towns across America including Honolulu will simultaneously premiere an array of large-scale participatory art projects.

The culmination of over a year of supporting Hawaiʻi-based art collectives, over 80 storytellers, weavers, dancers, healers, voyagers, kapa makers, poets, musicians, photographers, lei makers, activists, creators and dreamers will come together to share their embodied understanding of EA, of self determination and sovereignty, through individual and collective acts of affirmation and resistance.

July 27th Highlights

10-3pm Keanahala and NiU NOW! share lauhala (pandanus) preparation,

weaving and ʻike niu (coconut knowledge) and practices

10-3pm Large scale banners of akua wāhine or ancient Hawaiian goddesses,

moʻolelo of place and accompanying zines

11-2pm Walt Keale and other talented local musicians invite community to sing

songs of sovereignty at Tūtū’s Hale

12-3pm 808 Breakers, Hawaiʻi’s Premiere Break Dancing Crew shares

Performances, Showcases, Intro Workshops, and Battle Competitions

1-2pm Guest speaker Uncle Walter Ritte with the Sierra Club of Hawai’i

‘Aha Hui ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i is hosting a fun-filled day of music, hula, storytelling, games, student performances and a Hawaiian language speech competition. Some of the interactive booths will include free crafts for keiki to make and take home. Organized by Kūlaniākea as a way for keiki and families to hear ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i outside of school, the first Ola Ka ‘Ī was held in 2019.

JOIN US FOR OUR GRAND OPENING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024, AT 9:30 A.M. AT THE TOM MOFFATT WAIKĪKĪ SHELL!

The Kilohana Hula Show, presented by CNHA, will be a modern reimagining of the classic hula shows of Waikīkī.

This new show features Merrie Monarch Festival dancers, and is produced by the former entertainment stage director from the renowned Old Lahaina Lū‘au, bringing authentic Hawaiian hula and culture to Waikīkī for visitors and kama‘āina to experience.

The FREE show takes place every Sunday through Thursday, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Waikīkī Shell Amphitheater. E welina mai kākou!

The Ahupuaʻa Fishponds and Loʻi: Oʻahu exhibit at Koa Gallery, Kapiʻolani Community College will close on January 12th, 2024. To celebrate Hoʻomau Nā Maka o ka ʻĀinaʻs efforts, and the places and people featured, Koa Gallery will host a casual closing reception for folks to talk story and spend time in the installation. 

Fun for the family! Time to make Christmas ornaments. Join us for a 2-hour workshop focused on creating a set of ornaments. You will be making a fish, star, heart and pineapple. All ages are welcome. Instruction and all supplies are included.

2-hour workshop to learn how to make anthuriums. These beauties can be used in flower arrangements, given as gifts or even worn as a hair pick. All ages are welcome. Instruction and all supplies are included.

Join Niʻihau shell expert restorer, appraiser, maker, teacher, and owner of Hooked Gallery, Kai Hyde, for upcoming Ni'ihau Shell Workshop. Kit options Include lei, bracelets, earrings, or pendants [in pīkake, kipona, & other styles] to wear for yourself or to gift to a special someone.

Right in time for the holidays! Join Lei Maker Kuhi at Hānaiakamalama for a festive lei poo workshop. Learn the craft of lei making, enjoy a self-guided tour of Hānaiakamalama, and grab those perfect photo opportunities!

Join Niʻihau shell expert restorer, appraiser, maker, teacher, and owner of Hooked Gallery, Kai Hyde, for upcoming Ni'ihau Shell Workshop. Kit options Include lei, bracelets, earrings, or pendants [in pīkake, kipona, & other styles] to wear for yourself or to gift to a special someone.