INAUGURAL HALA FESTIVAL: CELEBRATING HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND CONSERVATION

INAUGURAL HALA FESTIVAL: CELEBRATING HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND CONSERVATION

Join us for the inaugural Hala Festival, presented by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee and Pōhaku Pelemaka, on Saturday, May 18th, from 10AM to 2PM at the Makuʻu Market. This free event will be a vibrant celebration of the hala plant and its profound significance in Puna and throughout Hawai’i.

The Hala Festival, celebrating the rich heritage of the hala plant deeply ingrained in Hawaiian culture, aims to raise awareness about threats such as hala scale and the coconut rhinoceros beetle while highlighting its vital role in coastal preservation. As Puna emerges as the fastest-growing district in Hawai’i, rampant land development and clear cutting intensify habitat loss, underscoring the urgency for preservation efforts. The festival seeks to instill a deeper sense of place and kuleana to aloha ‘āina, fostering a commitment to protecting our native ecosystems.

Attendees can immerse themselves in a myriad of activities, including live weaving workshops, planting classes, and engaging talk story sessions with cultural practitioners throughout the day. The event will also feature opening protocol by Hālau Unuokeahi. Renowned local musicians from Puna such as Chaslen Hualani, Pōkiʻi Seto, and the Kalapana Awa Band will be playing throughout the day.

Local food vendors on-site will include favorites like Anuenueʻs Kitchen, Bang Um Out Grindz, and Kalo Bombs Hawaiʻi. The festival will also feature keiki activities, local craft vendors, and educational booths on conservation and invasive species management.

“Hala doesn’t always get the same recognition as other native species and we’re hoping this event finally gives some well-deserved attention to this important cultural resource,” said event organizer Leila Kealoha. “We all have a collective responsibility to protect the spaces we live in. Education is key to early detection of invasive species that threaten our ‘āina and community – it’s a kakou thing.”

The Hala Festival is a collaborative event between the Cultural and Natural Environment Resilience Capacity Areas and is sponsored by the County of Hawai’i Disaster Recovery Division, County of Hawaiʻi Research and Development, Hawaiʻi County Council District 3 and 4, Pahoa Main Street, HPM, UH-PIPES Program, and numerous other community partners.

For more information, visit halafest.com

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, May 18th, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Makuʻu Market, Puna, Hawaiʻi

Admission: FREE