Urgent Call for Volunteers

Aloha! We are looking for volunteers to fill positions on the day of the Ho`ike and Hawaiian Festival on Saturday, July 25th. We have two hour shifts available and you are more than welcome to sign up for more than one. Please contact Kanani at:  kanani@kekukuifoundation.com who will tell you what shifts she has available. Mahalo Ke Kukui supporters! We couldn't do what we do without you.

3 Days of Aloha: Thursday Nite Pa`ina (party)

Kanikapila means to jam - and that's just what we'll be doing on Thursday the 23rd at the Hilton in Vancouver.  Roland Cazimero will be on hand as well as a number of talented musicians and hula dancers ready to kanikapila. Doors open at 6:30pm. Drinks and food available for purchase. 300 W 6th st, Vancouver WA, 98660. FREE Parking (after 6PM) available at the City "Park and Go" lot located at the N.E. corner of 6th and Columbia.

Roland Cazimero, Vicky Holt Takamine and Kanoe Miller Share Their Talents

3 Days of Aloha continues with the Hula and Craft Workshop. This year it takes place at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Washington. On Thursday and Friday the 23rd and 24th, Roland Cazimero will be teaching a guitar workshop. On Friday the 24th, Vicky and Kanoe will be sharing their hapa haole hula.  We still have a few more openings for classes:  to register.

So you think you can HULA?

On Friday the 24th at 5pm, be sure you're parked in a lawn chair on the grass at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver so that you can watch the first ever in the Northwest's Hapa Haole Hula Competition.

In keeping with the hapa-haole tradition, all songs within each category must be sung in English and the theme of the performance must be about Hawai`i. Prizes and recognition will be awarded to the winners. Dancers from California to Washington willbe competing. Winning soloists and groups will be showcased at the following day’s Ho`ike and Hawaiian Festival.

FREE Parking (after 6PM) available at the City "Park and Go" lot located at the N.E. corner of 6th and Columbia.

3 Days of Aloha's Big Finale, The Ho`ike & Hawaiian Festival at Esther Short Park

After training at the workshop, hula dancers and guitarists will be showcasing their learned Hawaiian arts at the Hoi`ke and Hawaiian Festival held in Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver, Washington on Saturday, July 25th.

Hawaiian music, arts and crafts vendors, dancers, shave-ice, kalua pig and plenty of Aloha spirit will be had by all. This is the fourth year at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver and we expect well over 8,000 people again.

Performing on stage will be Roland Cazimero, Eagle Spirit dancers, Portland Taiko, Halau Na Anuenue Uia Lokelina, winners from the competition, Hula Halau o Lono & Friends, Kaleinani o ke Kukui and the­ Sons of Aloha.

Throughout the day, we'll be having an ongoing raffle from our fabulous vendors and sponsors including 40,000 miles of airfare donated from Hawaiian Airlines.

We're proud to host several food vendors for you to try a variety of Hawaiian dishes. Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice will be on hand once again. To keep you hydrated, Ke Kukui Foundation table will be selling ice-cold Hawaiian Sun juices. At their booth will be the limited run of 3 Days of Aloha Festival T-shirts for $12, as well as Ke Kukui Foundation shirts all made from organic cotton.

For more info on the 3 Days of Aloha Festival, visit our website. 

$2.50 gets you all day parking at the City "Park and Go" lot located at the N.E. corner of 6th and Columbia.

CHICKEN SKIN MOMENTS FROM MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL

by Kathy Ellickson

Four hula sisters (Ka’imipono, Kapuanani, Puakeanani and Kathy) experienced Merrie Monarch together last April. Kathy had sooo many chicken skin moments, she had to share just a few...

7am on the lanai overlooking Hilo Bay. Enjoying a peaceful moment and the beauty of the morning. Then all of the sudden the harmonies of a halau singing the doxology in Hawaii’ian, in parts come floating out from the open air practice room in our hotel and over the water. Chills went up my spine.

Walking down the hall of our hotel, the Hilo Hawaiian and hearing ukulele, guitar or dancers practicing for the Merrie Monarch Festival in their rooms. The hotel hummed with life continuously during our stay.

Thanks to our Kumu Aunty Vicky who graciously provided seats up front…at times we were so close that we could see the sweat dripping off the noses of the dancers and hear the swish of the ti leaf skirts as the dancers moved powerfully before us.

We were so grateful to be ambassadors for our own Kaleinani o Ke Kukui Halau as Aunty Vicky warmly included us in the activities of her own halau throughout our visit.