Rick Egged
President of Waikiki Improvement Association
Aloha and welcome to Waikiki,
May Day is lei day in Hawai‘i! Celebrations take place throughout the island, including the daylong event on May 1 in Kapi‘olani Park. Sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation, it is a 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. program of flowers and Hawaiian music. The Lei Court investiture is at 11 a.m.
The Na Hoku Hanohano awards on May 24 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center cap Mele Mei. Mele Mei is the celebration of Hawai‘i’s music, hula and culture. The 4th Annual Mele Mei Celebration features some of Hawai‘i’s best, including Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning artists and Lifetime Achievement Award honorees. Music and hula events are held throughout the entire month of May at various hotels, venues, on the beach and statewide. From ‘ukulele to steel guitar, traditional Hawaiian music to slack key, island reggae to rock—and everything in between—Mele Mei has something for everyone. For national and international participants and visitors, Mele Mei will showcase events and performances that make Hawai‘i the destination of choice. Go to, www.melemei.com, for details.
The Pan-Pacific Festival, which brings together people from around the world to Hawai‘i to celebrate and share international culture and traditions, is set for June 13 to 15 at various locations throughout Waikiki. The three-day celebration kicks off on June 13 with cultural performances and demonstrations at its Performing Arts Showcases, followed by a nighttime ho‘olaule‘a (block party) with live entertainment on multiple stages, food booths, crafts and a hula festival featuring dozens of hula halau (troupes) performing on Waikiki Beach. The festival culminates on Sunday, June 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a colorful parade made up of thousands of participants in lively costumes marching up Kalakaua Avenue.
The Kamehameha Day celebration honors the reign of King Kamehameha, who was responsible for uniting the Hawaiian Islands under his rule in 1795. A colorful parade takes place on June 14 from ‘Iolani Palace to Kapi‘olani Park, starting at 9 a.m. and features brightly decorated floats, energetic marching bands and traditional pa‘u riders, who represent a Hawaiian royal court on horseback. The parade traverses the streets of Honolulu, from Downtown through Waikiki, and ends at Kapi‘olani Park where you can enjoy the Ho‘olaule‘a from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Waikiki, as always, is Hawai‘i’s gathering place.
