Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Seattle Center's family-friendly Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival celebrates the culture, music, and cuisine of Hawai'i

Dance, food, and great music – the trifecta for weekend fun.

Photo: kanaka menehune/flickr

 

Sunday, September 13, pop over to Seattle Center to attend the Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival from 11 am to 7 pm.

This weekend's free event features Hula, Ono food, music and a Hawaiian marketplace. The event is headlined by Maunalua, a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning trio that plays traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music.

 

Live musical performances

There are a host of other awesome Hawaiian musicians performing: Northwest Blend, Leo Aloha, Na Hilahila Boys, Tamlyn Tamura on Ukulele, Seattle Ukulele Players Association, Hiroshi Okada and Grooveline Hawai'i. Don't miss the hula performances, happening on the Armory and Mural Amphitheatre stages.

 

Workshops for kids and adults

Folks interested in honing their own musical skills can attend two sweet workshops: “Ukulele:  Getting to the Chords on Time” with John Leder at 1:30 pm and a slack key guitar workshop with Sheryl Akaka at 4 pm. Hawaiian music jam sessions are also happening all day on Fisher Roof.

Kids can attend a Keiki Hula workshop at 2:30 pm or head to the Keiki Corner to make yarn lei and Hawaiian flags, sand petroglyphs and konane (Hawaiian checkers). 

Workshops on lei making, Hawaiian language and kuiki lau (Hawaiian quilting) run throughout the day on the Armory balcony and in the Armory Lofts.

 

Great eats

Hit up the many great Hawaiian foods at the food vendor area throughout the day: laulau (steamed meat wrapped in taro leaves), fresh poke, barbecue chicken and beef, and shave ice and malasadas for little eaters.

 

The event finishes up with a screening of Edgy Lee’s documentary film The Hawaiians – Reflecting Spirit.

The Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival takes place Sunday, September 13 from 11 am to 7 pm. 305 Harrison St, Seattle, 98109

About the Author

AnnaLise Bender-Brown