The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation announces the 24th annual He Haliʻa Aloha No Liliʻuokalani Festival will be held on Saturday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hilo’s Liliʻuokalani Gardens on the Waiakea peninsula.
The festival, which celebrates the Queen’s birthday and pays tribute to the historical significance of Lili‘uokalani Gardens, will include music, hula, arts, crafts, food trucks, demonstrations, tea ceremony, children’s games, and cultural activities.
Starting at 10 a.m. the Royal Societies will enter with protocol at the Queen’s portrait. More than 600 hula dancers will follow with mass hula as floral blossoms are dropped from a helicopter provided by Paradise Helicopters.
Live entertainment throughout the day will be provided by Darlene Ahuna, Taishoji Taiko, Just Us Band, Christy Lassiter, and Ben Kaili & Kanakapila. Emcees will be Penny Vredenburg, Darde Gamayo, and Ku`ehu Mauga.
Additional public parking will be available at the Kuawa Street Park parking lot. KapohoKine Adventures will provide free shuttle services to the festival. Lihiwai Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Banyan Drive to Isles starting Friday, September 8, through 6 pm Saturday, September 9.
Among new demonstrations this year are a native plant booth and lei making. Hawaiian games on the western side of the park are organized by Hoolahui Pakipika from Kamehameha Schools. Liliuokalani Trust will have children’s activities in a large tent at the center of the gardens. A bouncing castle and water slide will be available in the meadow to the southern side of the park.
Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens booth will be at the east entry to the park through the torii under a big banyan tree along Banyan Drive. Featured will be Pokemon assistance and a scavenger hunt. Information on pond cleaning efforts will be available there from UH-Hilo students, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, and Genki Hou Waihonu. There are 300 genki balls available to be tossed into the pond at select test sites.
The County of Hawaiʻi invites the public to attend this alcohol-, drug- and litter-free event coordinated in collaboration with private enterprises, community organizations, and numerous government agencies. Recycle bins will be available throughout the gardens.
Coordinator Morton Carter with P&R Culture and Education Division said, “On behalf of the County of Hawaiʻi, we thank the Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens and the many private, public, and community entities and persons that worked cooperatively to present this annual celebration in honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani.”
In partnership with the County of Hawai‘i and adding to the day’s activities to honor the Queen’s birthday, The Grand Naniloa Resort will also host events starting with a Pop-Up Mākeke at 10 a.m. Live entertainment will start at 12 pm and continue into the evening, featuring Hawaiian music, hula. Other activities will consist of immersive cultural displays, including hula implements and lei hulu.
More information on He Hali`a Aloha No Lil`uokalani may be obtained by calling the Department of Parks & Recreation’s Culture & Education Division at (808) 961-8706.
U.S. Japanese Gardens 