LIHUE — The fifth annual Kauai Kau Wela Summer Festival is this weekend at Kukui Grove and Kamokila Hawaiian Village. Festival director and founder Ilima Rivera said the Kauai Kau Wela is intended to educate others about the Hawaiian culture
LIHUE — The fifth annual Kauai Kau Wela Summer Festival is this weekend at Kukui Grove and Kamokila Hawaiian Village.
Festival director and founder Ilima Rivera said the Kauai Kau Wela is intended to educate others about the Hawaiian culture as much as to entertain.
“I share my manaho or knowledge with not only the island of Kauai, but with the visitors from all over the world,” she said.
The festival was created at the start of the economic downturn. The theme of the festival is E Ku Kanaka Me Kaika.
The three-day event begins at Kukui Grove with two days of free competitions and events. The festival concludes on Sunday with a day of traditional activities at Kamokila Hawaiian Village.
The events kick off at 5 p.m. Friday in Kukui Grove with Tahitian and Hawaiian hula from the Tamatea Nui Kauai-Kumu school under head instructor Wailana Dasalia. There will be an Aloha fashion show by Risa’s Rainbow and Original Hawaiian Creations. There will also be a presentation of the keiki royal court, performances by Larry and Ilima Rivera, and the Hauoli Dancers. The Disney characters, “Lilo and Stitch” will lead the parade at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Kukui Grove. There will be an Aloha Spirit award.
Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. will attend the 11 a.m. opening ceremony and pule event on Saturday at Kukui Grove.
The Tahitian Pareo Category hula competition will follow at 11:30 a.m. The hula competition continues at 12:45 p.m. The Tahitian Skirt competition follows at 2 p.m., and cultural entertainment until 4 p.m.
The gates open at 9 a.m. A conch shell will announce the launching of the Waa Kaulua-double canoe around 11 a.m.
