Molokaʻi Canoe Festivals - Kulāia Hoʻolauleʻa

Molokaʻi Canoe Festivals - Kulāia Hoʻolauleʻa KULĀIA HOʻOLAULEʻA
🌸A Street Festival in Downtown Kaunakakai sharing the Spirit of Kulāia with the world~ALOHA

Historical records dating back to 1865 note Hawaiian outrigger canoe race competitions as one of the many events our kūpuna took part in during annual lā kulāia a.k.a. kulāia, which are days of festivities honoring the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and especially honoring our beloved monarchy. During the Hawaiian Kingdom era, kulāia festivities generally occurred once a year during a national holiday or birt

hday celebration of a mōʻī (monarch). Subsequently after the overthrow of our beloved Hawaiian Kingdom, kulāia festivities changed focus and no longer celebrated the Kingdom and monarchy. In historical records, we see the shift from national celebration, to simply canoe race competitions. Therefore pieces of our historic kulāia were lost and forgotten. In remembering the early years of the Molokaʻi Hoe along with the Aloha Festivals Hoʻolauleʻa at Hale o Lono, it was Molokaʻi's version of the historic kulāia. The festivities lasted for an entire weekend with campsites stretching from one end of Hale o Lono to the other and the spirit of ʻohana and aloha radiated to all; including the various Molokaʻi ʻohana, neighboring island paddlers and ʻohana, visitors, spectators, and many others who came from outer islands, other states, and other countries. In recent years, we have seen history repeated, where the idea of kulāia was forgotten, as the canoe race continued without the festival. Wanting to revive the spirit of the festivals here on Molokaʻi, a grassroots community group came together and formed the Molokaʻi Canoe Festivals Committee whose members share the vision of bringing back the festivals to our community and sharing the true Molokaʻi aloha and hospitality to our visiting brothers and sisters of the paddling ʻohana. This practice of kulāia is an important cultural tradition that connects us to our aliʻi and our kūpuna. KULĀIA gives us an opportunity to enlighten, embrace and share with those who visit our island about our values and resources we cherish which is our life source that sustains us and keeps Molokaʻi…Molokaʻi. May we embrace this valuable tradition and pass it down to our own moʻopuna for generations to come. "The Molokaʻi Canoe Festivals presents KULĀIA on Friday, September 19, 2014, from 5pm-10pm in Kaunakakai Town on the lawn & street fronting the Library (Road blocked from Rawlins to Fish & Dive) welcoming our community and all those participating in the Nā Wāhine o Ke Kai Canoe Race. This Hoʻolauleʻa is FREE to attend and will have awesome Entertainment (Featuring: Raiatea Helm, Hoʻokena, Kawika Kahiapo, Moanaʻs Hula Hālau, ʻO Hina I Ka Malama, Nā Pua Hoʻoheno), Local Food Vendors, Local Merchandise & Craft Vendors, Hawaiian Culture Practitioners and Educational Information Booths. In addition, Nā Wāhine o Ke Kai logo merchandise & apparel will be sold at this event in partnership with Nā Wāhine o Ke Kai, the County of Maui and Hawaiian Airlines. "Mahalo to our Sponsors ʻAha Kukui o Molokai, The County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Molokai Chamber of Commerce, Rawlins Chevron, Hotel Molokaʻi, Alamo Rent a Car, Friendly Market Center & Coffees of Hawaiʻi."

10/14/2025
🙏Mahalo Kelly Pauole and Dan Emhoff for the beautiful photography & videography capturing our 8th Annual Moloka’i Canoe ...
10/05/2025

🙏Mahalo Kelly Pauole and Dan Emhoff for the beautiful photography & videography capturing our 8th Annual Moloka’i Canoe Festivals KULĀIA-2025🌸 Enjoy!!

This is "Molokai Canoe Festivals Presents, KULĀIA 2025" by VISUAL RESONANCE MEDIA on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

09/30/2025

Crew Carbo-Load, Molokaʻi Style!

Looking for an easy, ono way to feed your crew the night before the race? A local Molokaʻi family caterer is offering catering-style pans for Saturday night pickup — the perfect carbo load and heavy protein to fuel up before the big crossing.

✨ Hot, hearty, and ready to go
✨ Feeds your whole crew with ease
✨ A chance to support local while making your Molokaʻi stay even more special

📅 Saturday Night Pickup
🥘 Order ahead so this family can prep with aloha and make sure your crew is ready for race day!

Support local. Eat well. Paddle strong.

🌺✨ MAHALO NUI LOA – KULĀIA 2025 ✨🌺Our hearts are full as we reflect on the success of the 8th Annual KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa....
09/27/2025

🌺✨ MAHALO NUI LOA – KULĀIA 2025 ✨🌺

Our hearts are full as we reflect on the success of the 8th Annual KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa. This celebration of Molokaʻi’s culture, community, and aloha could not happen without the kōkua of so many.

🙏 Volunteers & Community Support
Mahalo to our dedicated volunteers — the Kukui O Molokaʻi boys, the Waʻakapaemua men, Bayer’s employees, the Waikīkī Beach Junior Girls, and the Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) — for giving your time, strength, and aloha to make this event possible. From setup to breakdown, you kept everything moving smoothly.

A special mahalo to Gee & Lana Apuna and their boys for helping to break down the stage at the end of the night — your hard work is deeply appreciated.

