The Aloha Festivals are an annual series of free cultural celebrations observed in the state of Hawaii in the United States. It is the only statewide cultural festival in the nation. It features concerts, parades, street parties called ho‘olaule‘a as well as various other special events planned for resident and tourist families. The Aloha Festivals are celebrated on six islands — Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island of Hawaii — over the course of six weeks in September and October.
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In the spirit of preserving the Hawaiian culture and heritage, the Aloha Festivals were established in 1946 as Aloha Week by former members of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce. The main highlight of the original Aloha Week was the presentation of the Royal Court and a floral parade, a two hour parade eastbound on Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue through Downtown Honolulu, Kakaako, Ala monarch.
Each year has a specific theme:
Approximately 30,000 people volunteer to plan, organize and provide labor for the Aloha Festivals each year. Their efforts entertain over 1,000,000 people from throughout the state and visitors from all over the world.
Funding for the Aloha Festivals have been historically provided through a public corporation. The corporation collected donations with the distribution of elaborately decorated pins and ribbons — each island was represented by a distinctive color. Most recent Aloha Festivals have been funded through private corporate sponsorships. Currently, the Aloha Festivals are funded by Hawaiian Airlines and its parent company.