Aloha Festivals Kicks Off This Week

Aloha Festivals returns this weekend.

The monthlong celebration of culture, tradition and aloha kicks off on Sept. 5, 2026, with the royal court investiture and opening ceremony in Waikīkī.

Following the opening event, an exciting series of festivities will take place throughout September. Woven throughout the celebration is this year’s theme: “80 Years of Aloha: Our Culture, Our Stories, Celebrating Our Island Home.”

All are invited to experience and celebrate this milestone year for the festival as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.

Aloha Festivals began as Aloha Week in 1946, a cultural celebration of Hawaiʻi’s history and heritage, including mele, hula and traditional arts. The events perpetuated the Islands’ rich traditions.

In 1991, Aloha Week became Aloha Festivals. It has since grown to a statewide celebration of Hawaiian culture with major events on Oʻahu. Each year, thousands of volunteers work together to stage the events, which are attended by more than 100,000 people.

Here are the signature events you don’t want to miss.

Royal Court Investiture & Opening Ceremony

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, from 4 – 6 p.m., Helumoa Gardens at The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort and The Royal Grove at The Royal Hawaiian Center

Festivities commence with the Royal Court Investiture at Helumoa Gardens at The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort. The ceremony honors Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi (ruling chiefs) through a series of traditional protocols. Adorned in regalia worn only by aliʻi of the highest rank, members of Aloha Festivals Royal Court represent Hawaiʻi’s royal past. While the event preserves the traditions of Hawaiʻi’s aliʻi and monarchs, it also provides an glimpse into the Islands’ history that is often unknown to many visitors. Following the investiture, The Royal Grove at Royal Hawaiian Center hosts the Opening Ceremony. Here, hula and mele will be performed for a beautiful evening in the heart of Waikīkī.

72nd Annual Waikīkī Hoʻolauleʻa

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 6 – 10 p.m., Kalākaua Avenue

Booths celebrating local cuisine, art and culture line Kalākaua Avenue during Hawaiʻi’s premier block party. Here, you can taste local dishes, browse crafts by artisans and enjoy entertainment by local performers.  

78th Annual Floral Parade 

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., from Ala Moana Park through Kalākaua Avenue to Kapiʻolani Park

Aloha Festivals’ signature events conclude with its beloved floral parade. Attendees can watch a colorful procession of floats decorated with vibrant fresh flowers, men and women on horseback celebrating the tradition of pāʻu riding, along with marching bands and civic leaders celebrating the spirit of the Islands.   

For more information about Aloha Festivals, visit alohafestivals.com.