Emails and Instagram Messages started to go out to local Hālau and Kumu Hula.
Hula Festival Coming June 2026
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What’s our timeline
Website/Social Media Presence… DONE
Location… In-Progress
This week we are starting to reach out to Hālau.
Time/Date/Logistics… done by January 2026
Tickets..,. by March 2026
Hālau/Schedule/Vendors… by April 2026
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What’s our platform
Through the years we have lost great festivals here on Oʻahu such as the Kamehameha Oli and Hula Competition and the World Invitational Hula Festival. We would like to not replace these, but to pick up where they left off as they have left great legacies behind.
Our goal is to primarily focus on our Nā Kūpuna ages 55+ as well as our Gracious Ladies and Gentlemen ages 45-54 where they can showcase their competitive hula spirit. There are festivals/competitions that focus on keiki, ʻōpio, and mākua, but it’s rare for the focus to be on our Kūpuna, Gracious Ladies, and Gentlemen. We also would like to have a Wāhine and Kāne category ages 15-44 in a minimum supportive capacity.
The Kekaikuihala501(c)3 Non-Profit organization and Lualualei Hawaiian Civic Club aim to perpetuate and cultivate the Hawaiian culture through this festival. Not only will the festival have the competition aspect, but we hope to include a concert, workshops, and feature other Hawaiian and/or Polynesian Cultural activities throughout the duration of the festival.
It is the hope that this festival assist multiple organizations across multiple communities. For example, this event will benefit the Lualualei Hawaiian Civic Club Scholarship Fund, in which we award selected High School Seniors from Nānākuli and Waiʻanae High School who want to pursue a degree in college or trade school. We plan to invite other organizations to be part of this festival with the intent to benefit them as well. Another thing we hope for is that participating hālau may also make a small profit from ticket sales to go towards their hālau as well.
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What we envision…
We envision providing a platform that can build upon and sustain these pillars; Moʻomeheu (Culture), Kaiaulu (Community), & ʻOhana (Family) with a foundation of the values of ALOHA.
Moʻomeheu: The perpetuation and cultivation of the Hawaiian Culture is a priority for our organization. He Lei No Kaiona will do this through Hula, Mele, and Hana Noʻeau.
Kaiaulu: Our foundation is built upon the relationships of community members and organizations. It is important for us to build these relationships to ensure we succeed. Our community members and partners are valuable in all we do.
ʻOhana: In the core of everything we do, FAMILY is essential in all we do. Not just our birth families, but the one’s we choose as well. We know and understand that the ʻOhana concept is what will tie in the other two pillars of Culture and Community.
ALOHA: A foundation is nothing without values to live by. We live by the values of ALOHA. Akahai- we live modestly and unpretentious. Lokahi- we work in unity within our organization, community, and ʻohana. ʻOluʻolu- we are kind and pleasant in everything we do. Haʻahaʻa- we remain humble through any success and even “lessons learned”. Ahonui- we have patience with everyone we work with and all projects we are part of,
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Who we are…
A community partnership that has a common goal in mind.
Kekaikuihala 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization & Lualualei Hawaiian Civic Club wishes to provide a platform for multiple positive outcomes for the present and future generations of our communities and organizations through the perpetuation and cultivation of the Hawaiian Culture and Arts. We want a platform that can foster and enhance the values of ALOHA. This brought the founding of HE LEI NO KAIONA HULA FESTIVAL.
Our founders and Co-Chairs are two Waiʻanae Kumu Hula and Community Leaders who have a combined 80+ years of experience in competitive and non-competitive hula and Hawaiian Cultural kuleana.
From Kekaikuihala 501(c)3: Kumu Nettie Armitage-Lapilio of Halau Hula ʻO Kekaikuihala.
From Lualualei Hawaiian Civic Club: Kumu Leato S. Savini of Hālau Nā Mamo O Tulipa.
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COMING SOON!
He Lei No Kaiona Hula Festival is in partnership with the Kekaikuʻihala Hula 501(c)3 Organization and the Lualualei Hawaiian Civic Club.
MORE INFO COMING SOON!