2024 Day at Hānaiakamalama, the Queen Emma Summer Palace Festival

It’s that time of year!

Our cherished community festival for Hānaiakamalama is returning on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 9 AM to 2 PM! We are excited to open the doors and welcome kama‘āina and visitors to: tour the Palace, enjoy the grounds, immerse in a variety of Native Hawaiian arts and crafts with cultural practitioners, enter our drawing to win a Hawaiian quilt, enjoy the Daughters’ famous jams and jellies, and support local vendors and artisans, while enjoying musical entertainment and ‘ono food.

All proceeds from the Day go towards the historic preservation, maintenance and operations of the Palace and grounds.

PRIZE DRAWINGS

Enter for your chance to win a King Size Hawaiian Quilt with Two Shams in Hawaiʻi’s most popular and traditional ʻUlu design. Symbolizing good luck, the ʻUlu or breadfruit is typically the first pattern a quilter will use when learning how to quilt. Often given as gifts for weddings, birthdays, and graduation, the ʻUlu design is one of the top selling quilts in Hawaiʻi.  

The pattern of this quilt is in off-white on mocha, hand quilted with an applique and then echo stitched by master quilters each with many years of quilting experience and a love of quilting. Kenui Quilts has been quilting for more than 32 years, bringing the best in Hawaiian Quilting. Master crafts-women take the time to ensure each quilt is handmade to be the most beautiful Hawaiian Quilt possible.

Enter for your chance to win a King Size Hawaiian Quilt with Two Shams! Suggested $5 donation per ticket. Winner must be 18 years or older and live in the United States. The Drawing will take place and the winner will be notified on October 5, 2024.

NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER TO WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. To enter the Prize Drawing without a donation, send a postcard with your name, email, and phone number to: Daughters of Hawaiʻi, Attn: Quilt Drawing, 2913 Pali Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96817. Limited to one entry per day. Postcards must be received by Saturday, October 5, 2024 by 2:00 PM HST.

FESTIVAL ENTRY

Tickets are $10 General, $5 Youth (5 – 12 yrs), and $1 Children (4yrs & Under) and are available for purchase at the entrance. Entrances will open at 8:30 AM at the Queen Emma Summer Palace at 2913 Pali Hwy, and at Nuʻuanu Valley Park.

PALACE TOURS

Self-guided Palace tours are included with entry to the festival. Tours are not redeemable for another date.

ATTIRE

We recommend everyone dress comfortably and casually. Out of respect for Queen Emma, torsos must be fully covered before entering the Palace Museum. Sunblock, hats, and visors are highly recommended while enjoying the festival.

PARKING

Free festival parking is available adjacent to the Palace at Nuʻuanu Valley Park at 2925 Pali Hwy. The parking lot will open for attendees starting at 8:30 AM. Parking is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis, we highly recommend carpooling, public transportation, or ride-shares like Uber and Lyft.

ENTERTAINMENT

In between shopping at our Mākeke, picking up goodies at the Country Store, treasure hunting in Tūtū’s Attic, and touring the Palace Museum, find some time to enjoy mele and hula on the Palace’s Grand Lānai. See below for a first look at our entertainment lineup for the festival and when they’ll perform, so you can plan accordingly!

Photo Credit: Olivier Koning
8:45 AM Blessing and Opening Protocol with Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi

Join us for the blessing and opening protocol to signal the start of the 47th Annual Day at Hānaiakamalama.

9 AM Royal Hawaiian Band

Founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III, Queen Emma’s father-in-law, the Royal Hawaiian Band is the only full time municipal band in the United States with a real legacy and is currently an agency of the City and County of Honolulu.

10 AM Ka Pā Hula o Kauanoe o Waʻahila

Kumu Maelia Lobenstein Carter is the granddaughter of Mae Ulalia Long Lobenstein, who formed the hālau in 1991. The hālau is named in honor of the misty rains of Wa‘ahila with the philosophy “dance is the showcase of your soul!

