Journey of aloha This year's statewide Aloha Festivals celebrations will begin tomorrow on a subdued note, with the annual floral parade. The 54-year traditional series of celebrations was to have begun at 5:30 today with opening ceremonies at Honolulu Hale, followed by the annual Downtown Ho'olaule'a.
takes somber note
LATE NEWS: ALOHA FESTIVALS
PARADE CANCELEDOpening ceremonies and the
Downtown Hoolaulea are canceled
because of the East Coast terror attacks
Star-Bulletin staffBut, caught between the desire to honor those lost in the terrorist attacks Tuesday and the desire to continue a 54-year-old tradition, organizers decided that only the parade would go on, with a more somber tone, said Janet Hyrne, Aloha Festivals executive director.
"What made the difference was when President Bush announced (today) to be a national day of mourning and prayer," Hyrne said yesterday. "Hoolauleas are generally upbeat and a lot of fun. We don't want to detract from the fact that it was designated to be a more somber kind of day."
The parade also will have a new starting point this year, Hobron Lane at Ala Moana Boulevard.The parade will reflect Aloha Festivals' 55th anniversary theme, "Ho'ohanohano I Na Holokai, Honor the Voyagers," paying tribute to the ancient voyagers who left their homes to explore the vast Polynesian Triangle. Festivities also honor modern mariners who, during the past 25 years, restored cultural pride in Hawaii's seafaring heritage through the voyages of Hokule'a and Hawai'iloa by traveling as their ancestors did by means of stars, ocean swells and wave patterns.
As usual, there will be floral floats, marching bands, motorcades of waving beauty queens and politicians, and pa'u riders on steeds decked out in majestic lei. This year's parade grand marshal is Claude Onizuka, brother of late astronaut Ellison Onizuka. Nainoa Thompson, navigator of Hokule'a, will serve as ambassador of aloha.
Aloha Festivals was created in 1946 as Aloha Week to help preserve Hawaii's traditions. Festival activities continue through Sept. 21 on Oahu (neighbor island activities run through Oct. 21). Here are just a few highlights. More information is available through the Aloha Festivals offices at 589-1771, or its Web site www.alohafestivals.com:
Tomorrow
>> 54th Floral Parade -- Pay attention now: There's a new route this year, with the parade starting at Hobron Lane and Ala Moana Boulevard, turning onto Kalakaua Boulevard before ending at approximately 1 p.m. at Kapahulu Avenue.Special guests this year include the Tai-ji Men, a marching unit and dance troupe from Taiwan in a rare presentation of the Chinese eight Immortals and four auspicious creatures, the celestial dragon, qi-lin, lions and phoenix; Mrs. World Dr. Sarah Muffazal Lakdawala; Mrs. America Leslie Ann Lam and contestants from the Mrs. America Pageant; and the Harley Davidson Drill Team.
There will be nine pa'u units, one for each of the eight major Hawaiian islands, plus Molokini off Maui. Each unit will be led by a "princess" wearing the colors and flowers of the island she represents. John Hesia will be Pa'u Marshal, and Valdred Texeira will be the Pa'u Queen.
Our many national online readers need not miss out; highlights of the parade will be broadcast nationally on CBS Thanksgiving Day.
>> "Holoholo Hawaiian Style" -- Takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McCully Shopping Center, with quilt and haku lei-making demonstrations, a display of plants from the Hawaii Kai Orchid Society and entertainment by Halau Kawaihoa at 11 a.m. and Kanilau and Halau Na Mamo O Ka'ala at noon. Free.>> "Weave a Lei" contest -- All adults are welcome to submit lei from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Ala Moana Center's Centerstage for the contest with five $100 prizes and a $500 grand prize. The prize-winning lei will be shown at the Customer Service Center. In addition, there will be lei-making demonstrations at five stations throughout the center, showing various techniques and materials, from Micronesian weaving to use of polymer clay flowers.
There will also be a keiki division (ages 5 to 12) competition from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, with five $50 prizes and a $100 grand prize. For more information, call TEMARI Center for Asian and Pacific Arts, at 735-1860.
>> Ukulele Festival -- The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center hosts a free event featuring "Roy Sakuma's Ukulele Kids" strumming to Hawaiian and pop tunes from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Fountain Courtyard. Local entertainers, including Herb Ohta Jr., Keoki Kahumoku and Jake Shimabukuro, will also be featured. Free ukuleles will be given to the first twenty participants in the center's ukulele classes in September. Call 922-2299.
