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Kani ka pū welcome at the 40th Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival. NPS photo by Janice Wei
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| Joni Mae Makuakāne-Jarrell (left) emceed. She and her 'ohana have been lead organizers and participants since the first of the 40 annual cultural festivals. Photo by Sara Espaniola |
"Every cultural festival is a wonderful experience for the park and the community," said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent, Rhonda Loh. "We send our biggest mahalo nui loa to all the performers, partners, food vendors, exhibitors and cultural practitioners who made Saturday such a huge success. It really is a kākou thing and I deeply appreciate everyone, including our staff and volunteers, who worked hard together to make the 40th fun and memorable!"
Festival goers were dazzled with hula performances by nā ʻōlapa (dancers) from Kaleilaniakealiʻi and Lori Lei's Hula Studio, and were treated to a day of mele by the original members of the legendary Pandanus Club: Ken Makuakāne, Roddy Lopez and Alden Kaiʻaokamālie. Ken Makuakāne, a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner, also performed solo.
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| Ken Makuakane sang solo and performed with the original members of his legacy band The Pandanus Club. NPS Photo by Janice Wei |
The theme of the festival, E Ho'omau i ka Poʻohala, was personified by generations of the Makuakāne ʻohana who have helped organize, emcee, perform, and share Hawaiian cultural practices from the very first Hawaiian cultural at Kamoamoa through Saturday's 40th event. The park sends a special mahalo to the ʻohana, especially Joni Mae Makuakāne-Jarrell, who served as a vivacious emcee and helped organize the event.
The Park statement said, "In addition, the cultural festival would not be possible without the dedicated support of the park's supporting partners, the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.
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Dancers with Hālau Kaleilaniakealiʻi perform at the 40th Cultural Festival at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. NPS Photo by Janice Wei |
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| Volunteers with the Hawaiʻi Island Hawksbill Project engage with the public at an exhibit table at the 40th Cultural Festival in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in Kahuku. NPS Photo by Janice Wei |
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| Keiki learn ʻohe kāpala with Khloe Ontiveros. NPS photo by Janice Wei |
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| Ulana lauhala with ʻAha Pūhala o Puna. NPS photo by Janice Wei |
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| Keiki learn how to play the Hawaiian game, kōnane. NPS Photo by Janice Wei |
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| Makau, fishooks and line put together at the cultural festival. Photo by Sara Espaniola |
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| Lori Lei Studio hula at Kahuku. Photo by Sara Espaniola |
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So far this year, there have been 544 DUI arrests compared with 543 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.18 percent. Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 547 major crashes so far this year, compared with 467 during the same time last year, an increase of 17.1 percent.
To date, there were 18 fatal crashes, resulting in 20 fatalities, compared with 9 fatal crashes, resulting in 10 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 100 percent for fatal crashes and 100 percent for fatalities.
In 2024, the non-traffic fatality count (not on a public roadway) is zero compared to zero non-traffic fatalities for the same time last year.
DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.
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| The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar, A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation and the closing of the mill in 1996 |
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| 5,500 in the mail, 2,000 on the streets Volcano to Miloli'i See www.kaunews.com |