LIHUE — Special Events Hawaii with Amy Hammond, in partnership with Kala Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to Hawaiian culture, language, hula, music, and spiritual preservation, will open the Kauai Ukulele Festival on Sunday at the Kukui Grove Center.
LIHUE — Special Events Hawaii with Amy Hammond, in partnership with Kala Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to Hawaiian culture, language, hula, music, and spiritual preservation, will open the Kauai Ukulele Festival on Sunday at the Kukui Grove Center.
Described as “a celebration of all things ‘ukulele,” the Kauai Ukulele Festival brings live entertainment to the stage of the Kukui Grove food court, including Aldrine and Aaron, who have previously mesmerized audiences during the Downtown Lihue Night Markets.
“Aldrine has a group he teaches every Sunday at the shopping center,” said Melissa McFerrin Warrack of the Kukui Grove leadership team. “I’m sure he’s going to have that class perform with him at the festival.”
The Kauai Ukulele Festival is an opportunity to discover the cultural significance the ukulele plays as Hawaii’s ambassador of aloha, organizers said. This discovery includes community information booths, ‘ukulele merchants, and ukulele-inspired merchandise.
During last year’s event, the Kala Foundation from Oahu offered a preview of King Kamehameha Day offerings with a variety of fashions honoring Kamehameha. The Kala Foundation leadership has been the Co-Chair of the King Kamehameha Celebrations, including events such as the Oahu parade and hoolaulea. Additionally, the Kala Foundation managed the Mele on the Move and more.
A Hawaiian cultural activities zone will present a free ukulele lesson and a short Olelo Hawaii introduction to the Hawaiian Language that includes a list of colors, days, and months.
A kapala, or stamping activity, with hand-carved stamps by Na Maka Kahiko will demonstrate all the designs that represent different meanings used when making kapa designs.
For more than 32 years, Special Events Hawaii has been one of the state’s most prominent promoters and producers of large-scale community events. The event planners behind some of Hawaii’s best-loved and well-attended events, including the Made in Hawaii Festival, which started in 1994 and ran until 2020, and Virtual Made in Hawaii Festival and On-line Marketplace, and scores more. On Kauai, Special Events Hawaii presented the Kauai Chocolate &Coffee Festival, which has attracted scores of visitors and residents alike for seven years.
For more information, visit www.kauaiukulelefestival.com.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority provides support for the Kauai Ukulele Festival through the Community Enrichment Program, Jamba Juice, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the Kanikapila Project, the Kukui Grove Center, and AG ‘Ukulele Academy.
