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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, September 15, 2006

Aloha Festivals continues with three celebrations

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Pa'u riders will once again take part in the annual Aloha Festivals floral parade Saturday, which also includes marching bands.

Advertiser library photo

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It's a three-pronged weekend for Aloha Festivals' ongoing 60th anniversary celebration.

First up: tonight's Downtown Mele, from 6:30 p.m. along the Bishop Street corridor and at Aloha Tower Marketplace. It's downtown's version of last weekend's Waikiki ho'olaule'a.

Next: the annual floral parade, from 9 a.m. until about 12:15 p.m. Saturday, from the 'ewa end of Ala Moana Beach Park to Kapi'olani Park. Nearly 70 groups will participate, with folks on horseback as well as marching bands.

The nightcap: a 60th anniversary concert, from 6 p.m. Saturday at Waikiki Shell, with Cecilio and Kapono, Ho'okena, Weldon Kekauoha, Melveen Leed, Maunalua, Sean Na'auao and others.

The Downtown Mele will provide the usual mix of food and music to suit both young and adult patrons. Among the stage troupers: Fiji, Melveen Leed, Sean Na'auao, the Honolulu Jazz Quartet and Brittni Paiva.

Five food vendors and seven merchandise booths will offer choice and variety, along with two lei booths.

The Aloha Tower Marketplace hosts two stages — one the central Atrium Stage, the other at Events at the Tower.

Saturday's parade will offer photo ops galore, with major floats presented by the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Outrigger Hotels, Hawaiian Airlines, Taiwanese Association and Island Beauty Products.

The participants — 69 total, 10 more than last year — will range from pa'u riders to 15 school bands, from military color guards to King's Village Guards. Abraham Akau will be grand marshal; ambassadors for the parade will be the Aha Hui Mo'i O Aloha Festivals, comprised of former kings and queens of the Aloha Festivals, from 1954 to the present.

Four reviewing stands — fronting the Hawai'i Prince Hotel, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the Outrigger-Surfrider hotels — will offer commentary and observations of the passing parade.

After the parade, the floats will assemble at the Waikiki Shell parking lot for up-close-and-personal viewing — and picture-taking opportunities.

The Waikiki Shell concert Saturday night, presented by Hawaiian 105 KINE, commemorates the festival's 60th anniversary.

ALOHA FESTIVALS DOWNTOWN MELE

6:30-10 p.m. today
Bishop Street corridor and Aloha Tower Marketplace
Free
FLORAL PARADE
9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Saturday
Ala Moana Beach Park to Kapi'olani Park, via Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue
Free
60TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
6 p.m. Saturday
Waikiki Shell
Featuring Cecilio and Kapono, Ho'okena, Weldon Kekauoha, Melveen Leed and others
$20 adults, or $10 with Aloha Festivals ribbon; children under 12 free (grass section only) when accompanied by an adult; tickets available at the Blaisdell Center box office, Ticketmaster locations, (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

ENTERTAINMENT STAGES TONIGHT

6:30-10 p.m. today (until 11:30 p.m. at Aloha Tower Marketplace)
Road closure/set-up from 5:30 p.m.
Road re-opening at 12:30 a.m

Stage 1
Hawaiian Telcom/KCCN FM100

6:15-6:45 p.m. —Kalaeloa
7-7:45 p.m. — B.E.T.
8-8:45 p.m. — Ho'onu'a
9-9:45 p.m. — Fiji

Stage 2
Military stages/KGMZ

6:30-10 p.m. — Musical groups from Hawai'i-based military units

Stage 3
Hawaiian Airlines/Hawaiian 105 KINE

6:15-7 p.m. — Na Kama
7:10-8 p.m. — Mike Kaawa
8-8:50 p.m. — Holunape
9-9:45 p.m. — Sean Na'aua

Stage 4
Bank of Hawaii/Hawaiian 105 KINE

6:30-7:15 p.m. — Weldon Kekauoha
7:25-8:10 p.m. — Kalaeloa
8:15-9 p.m. — Melveen Leed
9:05-9:50 p.m. — Aaron Sala

Stage 5
City & County of Honolulu/Krater 96

6:30-7 p.m. — Royal court procession
7-7:45 p.m. — Na Hoa Hanau
8-8:45 p.m. — Na 'Ohana O Ke Anuenue
9-9:45 p.m. — Firehouse (Honolulu Fire Department)
9:50-10:30 p.m. — Bang Hillbillies

Stage 6
Aloha Tower Marketplace (Events at the Tower)/Krater 96

6-8 p.m. — Honolulu Jazz Quartet
8:30-11:30 p.m. — Newjass Quartet with guests

Stage 7
Aloha Tower Marketplace/Hawaiian 105 KINE

6-6:45 p.m. — Aloha Boat Days hula show
7-7:45 p.m. — Aloha Tower Marketplace fashion show
8-8:45 p.m. — Brittni Paiva

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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