Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 9, 1 September 2009 — Hawaiian festival to bring aloha to Seattle [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian festival to bring aloha to Seattle

By Angela Manke Special ta Ka Wai ūla On Sept. 13, 2009, the aloha spirit will onee again be alive and well in Seattle! Thousands of miles from our homelands, Seattle Center will be home to the second annual Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival. The festival vision first began with a meeting at Saimin Says in the Seattle suburb of Kent, convened by OHA leaders and Washington state Hawaiian community leaders. More than 7,500 Pacific Northwest Hawaiians and Hawaiians-at-heart enjoyed the 2008 Festival, and now, with a year under our belts, the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival conunittee is proud to present

an even bigger and better celebration! Our free festival will showcase two stages of entertainment highlighting traditional as well as eontemporary Pacific Northwest musicians. Mahalo to those that performed last year and to those who are patiently waiting their turn to perform in years to eome. With so many hālau and musicians in the Pacific Northwest, we are trying our best to accommodate everyone! Entertaimnent on the Center House Stage will include Hālau Hula 'O Lono, Kaulele, Hokulani's Hula Studio, Kaiāulu from Nānākuli, Hula 'Ohana O Ke'alaileiha'aha'a & the Mix Plate Band, Nā Mele O Hawai'i and Olokani. The Outdoor Stage will feature Ke Kai Malino,

the Seattle 'Ukulele Players Association, Elias Ka'uhane, Island Bound, Pacific Warning, and our headliner, Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner Willie K! Festival cultural workshops include 'Ohe Hano Ihu (bamboo nose-flute making) and 'Ohe Kāpala (bamboo stamping) hosted by the Kamehameha Schools. Other workshops include Hawaiian Quilting, Hula, Lei Making, Keiki Korner activities and the KS Distance Learning program. The Kau Inoa registration will again be at the festival. Rounding out our day, we will showcase Hawaiian history exhibits and video documentaries as well as a session hosted by OHA and the OHA trustees. Hawaiian craft vendors will be on site, and cannot forget the ono food sold by Ah'i & Sumo's, Brad's Plate Luneh and Pae Island Grill . . . and shave iee by Da Hula Hut! With a grass-roots volunteer committee of hard-working eommunity members, we raise money and spend countless hours planning this event. OHA's generous sponsorship and participation also eontributes to our success. Our talented Pacific Northwest Hawaiian musicians and workshop leaders also donate their time and talent to our festival. At the end of the day, all of us volunteers and contributors walk away with mau pu'uwai piha (full hearts) because of the aloha that this event brings to every attendee and the greater Hawaiian eommunity. Mahalo nui to all of you for your support. See you there! ■ Angela Manke is the executive producer of the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival.

Going the distance Forthis month's Ho'oulu Lāhui Aloha page, 0HA's Hawaiian Governance Hale offers a look at Hawaiians across the continent, highlighting activities in Seattle, Denver anel New York City.

HO'OULU LĀHUI ALOHA ■ TD RAISE A BELDVED NAĪIŪN KA WAI OLA I THE LIVING WATER 0F OHA

Aulani Apoliona, 0HA's Lead Advocate for Kau Inoa and Community Outreach, helps beneficiaries register for Kau Inoa at the 2008 Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival in Seattle. - Photo: Courtesyof Koehelle dela Cruz, Northwest Hawai'i Jimes