Free Queen Lili‘uokalani Festival Set for September 8th in Hilo

The County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation announces the Queen Lili‘uokalani Festival – He Hali‘a Aloha No Lili‘uokalani – will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Queen Lili‘uokalani Gardens in Hilo.

Penny Vredenburg and Skylark Rossetti will serve as co-emcees for the free event that will feature an opening pule or prayer by Aunty Lucille Chung, ho‘okupu presentations and a special appearance by Claire Asam, executive director of the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center.

Musical performers will include Kūkulu Kumuhana ‘O Puna, Queen Lili‘uokalani Trustees, Tai Shoji taiko drummers, Waiakea Ukulele Band, the Brown Ohana, Kahulanui Pacific Island swing band, Mark Yamanaka and Ulu‘au.

Recording artist Darlene Ahuna, a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner and former Hawai‘i Female Vocalist of the Year, will coordinate a mass hula and a “floral rain,” which will involve thousands of flower petals being dropped from a helicopter.

There also will be an Urasenke tea ceremony, children’s water slide and games, crafters, and food booths.

Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center, the Hawai‘i Tropical Flowers Council, KAPA Radio, KWXX 94.7 FM Hilo and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters are partnering with the County of Hawai‘i in holding the festival.

Additional parking and free shuttle service will be available from the nearby Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

For safety reasons, Lihiwai Street will be closed at 2 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7, and won’t be reopened until after the festival concludes on Saturday, Sept. 8.

For additional information, please contact the Culture and Education Office at 961-8706.