Aloha Festivals to kick off month-long celebration with royal court investiture

Aloha Festivals, one of Hawaii’s longest-running cultural celebrations, will get under way on Thurs., Sept. 1 with the annual Royal Court Investiture in Waikiki.

During the investiture, set for 3 p.m. at Hilton Hawaiian Village’s village  green, members of this year’s Royal Court (pictured, above) will officially take their place and be adorned with traditional symbols of their respective titles.

This free event will include traditional chants, hula kahiko (ancient hula) as well as other pageantry and regalia associated with Hawaiian royalty. The 2011 Aloha Festivals’ Opening Ceremony, also a free event, will follow at the Royal Hawaiian Center’s Royal Grove, marking the beginning of this year’s celebration, which runs throughout September. Participating entertainers include: Halau o ke Aalii Ku Makani, the Royal Hawaiian Band, Napua Makua, and Manu Boyd.

Founded in 1946 as Aloha Week, the celebration was renamed Aloha Festivals in 1991. This year’s theme, Mele Ailana, translates as “Celebrate Island Music.” 

Also, among the highlights is the 59th annual Waikiki Hoolaulea (celebration). The celebration, set for Sept. 17, spans more than 12 blocks along the beachfront main drag, Kalakaua Avenue. Entertainment stages will showcase Hawaiian music and hula halau (hula groups), and the avenue will also be well stocked with island cuisine, lei and craft booths. (The winner of HAWAII Magazine’s s Aloha Festivals Flyaway sweepstakes will be on Oahu for the hoolaulea.)

The month-long celebration will wrap up with the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, which is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 24.  Packed with extravagant floats, pau riders (Hawaiian-style horseback riding), marching bands ad, of course, cascades of Hawaiian flowers, the parade will travel from Ala Moana Park to Kapiolani Park, near Waikiki Beach.

For additional information about the Aloha Festivals, click here.