HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 31st annual Hula ʻOni E Festival is returning to Waikiki on Aug. 29 through Aug. 31, putting hula on full display at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Organizers anticipate approximately 26 hālau from across the islands and Japan will be in attendance to showcase their talents and storytelling.
“Hula ʻOni E is a hula festival that was created by hula people. You feel the warmth and everything of ʻohana because that’s where it started,” said Kehaulani Derego Kawai, executive director of the festival. “It started in Halau Hula ʻO Hokulani ʻohana.”
The festival allows for a unique perspective to be highlighted. For Derego Kawai, the festival is from the hula dancer’s point of view, allowing for a very authentic festival.
“Our hula festival is run by our hula hālau, which allows our aspect, our POV, our vision and our view of hula festivals comes from a hula dancer’s point of view,” Derego Kawai said. “So we know exactly what they as dancers are anticipating before they come onstage… just to have that connection with our hālau that is coming.”
The entire festival is very intentional and is planned months in advance with a dedicated team of volunteers.
“We do start [organizing] months in advance, but when it comes down to crunch time, we have volunteers that do dedicate their time to setting up the stage, to making sure the makeke is on point, we have people that are running the show,” said Candice Meehleib, who has volunteered with the festival for 13 years. “All of it is done out of aloha. Nobody is getting paid for this.”
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for the hula show on Aug. 29, with tickets running at about $25. There will be a free makeke outside the show for the public to enjoy starting at 4 p.m., which will display local crafts and goods.
For Aug. 30 and Aug. 31, the event will begin at 10 a.m.
For tickets and more information, visit the festival’s website.