The 14th annual Iolani Luahine Hula Festival will be held today and Saturday at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay.
The 14th annual Iolani Luahine Hula Festival will be held today and Saturday at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay.
The festival was established in 2003 with a vision to perpetuate the hula, and it also serves as a way to honor the memory of ‘Iolani Luahine and her contributions to the preservation of hula and Hawaiian culture.
This year, the festival will again include hula presentations, and a challenge to Kumu Hula with a prize for the one who best demonstrates the values of Iolani Luahine: education and Hawaiian culture.
In addition, there will be hula workshops presented by Coline Aiu, Kumu Paakea Akiu and Loea Kawaikapuokalani Hewett; Niihau shell jewelry workshops with Kumu Kele Kanahele; and lei workshops with Ben Mahi. Registration fees and information for the workshops are available at www.iolaniluahinefestival.org.
Hula presentations begin this evening at 5 and feature makuahine, makuakane and kupuna hula presentations.
Evening musical entertainment will begin this evening at 7 featuring Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Friends. Tickets will be available online and at the door. General admission tickets are $10 and reserved seating tickets are $15. Proceeds support the festival.
Hula presentations continue Saturday at 1 p.m. and will feature the keiki, wahine and kane presentations. The hula presentations on both days are free.
On Saturday, starting at 11:30 a.m., the festival will offer quality Hawaiian arts and crafts by local artisans.
Info: www.iolaniluahinefestival.org.