Hala

Festival

2024

Saturday, may 18

About the Hala Festival:

The purpose of this event is to bring the community together to celebrate hala (Pandanus tectorius), cherished for its significance as an ecological and cultural keystone species in Hawai'i. The Hala Festival provides allows everyone to foster a deeper connection to hala and play an active role in preserving this important cultural and natural resource for future generations.

The Hala Festival is a free event brought to you by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee in collaboration with Pōhaku Pelemaka.

Puna paia ʻala

i ka hala

Puna is known for its fragrant hala groves. The significance of hala is multifaceted, as it encompasses cultural, environmental, and symbolic dimensions that underscore its importance in Hawaiian life and identity.

Register for workshops

Ulana Lauhala (weaving)

Kumu Annie Kaaukai will be hosting 45 min. ulana lauhala (lauhala weaving) bracelet workshops. She is a lifelong practitioner from Puna and has been providing hana noʻeau workshops to the community for decades. She is knowledgable in net making, lauhala and lau niu plaiting, haupia, and many others.

Each participant of this workshop will weave a bracelet with Aunty Annie's guidance and expertise.

Ulana Lauhala (weaving)

Kumu Pūlama Long of Honi Hala will be facilitating 45 min. ulana lauhala (lauhala weaving) workshops. She is a weaver of 10+ years and has been teaching in the community since 2015. These workshops focus on kilo (observation), pattern recognition, hua 'ōlelo (Hawaiian words), and weaving techniques.

Each participant will weave a patterned jacket pin or hair clip, transforming traditional knowledge into woven wearable art.

Stay tuned for more workshop opportunities opening up soon!

Deadline to sign up for workshops: May 10, 2024

We're looking for volunteers!

If you want to volunteer at the Hala Festival, please fill out this form.

Deadline to apply: May 10, 2024

Mahalo to Hawaiʻi County Council Districts 3 & 4, County Department of Research and Development, and all of our sponsors for making this event possible!

Questions?

Big Island Invasive Species Committee

Contact: biisc@hawaii.edu

Pōhaku Pelemaka

Contact: aloha@pohakupelemaka.org