Aloha Festivals and a lot more, Honolulu, Hawaii
Reviews > North America > United States > Honolulu > Aloha Festivals and a lot more
Art and culture is everywhere and anywhere in Hawaii. This cosmopolitan community of islands continually celebrates its Polynesian heritage and multi-ethnic diversity. Yet, residents and visitors can also enjoy a world-class symphony, opera, live theater, and seemingly countless cultural events, featuring the annual statewide Aloha Festivals during September.
Fine art and the hand-crafted arts of the islands are found in museums, galleries, hotel lobbies, and parks statewide. Music-lovers can always find a rich selection of live entertainment to choose from in theaters, malls, showrooms, and restaurants.
Performing arts theaters abound statewide, playing host to productions from around the world and showcasing local artists. Honolulu’s Diamond Head Theater is America's third oldest community theater. The venerable playhouse celebrated its 90th birthday in 2005 with a season of Broadway-quality shows.
But no elements of Hawaii are more closely identified with its cultural traditions than the melodic Hawaiian music and beautiful dance of hula.
Local musical artists continue to attract new fans nationwide, as they meld together the musical traditions of yesterday with the contemporary songs of today. Just how far has Hawaiian music come? It’s now a category for the Grammy Awards.
Hula, with its graceful storytelling told through hands and hips, is a favorite of everyone. Performances and competitions take place throughout the year, highlighted by the world’s largest and most prestigious hula event: The Merrie Monarch Festival.
Staged in Hilo town on Hawaii’s Big Island, the festival is literally three days and nights of the very best that hula has to offer, with hula halau (schools) from all islands performing everything from the most traditional to the most modern of dances.
To experience the full impact of Hawaii's artistic and cultural splendor, visit during the Hawaii Arts Season, which runs from late February to mid-May and offers more than 100 events on each of the major islands. Winter and spring is always an ideal time to visit, but the Hawaii Arts Season is one more great reason to come experience the “Islands of Aloha”.
Things about Honolulu you may be interested in
Read about Honolulu in our travel-guide
The perfect vacation on HawaiiWelcome to Hawaii!
Recommended Honolulu Guide
Honolulu Sights
Aloha Tower is the lighthouse which still welcomes vessels to Honolulu. With 10 stories, 184 feet of height in addition to 40 feet of flag mast, this tower has remained the tallest structure of Hawaii for more than 40 years. Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone on O’ahu which is known as Laahi to the Hawaiians. The Hanauma Bay is one of the marine embayment formed in a crater or volcanic cone. The bay is popular for its abundance of the green sea turtles known as Honu and parrotfish. ‘Iolani Palace is situated in the capital district of Honolulu downtown and is the single most royal palace utilized as official residence of the reigning... Read more »
Recent reviews for Honolulu
What to know about Hawaii - Mar 7, 2008, by lindamura
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Outdoor explorers, eco-seekers, ocean adventurers – welcome to Molokai – an island that’s unequivocally “Hawaiian By Nature”. A sign at the airport - “Slow Down, This is Molokai!”- is your first... Read more »
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Many people come to Hawaii thinking you can travel between the islands by ferry. In fact, it’s only possible in "Maui Nui" – a family of five islands that once ago were one. Molokai, Lanai, Molokini and Kahoolawe lie... Read more »
The perfect vacation on Hawaii - Mar 6, 2008, by lindamura
So much of Hawaii's appeal is tied to aloha, affection and love, it’s surprising to find there’s no word in the Hawaiian language for romance. Hard to believe, too, because if ever a destination inspired romance, it’s... Read more »
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