2016 Queen Liliuokalani Festival in Hilo Saturday
2016 Queen Liliuokalani Festival in Hilo Saturday
The He Hali’a Aloha No Lili’uokalani Festival, Queen’s Birthday Celebration will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Hilo’s Lili’uokalani Gardens Park. The festival celebrates the queen’s birthday and pays tribute to the historical significance of the Liliuokalani Gardens.
The daylong festival includes music, hula, arts, crafts, food, demonstrations, children’s games and cultural activities. Entertainment throughout the day will include Darlene Ahuna, Lito Archangel, Taishoji Taiko, Komakakino with Halau Ha’akea a Kala, the Waiakea Ukulele Band, Tahitian by Merahi Productions, the Christy Lassiter Trio, Braddah Waltah Aipolani and the Kahulanui Quartet.
Hula is the major focus of the festival and each year, festivities are kicked off with a mass hula featuring more than 200 hula dancers scattered throughout the park performing a traditional mele. Dancers from throughout the state will dance together symbolizing the queen’s vision to share the Hawaiian culture with the rest of the world. During this performance, more than 50,000 orchid blossoms rain from the skies above the park.
Admission to the festival is free.
Info: the Culture & Education Section of Hawaii County at 961-8706.