Your Ultimate Guide to the 2018 Prince Lot Hula Festival

This year marks the 2nd year in the festival’s 40-year run that it will be held at historic ‘Iolani Palace. Here’s your guide to what to expect, where to park and more.

Photo: courtesy of moanalua gardens foundation

As the largest non-competitive hula event in the Islands, the Prince Lot Hula Festival has made its mark as a cultural staple. There’s something for everyone in the ‘ohana to enjoy at this year’s 41^st annual event, which takes place Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22—from food, crafts and cultural exhibitions to hula performances by local hālau.

What It Is

The 2-day festival features performances by 20 hula hālau (12 on Saturday and eight on Sunday), as well as award presentations. The hālau lineup is available online and includes groups from O‘ahu and the Neighbor Islands. You can also peruse a variety of local foods and crafts and Hawaiian exhibitions.

The event began in 1978 as a way to honor Prince Lot Kapuāiwa, who reigned as Kamehameha V, and preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. The move to ‘Iolani Palace from Moanalua Gardens marked a new era in the festival’s history as it returned to the former site of Prince Lot’s home (he lived on the grounds of where the palace now stands).

Photo: Courtesy moanalua gardens foundation

The nonprofit Moanalua Gardens Foundation organizes the festival each year, with sponsors including the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

When and Where

This year’s festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 22 at the palace. There is a pre-festival concert featuring the Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Entrance to the first floor of the palace will be free during the festival.

Where to Park

There will be no public parking available on the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace. The Moanalua Gardens Foundation recommends carpooling or catching the bus. If you are driving, here are some places to park nearby that the foundation website suggests:

• Ali‘i Place, 1099 Alakea St., $3 all day

• Bishop Square, 1001 Bishop St. (enter on Alakea Street), $5 all day

• Harbor Square, 700 Richards St., $5 all day

• First Hawaiian Center, 999 Bishop St. (enter on Merchant Street), $5 all day on Saturday only

• Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St. (enter on Beretania and Punchbowl streets), free

• Department of Health front lot, 1250 Punchbowl St., free

• U.S. Post Office, 335 Merchant St., free on Sunday

• Metered street parking around the palace (except for reserved meters on Richards and King streets), free on Sunday

How Much It Costs

Admission to the festival is free. If you want to buy food, crafts or anything else, you will need to purchase scrips (cash and credit card accepted) at the ‘Iolani Barracks, located mauka of the palace near the gate fronting Richards Street. There will be no cash transactions allowed on the palace grounds, except for scrip purchases.  

What to Eat and Buy

photo: courtesy moanalua gardens foundation

The festival boasts 43 food and craft vendors, selling everything from shave ice, barbeque chicken, kālua pig nachos, smoothies and coffee to Tahitian pearls, Hawaiian artwork, hats and clothing. If you’re interested in learning more about the Hawaiian culture, head to the eight exhibition booths run by cultural practitioners who will be pounding poi, making lei, weaving lauhala and more.

Tips

• Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis, so bring your own low-lying beach chairs and mats.

• Wear comfortable and cool clothing and bring sunscreen (it’s in the middle of the summer and it’s outdoors).

• Commercial photography is not allowed.

• Bathrooms (aka porta potties) will be located near the gate fronting the state Capitol.

For more information, visit moanaluagardensfoundation.org.