Dance, music, food, fun

The Kamanawa Foundation presents its 7th annual Kaua‘i Polynesian Festival on Memorial Day weekend. The Kaua‘i Polynesian Festival kicked off with a Polynesian Grand Luau last night at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort with the Festival to continue through the weekend at the Vidinha Stadium soccer field featuring Tahitian, Maori, Samoan and Hawaiian entertainment, Polynesian arts and crafts, solo and group dance competitions, food booths, workshops, and much more. All Kaua‘i residents and visitors are welcome to attend.

Established in 1994, the Kamanawa Foundation is a Kaua‘i-based non-profit organ-ization. Its mission is to preserve, promote and perpetuate the Native Hawaiian culture, including the language, social values, arts, crafts and music, primarily through the study of hula. The Kamanawa Foundation hosts three annual events that highlight hula and Polynesian performing arts including the Kaua‘i Polynesian Festival, Holiday Hula Celebration and Kaua‘i Hula Exhibition.

The Kamanawa Foundation is led by Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza, kumu hula of Halau Na Hula o Kaohikukapulani. Kumu Kinimaka-Alquiza and her halau have been producing large-scale events on Kaua‘i for more than 20 years, and have been recognized throughout the world for achievements in hula and Polynesian performing arts. Kumu Kinimaka-Alquiza travels to Japan several times a year to teach Polynesian arts in more than 10 prefectures throughout the country. Halau Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani also works with travel industry professionals by providing performances in hotels and at other visitor events throughout the year.