From Haleʻiwa to Waikīkī, there are multiple arts and culture festivals happening across Oʻahu this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This Thursday, marks King Kamehameha Day, which will be celebrated on Friday with an annual lei draping ceremony. These are some of the events happening on Oʻahu this weekend:
Friday, June 12
Celebrate King Kamehameha Day. The annual lei draping of the statue of King Kamehameha I will take place at 2:30 p.m. in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale. Before that, there will be a tribute to King Kamehameha I at 9 a.m., which is sponsored by the Daughters and Sons of the Hawaiian Warriors – Māmakakaua. The theme for King Kamehameha Day celebrations this year is: E kū, e hoʻololi, which means to stand upright and change unpleasant conditions. Details.
Check out the Pan-Pacific Festival. This festival is back with cultural showcases, hula, bon dances, taiko, and more. There are events at International Market Place and Ala Moana Center, as well as the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound. Events run Friday, June 12, Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. Free. Details.
Go to the Mele Conference & Hula Festival. The nonprofit Kāhuli Leo Leʻa will host the Mele Conference & Hula Festival from Thursday, June 11, through Saturday, June 13, at the Sheraton Waikīkī Beach Resort. There will be sessions focused on mele, composition, ʻāina, hula, industry and more. There are also haku mele and hula competitions. Access to the three-day conference is $275 plus fees. Admission to the Mele Hula Festiva is $45 plus fees. Details.
Attend ʻIke i ka Nani o Lēʻahi. Wahi Pana: Storied Places is hosting ʻIke i ka Nani o Lēʻahi, which is an evening of music and storytelling that includes the sharing of the historic mele "Ke Aloha ʻĀina Paʻa Mau Loa," which is being recreated through a new composition by TJ Keanu Tario. The song was originally sung by Hawaiian Kingdom patriots during the Kaua Kūloko of 1985 when they took up arms against the U.S. military-backed oligarchy in an effort to restore Queen Liliʻuokalani to the throne. Only the lyrics survived and Tario has set them to music. The community event features musicians and poets and is being organized by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Operation Red Wings Medal of Honor Park. Attendees are asked to RSVP. Free. Details.
Saturday, June 13
Watch the King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade. The 109th King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade will run from ʻIolani Palace to Kapiʻolani Regional Park. The parade starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 1 p.m. It will be followed by the King Kamehameha Celebration Hoʻolauleʻa at Kapiʻolani Regional Park from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Free. Find the parade route and more details.
Attend the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival. Ready for live music? Head to Windward Mall and catch performances from six steel guitar masters: Alan Akaka, Steve Cheney, Paul Kim, Mālie Lyman, Greg Sardinha & Poʻokela and Nā Kūpuna o Koʻolau. There will also be music from four NextGen steel guitarists from the Ke Kula Mele Hawaiʻi School of Hawaiian Music. The music starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. The festival is presented by the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences and Windward Mall, as well as the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Free. Details.
Check out the Haleʻiwa Arts Festival. This annual event returns showcasing the work of local artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, musicians, dancers and more. The event provides a platform for local artists to sell their work. There will also be live performances. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. Free. Details.
Listen to High Watah and Three Plus. Catch Island music from Three Plus and High Watah at the first late night event of a new venue, Limelight Hawaiʻi, which is a 6,000 square-foot event space that caters to kamaʻāina and is run by Roberts Hawaiʻi. The venue, which was once Hawaiian Hut, is located on the grounds of the Ala Moana Hotel and soft opened in March. High Watah is currently a finalist for several Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including group of the year, reggae album of the year, and music video of the year. The concert starts at 9 p.m. and runs until 2 a.m. Limited on-site parking is available. Attendees are encouraged to use rideshares or taxis. General admission is $30, plus fees, while VIP tickets — which have access to expedited entry and an exclusive bar and viewing area — are $40, plus fees. Details.
Eat mangos. Participate in a mango recipe contest, learn to grow mango trees, sample mango nectar and more between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. through this Mango Madness event hosted by Oʻahu Master Gardeners at the University of Hawaiʻi Urban Garden Center in Pearl City. Free. Details.
Sunday, June 14
Check out a new dinner buffet. Aha ‘Aina Plantation Pā‘ina, which is a new weekly offering at Halekulani Hotel’s House Without A Key, offers chef stations with island-inspired cuisine. The dinner buffet costs $95 per adult and $55 per child (ages 10 years and under). Details.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
