The resourceful aloha spirit comes to life in the Hula, Ono food, music, crafts, tourism resources and a Hawaiian marketplace at Seattle Center Festál: Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 11, at Seattle Center Armory, Mural Amphitheatre and Fisher Roof.
As the festival enters its 9th year, a special focus is given to the art of lei making with a series of workshops on crafting the festive garlands. Seattle Center Loft Lobby hosts sessions on ribbon lei, noon-1:30 p.m., and feather flower lei, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m., while fresh flower lei workshops run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on the Armory Balcony. Other workshops offer the opportunity to learn about Hawaiian genealogy, navigation, Kī hōʻalu (slack key guitar) and ukulele. Keiki Korner provides coloring activities and special fresh flower and yarn lei workshops designed for young visitors.
Multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winning musician Ra`iatea Helm headlines a day of performances that share the sounds of Hawaii (raiateahelm.com). Other musical highlights include performances by Boys of Kue, Seattle Ukulele Players Association, Gary Kalei Medeiros & Friends, Hiroshi Okada, Kaha`iali`i Brothers, Grooveline Hawai`I, Ambassadors of Hawaiian Music, Arden Fujiwara and Pau. Festival-goers are invited to bring an instrument of their choice and join in the music at a kanikapila (Hawaiian jam session) on Fisher Roof, noon-4 p.m.
Hula performances, accompanied by live music, run throughout the day. Featured performers include Halau Hula `O Lono, Hokulani’s Hula Studio, Hula O Lehualani, Kini Kuki Dem, Halau Hula O Napualani and Nā Hanu O Ku`uleialoha.
Sample delicious Hawaiian cuisine, with kālua pig, poke, Hawaiian-style barbecue, shave ice and malasadas on the menu. A musubi eating contest invites visitors to test their appetite and speed, 5 p.m. at Mural Amphitheatre.
As Seattle Center Festál prepares for a milestone in 2017, the 20th anniversary of this illuminating series of ethnic cultural events at Seattle Center, we celebrate the diverse arts, crafts, foods and family activities presented on weekends throughout the year. The 23 Festál events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, form the bedrock of our free, public offerings, 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 this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200. Learn more about Seattle Center Festál: Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival at: www.seattlelivealohafestival.com.