📚 Mahalo also to Librarian Mia Langer and the Molokaʻi Library staff for your kōkua and community support that helped make this celebration possible.

🌸 Stage Decorations
Mahalo to Aunty Penny Martin, Crystal Egusa, Loke Rawlins, and Aunty Leialoha for lending their creativity and hands in putting together the stage decorations that brought beauty and aloha to our main stage. Your touch gave KULĀIA its welcoming spirit and cultural pride.

🌟 Our Generous Sponsors
We honor and mahalo the support of our sponsors, whose kōkua sustains this celebration:

Platinum Sponsors
• County of Maui, Office of Economic Development
• Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
• ʻAha Hui O Molokaʻi
• Alaska Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Bujified Hawaiʻi LLC
• Friendly Market Center
• Makoa Trucking & Services
• Mokulele Airlines
• Rawlins Service Molokaʻi

Gold Sponsors
• Bayer
• NAPA Auto Parts / Friendly Silo
• Hawaiʻi Life
• Molokaʻi Community Federal Credit Union

Silver Sponsors
• Hawaiian Electric
• Maui ʻOma Coffee Roasting Co.

Friends of KULĀIA
• Hotel Molokaʻi

🏆 Hoʻoilina Award Honoree
We were privileged to honor Mervin Lawrence “Uncle Merv” Dudoit Sr. as the 2025 Hoʻoilina Award recipient. Uncle Merv’s life as a fisherman, diver, paddler, coach, teacher, and cultural steward touched countless lives. His wisdom — “we don’t need to take so much fish, only what we need” — continues to guide us. Mahalo to the Dudoit ʻohana for carrying forward his legacy of aloha, ʻohana, and mālama i ke kai.

🎶 Entertainment & Program
Mahalo to our entertainers — ʻOhana Hāmākua, Ikaika Kalani, Kainani Kahaunaele, Jerry Santos, and Kamuela Kimokeo — for filling the night with mele and aloha.
To our emcee Alaka‘i Paleka, who gracefully guided us through the evening, mahalo nui. Though Ke’van Dudoit could not be with us, his presence was felt in spirit.

🤝 Kulaia Crew & ʻOhana
To the Molokaʻi Canoe Festivals crew — Lori-Lei Rawlins Crivello, Tylor Tanaka, Nahulu Maioho, Junior Alcon, Luana Alcon, Hokulani Alcon, Raymond Hiro, and Pilahi Ignacio — and to your ʻohana who give alongside you: mahalo for your tireless dedication, late nights, heavy lifting, and unwavering aloha. This event is a reflection of your love for Molokaʻi.

🌊💛 Together, we honor our past, celebrate our present, and carry forward Molokaʻi’s traditions for future generations.

Mahalo nui loa to everyone who made KULĀIA 2025 possible.

📖🌺 GET YOUR KULĀIA PROGRAM! 🌺📖The Official Program for the 8th Annual KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa 2025 is here! ✨👉 Scan the QR co...
09/26/2025

📖🌺 GET YOUR KULĀIA PROGRAM! 🌺📖

The Official Program for the 8th Annual KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa 2025 is here! ✨

👉 Scan the QR code to view it online.
👉 Or visit our booth at KULĀIA to pick up a paper copy (limited quantities available).

Mahalo for supporting our Molokaʻi community — see you at KULĀIA! 🌊💛

🌺✨ TODAY IS THE DAY! ✨🌺Join us for the 8th Annual KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa 🎶🌊📍 Kaunakakai Town, Molokaʻi🕔 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM✨ ...
09/26/2025

🌺✨ TODAY IS THE DAY! ✨🌺

Join us for the 8th Annual KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa 🎶🌊
📍 Kaunakakai Town, Molokaʻi
🕔 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

✨ Enjoy:
🎵 Live music & entertainment
🍲 Ono food from local vendors
🛍️ Unique crafts & merchandise
🏆 Special Hoʻoilina Award presentation
🌺 Community, culture, and aloha

Come early, grab your spot, and let’s celebrate together under the Molokaʻi stars. 💛

See you tonight at KULĀIA!

✈️🌺 WIN A GETAWAY! 🌺✈️We’re giving away two pairs of roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines to any destination they serve ...
09/26/2025

✈️🌺 WIN A GETAWAY! 🌺✈️

We’re giving away two pairs of roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines to any destination they serve in North America, Central America, or Hawaiʻi! 🌊✨

👉 How to enter:
1️⃣ Look for the survey QR code at the KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa event.
2️⃣ Complete the survey (rules will be listed on the survey).
3️⃣ Be present at the event to win!

Don’t miss your chance — stop by our booth for details and get ready to fly! 💛

⛽🌺 Mahalo Rawlins Service Molokaʻi! 🌺⛽From the very start — and catching all the moments in between — Rawlins Service Mo...
09/25/2025

⛽🌺 Mahalo Rawlins Service Molokaʻi! 🌺⛽

From the very start — and catching all the moments in between — Rawlins Service Molokaʻi has been there for KULĀIA and for our island. 💛

This is a business that consistently puts community first, leading with generosity, aloha, and support for Molokaʻi families and traditions. 🌊✨

We are proud to recognize Rawlins Service Molokaʻi as a Platinum Sponsor of KULĀIA Hoʻolauleʻa 2025.

Address

Kaunakakai, HI
96748

Telephone

(808)658-0104

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