2025 Aloha Festivals Theme

Ko Kula Uka, Ko Kula Kai – Those of the Upland, Those of the Shore

Mauka to Makai

This ‘olelo no’eau (Hawaiian proverb), reminds us that food giving, sharing, and exchanging is a cornerstone of communal living and critical to a thriving society.

Across the many cultures that call Hawai’i home, food is often the center and focal point of gatherings, from family reunions and birthdays to graduations. Families pass down recipes that become cherished heirlooms prominently displayed on the dining table at gatherings. Cooking techniques and tools are also shared from one generation to the next. Family treasures, like grandma’s cast iron pot or grandpa’s dry box, magically make the food taste better.

“In olden days, relatives and friends exchanged products with the upland dwellers, bringing poi, taro, and other foods to the shore to give and exchange with kinsmen there. The shore dwellers gave fish and other seafood. Visits were never made empty-handed, but always with something from one’s home to give.”

This year, the Aloha Festivals takes us back to the heart of the home: the kitchen. We celebrate our local farmers, fishermen, cooks in and out of the kitchen, as well as the organizations who recognize and uplift those in need to have food to eat.