Makahiki Kuilima

Sporadic rain and strong winds didn't slow things down a bit at the Makahiki Kuilima today. The crowd had to duck under the canopy when a squall blew through, but everybody was definitely having fun. There were food trucks on parade, local craftspeople with stuff for sale, and games, contests and more. Watching the strong men trying to pick up heavier and heavier boulders was a laugh!This is an annual event, starting off with a 5K fun run. The event, which is free and open to the public, is presented in conjunction with a special "eat the street" Hawaiian and lū'au- themed food truck rally. There's plenty of free parking on the grounds of the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort. Highly recommended.

This event is great fun and rich in Hawaiian culture, showcasing many Hawaiian games and cultural activities, which were entertaining both to watch and to participate in! Loads of tents were set up around a large open area, all on part of the beautiful grounds of the Turtle Bay Resort. (And the rocky-but-pretty beach was right on the other side of the parking area.) People of all ages -- kids through adults -- were part of the warm, welcoming, lively hosting group. Along with the games, hula, and storytelling in the open areas, many of the tents housed demonstrations where you could participate in arts and crafts, pound taro into poi {yes, on purpose}, and learn other aspects of Hawaiian culture. Other tents housed vendors, mostly of various types of clothes and jewelry, but including a few other things as well. There were also a few food stands and trucks. The only disappointment to me during my 2.5 hour visit was that there was no live music (except the rhythmic gourd during the hula competition); wonderful Hawaiian music was playing over the speakers, but it wasn't live, which I was looking forward to.I would definitely attend this again. And one more note: it was beautiful to hear that much Hawaiian language spoken; not just in the 'show' parts (from the announcer and the storyteller), but from the people throughout the event, the kids as well as the adults.