Before air cargo planes and downtown high-rises, there was Honolulu Harbor — with a "towering" Aloha Tower as a landmark beacon.

Aloha Tower still remains, but the harbor's glory days may have been forgotten.

Enter the Honolulu Harbor Festival, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Aloha Tower Marketplace.

The free event (now in its sixth year) will celebrate and recall Hawai'i's rich maritime past, when all goods and necessities were shipped to our shores. That role continues today, and the event will pay homage to the vital role of maritime trade.

"The Harbor Festival celebrates the harbor's vibrant maritime past and provides a great opportunity for residents and visitors to experience what makes the waterfront work, through harbor tours, demonstrations and vessel open houses," according to festival chairman Terry White.

The festivities also include tugboat hulas, with working tugs "clad" in "hula skirts," prancing in the harbor.

A Sand Island Challenge Outrigger Canoe Race also is on tap.

The Hawai'i Maritime Center, at nearby Pier 7, will offer a display of winning posters by keiki.

And a 40-foot panoramic photo of Honolulu Harbor will provide a perspective on the grandeur of the waterfront.

There will be demonstrations by the Marine Safety & Security team and the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue team.

The Maritime Center also will showcase kiddie activities.

Food booths will be set up at Aloha Tower Marketplace to provide beverages and snacks.

Besides the open-house element to showcase the economic, cultural and historic importance of Honolulu Harbor, the festival is an attempt to provide residents an insight into employment opportunities on the waterfront.

Parking is available at the self-park lot ($2 with validation), with valet service ($3 with validation) also available. Downtown lots offer alternative parking: $5 at Harbor Court, $2 at Harbor Square, $4 at the TOPA building and $2 at Pacific Guardian Center.