Kamehameha Schools 90th Annual Ho’olaule’a

ANNUAL HO’OLAULE’A FESTIVAL
What’s all the Excitement about?!
The annual Kamehameha School’s Ho’olaule’a (pronounced Ho-​oh-​lau-​lei-​ya) is an amazing Hawaiian cultural festival held annually at the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus.
One weekend day a year annually, the entire school, student’s family and friends, and community converge upon this Kapalama Campus for this very special, totally relaxed fundraising event held right on the huge grassy area in the middle of the upper regions of the school.
What’ll You Find There?
You’ll find a rich assortment of music and dance entertainment from Hawaiian to Polynesian to also what’s popular in our American culture performed by the school’s current students and alumni (who are probably pretty famous entertainers) in the form of groups sings and dances *not to mention* THE GREAT FUUD including but not at all limited to their specialty HAOLE BROWNIES! :D
Also of equally great importance are the delicacies that are brought to Oahu from our neighboring islands. Do not underestimate these you-​would-​have-​to-​fly-​to-​a-​whole-​nuther-​island-​just-​to-​get, sometimes-​hard-​to-​find, high-​demand specialty items. Save yourself a plane ticket or 2 & get them there :)
This is an event that not all that many people know about. Haha well, at least I never knew about it until recently. It was explained to me that the event is coordinated by a different alumni high school class each year. Talk about everlasting school spirit! So very impressive!
Yummy Edibles to Consume there!
You’ll find delicious ethnic foods, drinks, and desserts, from various cultures and from different Hawaiian Islands in addition to Hawaiian foods.
This year, some of the food plate items available were: kalibi, BBQ pork sticks, fried fish plate, Hawaiian plate, pastele stew, pastele plate, and others.
So Many More Treasures to Bring Home!
Did I mention the Kulolo?! This is another treasure ppl know to line up for! Mmmmm.
Every good festival also contains county store-​type items for sale and this one does not disappoint. You’ll find great deals on more difficult to make or find homemade craft items (ribbon lei, ingenious household and office items, pillow cases, table runners, blankets, yarn pouch purses, cosmetic bags, silver wire earrings), and great deals on produce (pineapples, apple bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, papaya for instance).
One of their most favorite item is their signature Haole Brownies. This year they had an express, script-​only line just for these brownies! Wow! Find more Haole Brownies in the Country Store along with the actual brownie mix so you can bake them at your leisure in the comfort of your own home.
The Country Store is also where one will find blue & white Kamehameha Schools logo items. So I’ve heard their alumni explain, during the typical school year, anyone desiring KS logo items will either have to make an appointment to go on to campus to get them, find a limited selection online, or can find an good assortment during this festival.
Food items made and found only on certain Hawaii State Islands (Kauai, Molokai, Maui) are available at various food booths. This year there were homemade condiment items (lilikoi and guava butters, chili pepper water) at the Molokai booth and kulolo at the Kauai booth.
Sunlight! In-​House Entertainment! Activities!
Everyone is welcome to sit on the grass lawn to enjoy the featured festival entertainment.
There’s also other things to see and do such as their silent auction, plants and flowers sale, haku lei-​making, poi pounding, kiddie rides, and. maybe more depending on the year! Lol
How to get there?
There are Bus Shuttles at the bottom of the mountain/​school at various locations. There’s one at the Kamehameha Schools bus terminal at the corner of Kapalama and N. School Street. The shuttle will take you to and from the school to/​from various nearby locations down the hill. It’s a very organized process so everyone can get back to their vehicle after attending the festival.
Don’t Leave the Festival Without It!
Don’t forget to find and buy your fabulous Haole Brownies for your secret snack stash! Hehe :)
Things to Know!
The festival begins in the morning at 830am and runs thru the afternoon at 430pm. If you want the more popular items, you’ll have to be there at least by 11am!
If you arrive there early enough, there are probably going to be long lines for everything anyway but with a little patience, you will likely be able to purchase your desired items. Everyone is warm and nice if you are too so if you’re not sure which line you’re waiting in, just politely ask the people in line whether they’re waiting in line for what you want.
If you happen to go overboard on bulky items, rest assured when you get them safely home in your refrigerator, on your counter, in your tummy, or used throughout your house, you will be the happiest Ho’olaule’a participant ready and willing to attend the next festival the next year: D

For what it is, the Ho’olaule’a is awesome! Ono food, laid-​back family atmosphere, great entertainment…& chances are you’ll run into a few old friends that you haven’t seen in years. ;-) Love the layout of the event, with all of the food booths surrounding the stage, then all the other stuff (silent auction, kiddie area, etc) further out. Interestingly, Hawaiian plate isn’t my favorite thing to eat here…#1 for me is the fried fish plate, then maybe the smoke meat…& I’ve only had the pastele plate one time but I remember that being really good too! Which brings me to my only real complaint… all the best foods run out sooo early! =(If you’re not here by 11am, chances are you’ll miss out on the kulolo, pastele stew, watermelon braddah pops… seems like the same stuff runs out fast every year. 0=) Oh well, just more incentive to get here early!