To celebrate the time of harvest for kalo and awa plants, Waimea holds the annual Kalo and Awa Festival. Sample a wide variety of kalo, participate in a kava ceremony, learn from local experts, try your had at poi-pounding, and so much more. The day includes keiki games, local vendors, musical and hula performances, and special guest speakers.

Kalo and Awa are two of Hawai?i’s most important crops. Kalo, also known as taro is both culturally and dietarily significant. In early Hawaiian times, kalo, which is a root vegetable, was the main food source for the people. Poi, which is pounded kalo, is the most common preparation of kalo. Awa, meanwhile, was an important medicinal plant, which was also used in ceremonies.

THE ANNUAL KALO & AWA FESTIVAL IS DEDICATED TO UNCLE JERRY KONANUI

Uncle Jerry was a beloved and preeminent expert on traditional Native Hawaiian farming and crops, whose passion and ‘ike (knowledge) has inspired generations of Hawaiian plant enthusiasts, including our ‘ohana (family) here at Waimea Valley.

2023 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

8:00 AM: Registration opens (Pikake Pavilion)

8:30 AM: Oli led by Waimea Valley (Main Lawn)

9:00 AM: Welcome by Executive Director, Richard Pezzulo & Dedication to Uncle Jerry Konanui (Pikake Pavilion)

9:05 AM: Traditional and Modern Methods of Poi Pounding by Kanaloa Bishop and Duffy Chang (Pikake Pavilion)

11:15 AM: Hiapo Cashman (UH Manoa Kanewai) dedication to Uncle Jerry Konanui (Pikake Pavilion)

11:40 AM: Kalo Plant Identification by Anthony DeLuze (Kalo Mala behind botanical office (follow signs))

NOON: H?lau i ka lima Kuhilani performance (Pikake Pavilion)

12:30 PM: Huli giveaway (Kalo Mala behind botanical office (follow signs))

2:00 PM: Awa Ceremony Demonstration and Lecture by Kaua Neumann (Pikake Pavilion)

3:00 PM: Awa served to the public (Pikake Pavilion)

Featured Vendors on the Main Lawn: 

Waimea Valley Plant Sale (Pikake Pavilion)

Ku’i Kalo poi pounding with Mikey D (Waimea Valley propagator)

The Festival registration begins at 8 AM in the Pikake Pavilion.

This event is FREE and open to the public, please register here. 

Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023

Location: Pikake Pavilion in Waimea Valley

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