Sept. 21
>> Waikiki Ho'olaule'a -- More than 250,000 are expected to party along Kalakaua Avenue between 6 and 10:30 p.m. during this street fest, with several entertainment stages, lei vendors and food booths selling ethnic fare. Note to drivers: Kalakaua will be closed at 5:30 p.m. from Lewers Street. Special event parking will be available at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center's garage at $1 per hour at a five-hour maximum. Validation may be obtained at the Visitor's Center at the Fountain Courtyard.
Neighbor island highlights
Big Island
>> Today through Sunday -- The 10th annual Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Sam Choy Poke Festival will feature professional and non-professional chefs vying for more than $15,000 in cash and prizes; a celebrity auction; a concert featuring the Lim Family, Na Leo Pilimehana and the Makaha Sons; and an invitational golf tournament.>> Sept. 22 -- 26th annual Paniolo Parade and Waimea Ho'olaule'a. Celebration of paniolo heritage starts at 10 a.m. There will also be a Paniolo Hat Lei Contest at Cook's Discoveries, with prizes in five categories: fresh; dried flowers and plant materials; feathers; seeds and shells; keiki; and amusing, unusual or recycled. Entries must be in by 9 a.m. For lei contest details, call (808) 885-3633.
Molokai
>> Oct. 2 -- Hana Hou Concert at the Mitchell Pau'ole Center, 7 p.m. Call (808) 553-5252.>> Oct. 4 -- Kupuna Show and Poke Contest at the Mitchell Pau'ole Center, 7 p.m. Call (808) 553-5252.
>> Oct. 5 -- Island students compete in "Na Lei O Molokai," a song competition in English and Hawaiian, followed by disco dancing, at the Mitchell Pau'ole Center, 7 p.m. Call (808) 553-5252.
>> Oct. 6 -- Royal Ball. The Molokai king and queen preside over an evening of entertainment at Hotel Molokai. Call (808) 553-5252.
Kauai
>> Oct. 4 -- Opening ceremony at Hyatt Regency Kauai Seaview Terrace, 4 p.m. Call (808) 245-8505.>> Oct. 4 -- "Drums of Paradise Luau" at Hyatt Regency Kauai, 5:30 p.m. The cost is $62.50 for adults and $31.25 for children, with a $2 discount for ribbon wearers. Call (808) 742-1234.
>> Oct. 5 -- Ho'olaule'a, with food, crafts and entertainment, takes place on the historic Kauai County Building Lawn in Lihue, 5-10 p.m. Call (808) 245-8508.
>> Oct. 11 -- Old Koloa Town Celebration. Enjoy a farmers market of local produce, flowers and lei, food tasting, entertainment and view artists at work from noon to 4 p.m. in Old Koloa Town. Call (808) 973-0040.
>> Oct. 13 -- Royal Ball. Gala takes place at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, 6 p.m. Call (808) 245-1955.
>> Oct. 14 -- Kauai Village Ho'olaule'a, with food, crafts and entertainment, and activities for kids, takes place at Kauai Village Center, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Call (808) 822-4904.
Maui
>> Oct. 13 -- Wailuku Ho'o- laule'a, with food, crafts and entertainment, Maui products and produce on Market Street in historic Wailuku Town, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (808) 270-7414.>> Oct. 19 -- Pau Hana Friday Kanikapila. Relax during a back-yard style Hawaiian chalang-alang party with barbecue under the stars at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel Tiki Courtyard, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Call (808) 667-0165.
>> Oct. 21 -- 14th annual Lahaina Banyan Tree Ho'olaule'a, with arts and crafts, food booths, hula and music from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (808) 229-0340.
>> Oct. 23 -- The Hana Keiki Muumuu & Aloha Shirt Contest will have about 70 youngsters up to age 12 dress in their Most Hawaiian, Most Beautiful, Most Original (Homemade) and Best Overall aloha attire vying for cash prizes of $5 to $15. From 6 to 8 p.m. at the Helene Hall Community Center.
When: 9 a.m. tomorrow Aloha Festivals Floral parade
Where: New route begins at Hobron Lane and ends at Kapahulu Avenue
Cost: Free. Ribbon cost, $5, available at Aloha Festivals offices at Ward Warehouse, First Hawaiian Bank, Safeways and other new merchants islandwide.
Call: 589-1771
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