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Hawaii: Oahu’s Aloha Festivals fill September with song, flowers, food

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The Aloha Festivals, a staple of Oahu’s festival calendar since 1946, returns to Honolulu next month in a celebration filled with food, tradition and music.

The Aloha Festivals, one of the islands’ biggest celebrations, kicks off with an opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Royal Hawaiian Center. This year’s king and queen will be introduced amid plenty of fanfare, including traditional chants and hula.

The celebrations continue at various venues for the next three Saturdays.

Sept. 14 is kid’s (keiki in Hawaiian) day with a variety of activities at the Pearlridge Center. Children’s musical groups and hula troupes will provide entertainment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Sept. 21 will herald the return of Waikiki Hoolaulea, Hawaii’s largest block party, along Kalakaua Avenue between Lewers Street and Kapahulu Avenue. Thousands of people will take to the streets as top island entertainers take to the stage. Food trucks will dish up local favorites, and crafts vendors will be selling their wares, including fresh floral leis.

The festivities climax on Sept. 28, when the 67th annual floral parade begins at 9 a.m. Traditional Hawaiian cowboys, hula dancers, marching bands and colorful floats cascading with Hawaiian flowers will proceed along Kalakaua Avenue from Ala Moana Park to Kapiolani Park.

The parade will highlight the theme of this year’s festival: “Moana Nui Akea – Celebrate Ocean Voyaging.”

Info: (808) 483-0730.

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