Aloha, Vancouver.
With summer upon us (finally) here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s time to enjoy a little taste of Hawaii. No, I don’t mean go take a trip to Hawaii; just let the island atmosphere come to you.
Come share the aloha spirit of the Hawaiian Islands July 27 –28, 2012 in Esther Short Park during Ke Kukui Foundation’s Ho‘ike and Hawaiian Festival; a celebration of Polynesian culture with free, island-style entertainment.
Friday, July 27, the party starts at 5 pm for the festival’s acclaimed Hapa Haole Hula Competition; where hula dancers from across the U.S. and Canada vie for honors dancing to the wacky and wonderful music from the early days of Hawaiian tourism.
The festival culminates on Saturday, July 28, with an all-day Ho‘ike (exhibition) of Hawaiian and Polynesian dance and music, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with vendors offering all kinds of ono (delicious) island food and beautiful Polynesian arts and crafts. Keiki events, traditional Hawaiian games, and nose flute making are just some of the additional activities to be offered.
The cultural experience begins with a special presentation of the acclaimed historical reenactment “Ka Lei Maile Ali‘i: The Queen’s Women.” The popular interactive performance tells the little-known story of Native Hawaiian resistance to the 1898 annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. and the anti-annexation petitions that circulated throughout the islands by supporters of Hawaii’s beloved Queen Lili‘uokalani.
Sponsored by Ke Kukui Foundation, a Hawaiian arts and culture preservation non-profit, the Ho‘ike and Hawaiian Festival is one of Vancouver’s biggest annual events drawing 20,000 visitors from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. For more information, please visit Hawaiian Festival Pacific NW.
This post: “Hawaiian Festival in Esther Short Park” was originally featured at in the ‘Couve!
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