HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-24 Queen Liliuokalani Festival -- Press Release
County of Hawai’i
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 Hilo, Hawai’i 96720
(808) 961-8311 Fax (808) 961-8411
August 24, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
2017 Queen Lili’uokalani Festival Set for September 9
The He Hali’a Aloha no Lili’uokalani Festival, Queen’s Birthday
Celebration, will take place on Saturday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. at Lili’uokalani Gardens Park in Hilo.
This year’s Festival to honor Hawai'i’s last reigning monarch is being held
in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of Lili’uokalani Gardens, and
is being coordinated and sponsored in part by the Friends of Lili’uokalani
Gardens.
The day-long festival includes music, hula, arts, crafts, food, demonstrations,
children’s games and cultural activities.
Entertainment will include Darlene Ahuna, Taishoji Taiko, Komakakino
with Halau Ha’akea a Kala, the Waiākea Ukulele Band, Tahitian by Merahi
Productions, with the finale featuring Mark Yamanaka, recipient of multiple
Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Hula is the major focus of the Festival and each year, festivities are kicked
off with a mass hula featuring more than 250 hula dancers throughout the
Park performing a traditional mele.
Dancers from throughout the State will dance together, symbolizing the
Queen’s vision of sharing Hawai’ian culture with the rest of the world.
During this performance, more than 50,000 orchid blossoms will rain from
the skies above the park.
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Queen Lili’uokalani Festival press release
August 24, 2017
Activities include Japanese Tea Ceremony, a Jumping Castle and Water
slide, Coconut Weaving, Hawai’ian Printing & Stamp Pads, Hawai’ian
Herbs, Hawai’ian crafts, and children’s coloring activities designed to
provide historical information about the garden.
Community and educational organizations will be on hand to offer
information on available services for families on Hawai‘i Island.
A bountiful variety of local foods will be available for purchase.
Admission to the Festival is free of charge. Additional public parking is
available at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium and Hawai’i County Mass
Transit will be providing free shuttle service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The County of Hawai’i is proud to partner with the Queen Lili’uokalani
Trust, Pacific Radio Group, Hilo Fire Extinguishers, Blue Hawai’ian
Helicopters, Grand Naniloa Hotel, KWXX, Honolulu Skylark Productions
CJ Promotions, the Hawai’i Tropical Flowers Council and the Friends of
Lili’uokalani Gardens to present this cultural experience to residents and
visitors.
For more information, please call the Department of Parks and Recreation’s
Culture and Education Section at 961-8706.