Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival Brings the Spirit of Hawaii to Seattle

Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival brings to life the Aloha spirit in the Hula, Ono food, music and a Hawaiian marketplace, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, Sept.13, in Seattle Center Armory, at Mural Amphitheatre, and on Fisher Roof. Journey through the sights, sounds and tastes of Hawaii, experience the festive spirit of the islands and learn about their true history.

The eighth annual Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival features headliner Maunalua (www.maunalua.com), a multiple N? H?k? Hanohano Award-winning trio specializing in traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music. Other musical highlights include: Northwest Blend, Leo Aloha, Na Hilahila Boys, Tamlyn Tamura on Ukulele, Seattle Ukulele Players Association, Hiroshi Okada and Grooveline Hawai`i. Two participatory workshops held in Armory Loft 2, "Ukulele: Getting to the Chords on Time" with John Leder at 1:30 p.m. and a slack key guitar workshop with Sheryl Akaka at 4 p.m., allow visitors to tune-up their own musical skills. Hawaiian music jam sessions, open to all, begin at noon on Fisher Roof.

Hula performances by local troupes and those from farther afield, all accompanied by live music, feature throughout the day on the Armory and Mural Amphitheatre stages. A Keiki Hula workshop, starting at 2:30 p.m. in Armory Loft 3, offers children the opportunity to learn this popular dance style.

Keiki Korner welcomes young visitors with four engaging children's activities: yarn lei and Hawaiian flag making, sand petroglyphs and konane (Hawaiian checkers). The fun continues outdoors in the bouncy house on Fisher Roof.

Food vendors offer a wide range of Hawaiian treats: laulau (steamed meat wrapped in taro leaves), fresh poke (a raw fish delicacy), barbecue chicken and beef, shave ice and malasadas (Hawaiian doughnuts). Lei hulu (feather leis), heirloom jewelry, handmade flowers and apparel are among the items available for purchase from over 50 product vendors.

Fun and informative workshops on fresh flower lei making, Hawaiian language and kuiki lau (Hawaiian quilting) run throughout the day on the Armory balcony and in the Armory Lofts. A lecture on Hawaiian Genealogy lead by Kaui Kaha`ali`i and Kamaunu Kahai`ali`i and a screening of Edgy Lee's documentary film "The Hawaiians - Reflecting Spirit" complete the festival's program.

In 2015, Seattle Center Festál explores the "art of culture" in 23 celebrations on weekends throughout the year. The events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, make use of indoor and outdoor spaces on the grounds and offer wide-ranging entertainment, food, visual displays and exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. The annual series forms the bedrock of public programming at Seattle Center, captivating and enlightening festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that influence the character and course of our broader community.

Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.