2026 Aloha Festivals Theme
80 Years of Aloha: Our Culture, Our Stories, Celebrating Our Island Home
Aloha Festivals proudly celebrates a historic milestone: 80 years of celebrating Hawaiian culture, community, and the aloha spirit. For eight decades, Hawai‘i’s longest-running cultural festival has united generations of kamaʻāina (locals) and malihini (visitors) to honor Hawaiian culture through music, hula, storytelling, and shared cultural experiences.
The 2026 festival theme reflects both a legacy and a living tradition. Since its founding in 1946 as Aloha Week, Aloha Festivals has served as a bridge between past and present, uplifting the ʻike (knowledge), practices, and stories that shape Hawaiʻi’s history. This year’s theme honors the Royal Court, hālau hula, parade participants, local entertainers, artisans, vendors, volunteers, and community organizations whose dedication and participation have sustained Aloha Festivals for eight decades and continue to carry forward the aloha spirit.
Saturday Sept. 5, 2026 | 4 – 6 p.m.
Location: Helumoa Gardens at The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort | The Royal Grove at Royal Hawaiian Center
Accompanied by hula, chant and pageantry, the Royal Court is introduced to kick off Aloha Festivals.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 | 6 – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Kalākaua Avenue
The Waikīkī Ho‘olaule‘a is Hawai‘i’s largest annual block party featuring local food, music and entertainment.
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: from Ala Moana Park through Kalākaua Avenue to Kapi‘olani Park
Witness a colorful procession of horseback riders, performances and floats covered with Hawaiian flowers.
‘Ohana Events
As an island-wide and community sponsored festival, ‘Ohana Events are ways our friends and partners celebrate Aloha Festivals in their own unique way.
