ʻAʻALA PARK COMES ALIVE FOR URBAN MAKAHIKI: A COMMUNITY EVENT CELEBRATING LAND, WATER, AND CULTURE
On Saturday, November 15th, join Waiwai Collective, American Savings Bank, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, and Trust for Public Land for a day of community, moʻolelo and celebration of the ʻāina and wai
HONOLULU — Waiwai Collective, American Savings Bank (ASB), Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and Trust for Public Land (TPL) invite the community to celebrate Urban Makahiki, a free public event, at ‘A‘ala Park on Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The vibrant gathering welcomes hundreds of community members for a day of fun games, live performances and cultural demonstrations to foster a renewed connection between ʻāina, wai and community.
Urban Makahiki will center on the themes of moʻolelo, wai and makahiki consciousness, encouraging both locals and visitors to engage with the rich history of ʻAʻala Park and its connection to the ahupuaʻa of Kapālama and Nuʻuanu. The event offers a unique learning experience highlighting Native Hawaiian and local culture.
“The exchange of stories is a defining part of our lāhui,” said Keoni Willing, General Manager of Waiwai Collective, the host of the event. “By keeping moʻolelo alive, we can inspire a collective spirit of stewardship and belonging for future generations.”
Lineup of Performances and Activities:
Urban Makahiki will feature a diverse lineup of performances from cultural organizations and local musicians that celebrate Hawaiʻi’s vibrant traditions. Highlights include:
- Cultural performances: hula with Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima , capoeira demonstration with Capoeira Besouro Hawai‘i, and kung fu demonstration with Hawai‘i Martial Arts Culture Association
- Live music: Sidney Spencer, Tehani, Poi Beaul, Bradda Ash, and Rexie
- Interactive activity booths: learn how to play hanafuda with Hanafuda Hawai‘i and kōnane with Pa‘i Foundation, Palai Hawaii, and get free tech help from Tech Savvy Teens
- Local vendors: Madres Churros, BE Coffee, Māla Mama, Aunty Tammy’s Mea ‘Ai, and the ʻŌpio Mākeke hosted by Kaulike Academy
“As we celebrate 100 years of serving Hawaii, we’re proud to continue supporting initiatives that strengthen our communities and honor local culture,” said Ann Teranishi, President and CEO at American Savings Bank. “Together with Waiwai Collective and Trust for Public Land, we’re helping to transform Aala Park into a vibrant gathering place that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
ʻAʻala Park is a storied place in an area with a strong legacy of community pride and a rich cultural history. Built in the early 1900’s, this park has historically served as a political gathering place, a site for cultural festivals and athletic events (sumo, baseball, and keiki hula), and was a bustling hub of small business activity (shops, bakeries, laundries). ʻAʻala Park is a beautiful park with a storied history reflective of Hawaiʻi’s history and ethnic diversity. Urban Makahiki once again returns to ʻAʻala this makahiki season, bringing a cultural event to the park in an exciting way, highlighting Hawaiian and local culture.
“Urban Makahiki is an opportunity for us to come together, reconnect with the land and honor the stories that underscore the vibrancy of our diverse community,” said Lea Hong, Associate Vice President and Hawai‘i State Director of Trust for Public Land. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to this special event at ʻAʻala Park.”
This is the third Urban Makahiki event at ʻAʻala Park. Previous events have welcomed hundreds of community members and showcased over a dozen cultural organizations and local musicians including Paʻi Foundation, Star Kalahiki, Bradda Ash, and more. This family-friendly community celebration honors Hawai‘i’s living traditions and brings people together to strengthen the connection between land, water and community.
- Photos (Courtesy of Eyes of Hawaiʻi)
- Event Flyer
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About Waiwai Collective
Waiwai Collective is a group of Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs who share kuleana and a passion for uplifting the lāhui. Through their work, they have seen the extraordinary power of physical community when people come together with purpose and aloha. Ka Waiwai is a call to action for the lāhui kanaka to come together and dream up ideas of exchange and abundance that prioritize the quality of relationships and the balance between people and the ʻāina.
About American Savings Bank
American Savings Bank (ASB) has been serving Hawaii’s businesses and communities since 1925 and provides a full range of financial products and services, including business and consumer banking, home loans, insurance and investments. ASB is one of Hawaii’s leading financial institutions offering easy and convenient online banking services and branch locations throughout the state with evening, weekend and holiday hours. For six years, Forbes has named “America’s Best In-State Bank,” a prestigious national recognition in which ASB was ranked highly in the categories of trust, branch services, digital services, customer service, financial advice and terms and conditions.
ASB matches its exceptional customer experience with an employee experience that has garnered local and national awards. ASB has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by Hawaii Business Magazine for 15 years and honored nationally as one of the “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker Magazine and “America’s Greatest Workplaces” by Newsweek. Fortune Magazine has recognized ASB as one of the 100 Best Workplaces for Women and 50 Best Workplaces for Diversity. For more than a century, ASB has helped to build strong communities. Through its Seeds of Service program, ASB teammates have contributed more than 136,000 hours of volunteer service and ASB has donated millions of dollars to Hawaii’s nonprofits and community organizations. For more information, follow American Savings Bank on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that connects everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they’re needed most. Since 1972, TPLhas protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
Madelene Hissom