11 AM Alx Kawakami

For over 15 years, this “Hawaiian James Taylor” has made his way around the world making a name for himself with his songwriting and energetic live performances!

12 PM Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi, Loea Hula Kaha’i Topolinski

Loea Hula John R. Kahaʻi Topolinski founded Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi in 1973 in Nuʻuanu. The hālau is dedicated to practicing the traditional Hawaiian art of dance, ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i, and the preservation of Hawaiian cultural knowledge.

1 PM Punahou Glee Club, accompanying Hālau Nā Pua Hala Kūnou i ke Kai

The Punahou Alumni Glee Club is welcome to all, where the only prerequisite is having the heart to sing. Founded in the early 1980s, the club performs mostly Hawaiian music at several venues throughout the year, including the Alumni Lū‘au.

1 PM Hālau Nā Pua Hala Kūnou i ke Kai, Kumu Hula Lauren Kanoelani Chang Williams

A lifelong seeker of knowledge, Kumu Kanoe founded her hālau in 2010. She currently teaches hula out of her family home in Nuʻuanu and also teaches choir, general music and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at Punahou School in Mānoa.

Meet Festival Host & Emcee, Kamaka Pili! Kamaka is a strong supporter of the Palaces and enjoys sharing ʻike and Hawaiian history through his show Aloha Authentic on KHON2. We’re looking forward to this weatherman’s storytelling throughout the day!

Country Store

Don’t forget to stop-by and pickup goodies at the Country Store, with a wide selection of freshly baked goods and local treats in Emmalani Hale! We are also pre-selling the following offerings which may be picked up on Friday and Saturday. Last year we quickly sold out, so be sure to pickup your order right away during the Day at Hānaiakamalama.

Hawaiian Sweet Bread $8

Enjoy the ultra-moist and perfectly sweet, Famous Hawaiian Sweet Bread by Punaluʻu Bake Shop! Sweet Bread is perfect for sandwiches, french toast, or slathered with the Daughtersʻ jams and jellies. One loaf is sure to make everyone smile and is almost never enough!

Organic Kālua Pig $12

A local favorite to have ready-to-go in your freezer at any time! Mountain View Farms in Waiʻanae, uses natural farming methods to raise local, organic, vegan-fed pigs with no antibiotics, steroids, vaccines, growth promoters or added hormones. Savor this perfectly salted, kiawe smoked deliciousness!

Grass-Fed Oxtail Soup $23

Hawaiʻi loves Oxtail Soup, this ultimate local comfort food is nourishing and soothing for the mind, body, and soul! The classic local dish is perfect to have on-hand for those chilly island nights that are right around the corner, or when you need a warm hug served in a bowl with a large scoop rice.

Orders may be picked up in Emmalani Hale at the Queen Emma Summer Palace on Friday, October 4, 1 PM – 4 PM and on Saturday, October 5, 9 AM – 2 PM.

Festival Mākeke

Vendors with handmade and locally made items, local artists and artisans, and food purveyors whose products and services celebrate Hawai‘i’s rich heritage bring energy and excitement to our event. Checkout our list of vendors, updated weekly, we look forward to seeing you at the festival!


FUN FACTS:  Hānaiakamalama was built in 1848, making it older than the present day ‘Iolani Palace which was built in 1882! Queen Emma inherited the home in 1857 from her uncle Keoni Ana, also known as John Young II, who served as Kuhina Nui or Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i from 1845 to 1855. Queen Emma frequented the estate as a young girl and with the passing of her uncle, used the estate as a private, mountain retreat from the city, often hosting private dinners, balls, and dance parties.

Queen Emma was a strong supporter of education and healthcare for her people and her legacy lives on through the institutions she started with her husband, Alexander Liholiho who reigned as King Kamehameha IV. These institutions like The Queen’s Health System, St. Andrew’s Schools, and ʻIolani School continue to serve the people of Hawaiʻi today. We are so excited to celebrate Queen Emma and invite you to spend the day at one of her favorite residences. We are honored to do our small part to share this part of her story and hope to inspire others with her legacy.