HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Sept. 27, women on horseback will wear colorful regalia and flowers as they represent paniolo culture and each of the Hawaiian islands in the Aloha Festivals parade.
“If it wasn’t for everybody perpetuating and continuing our paniolo culture, we’d have nothing,” said Kathy Rita, paʻu queen of Aloha Festivals 2025. “And it truly takes it back to the old Hawaiian days, so this year they’re honoring the paniolo… to represent all the old timers that have ridden.”
The festival’s theme for 2025 is “Ko Kula Uka, Ko Kula Kai,” which means those of the upland, those of the shore; from mauka to makai.
When Rita was asked to be the Wahine Aliʻi this year, she felt uncertain but honored.
“I’ll be very honest, I took some time to think. I felt maybe not well deserved to be it because you have to have participated for so long, but it was very, an honoring moment and I really appreciate the theme of it, mauka to makai,” Rita said. “We have our family that’s participated in the parade that takes us back to the tradition of the paniolo who have ridden from mauka to makai and so being part of that ties me all into the theme and it just seems so fitting.”
This will be her first time ever riding in the parade.
“I’ve always been from the outside looking in,” Rita said. “I’ve always just been on the ground providing horses for the units and helping them prepare, helping them with riding.”
Rita expressed appreciation in being able to represent her culture.
“Now I see what everybody goes through and I really understand it and I really appreciate the culture,” Rita said. “And I’m really honored to be part of it this year and I was very thankful to have been asked.”
Preparation for the parade
Paʻu riders start preparing for the parade up to six months in advance, practicing with their horses to stay safe along the over two-mile route from Ala Moana park to Kapiolani park.
“The actual preparation starts maybe six months or more prior to [the parade day]. And that’s part of where we rent our horses from the ranches and start getting their materials, a lot of logistics for every island, making sure that their colors are represented, their flowers and then getting your whole team to work with you,” said Kuʻuipo Lorenzo, paʻu queen of the 2023 Aloha Festivals.
For spectators, the parade starts at 9 a.m. and runs until noon along Kalakaua Avenue. The riders, however, will be putting on their regalia and getting ready much earlier.
“On the day of, it starts at 4:30 in the morning, and it just goes until we all are put together,” Lorenzo said. “It takes many hours, many hands, and I feel that’s the important part of it, it’s the behind-the-scenes to make it work, to make everything go. It’s a group effort.”
That effort pays off, Rita added.
“When you see the beauty that comes down the roadway, it’s a chicken skin moment because it’s so beautiful to watch them,” she said.
Selection process
Lorenzo, who has been riding horses since 1980, shared how riders are selected to be queen.
“How we’re selected is based upon qualifications and making sure that we ride all the eight islands, at least once, and then you can apply for queen,” she said.
Riding in this parade requires a specific type of person who loves riding horses and can enjoy the festivities, Lorenzo shared.
“The way we select our riders, most importantly if they, first of all, are not afraid of horses, and then, enjoy the ride and do it with heart and then you select your team and your group,” Lorenzo said. “Then everything will come through as a unit.”
She acknowledged the value of the community’s continued participation in Aloha Festivals.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
“The parade can’t go, the section of equestrian units cannot happen without a lot of people, with their contributions, their support, their volunteering,” Lorenzo said.