Aloha Festivals 1999

If there were ever a "best" time of year to visit Hawaii, I would say without hesitation mid September to mid-October. It is a time of year when the weather is still very summer-like and the crowds of July and August have long gone and students have begun their fall semesters and it's also a time a year when it's just a bit too early to see our winter visitors streaming in to escape the ravages of winter.

This is my favorite time of year. It's a time when Hawaii, for the most part is "returned" to its residents. It's a time of year when all in Hawaii reflect on what it means to be a local and what it means to live in this culturally diverse society.

It is also the time when Hawaii hosts on a cultural display like no other during the year. It is the season for the Aloha Festivals. Held in mid August through mid-October, this festival has been held annually since 1946. It has grown in popularity and magnitude every year since.

Each of the major islands contributes to the festivities on a progressive schedule that begins with investiture services of the Aloha Festivals Royal Court on Oahu will be held this year on August 19, 1999 at Honolulu City Hall. Investiture is a display community cultural pride. Filled with formality, song and dance, it is a glimpse of what life in the Kingdom of Hawaii was like. The festival officially comes to a close with at the Royal Ball. It's an event filled with the formality of any official state event. Tuxedo's gowns and holoku will be the attire of this evening scheduled for October 29, 1999 on Oahu.

Although investiture is the official launch of the festival, the main events begin in earnest this year on Oahu with the Downtown Hoolaulea on September 10, 1999. Music and food is the attraction of this Downtown block party. It begins at 6:30 p.m. when Bishop Street is closed off to traffic and the food booths and music stages come alive with celebration.

The Aloha Festivals floral parade follows the next day at 9 a.m. along Ala Moana Boulevard through Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park. Flowers, floats, riders on horseback draped with fabric and native flowers are all put on display for everyone to enjoy.

Oahu's main events continue the following weekend with the Waikiki Hoolaulea on Friday evening September 17th. Kalakaua Avenue is blocked off beginning at 6:00 p.m. for an evening of fun, food entertainment and music. The event officially ends at 10 p.m. but the party is known to continue throughout the night in the nearby bars and nightclubs.

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