Aloha Festival 2017 – What You Need to Know

Last updated on September 24th, 2017 at 02:57 pm

Hawaii’s largest Hawaiian culture event is taking place this and the following weekend on Oahu.  And if you’ll be on Oahu during these weekends, here’s what you need to know about the Aloha Festival 2017.

What is the Aloha Festival?

The Aloha Festival is a celebration of Hawaiian culture in the world.  Each year the festival has a different theme, and for the Aloha Festival 2017, the theme is He Lei Aloha Ke Keiki – Children Are Our Garland of Love.  And though the theme influences the entire festival, the festival’s floral parade is where the theme will be most apparent.

Events

Three major events make up the Aloha Festival.  Of the three, the first event, the Royal Court Investiture & Opening Ceremony, is by far the smallest.  And since this event is a royal one, it is always held the Saturday before the other two events at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

The second event is probably the largest of the three, the Waikiki Hoolaulea.  This major event is Hawaii’s biggest block party and will occupy Kalakaua Ave. on Saturday, September 23, 2017, from 7 pm to 10 pm.  Road closures, however, will begin hours before as crews set up for the event.  What this means for visitors, though, is limited accessibility to Waikiki hotels via car/bus/rideshare/taxi.  That can be very inconvenient if you’re arriving or departing during this time.  But, if you’re already at your hotel, this means you’ll have tons of great food, music, hula, crafts, leis, and more, right outside your hotel (if staying along Kalakaua Ave.)

The final event of the festival is the Aloha Festival Floral Parade.  This parade is probably the most well-known Hawaii parade, thanks to its regal horseback riders, marching bands, hula halau, floral floats, music, and more.

Unfortunately, the parade means yet another closure of Kalakaua Ave., this time on Saturday, September 30, 2017, from early morning through midday.  So be sure to plan accordingly if you intend to arrive in or depart from Waikiki during this time.  Here’s the parade route map for reference.

As you can see the parade route runs from Magic Island, through Waikiki, ending near Kaimana Beach.

Aloha Festival 2017 Final Thoughts

If you’re visiting Oahu this weekend or next weekend, you lucked out.  You’ll get to experience an event that is uniquely Hawaii.  And if you’re staying in Waikiki, the event will be brought right to your “doorstep.”  Just be sure to plan your arrivals/departures or adventures around the island accordingly.  You don’t want to get caught in the traffic jam that the road closures will create.  Trust me, I know from experience.  But, the side effects of the event are worth it.  It is a unique and fun experience that really is worth checking out.