Don't expect a tourist-style lu'au show.

At least not at the 3rd annual Maohi Native Cultural Festival at Kapi'olani Park.

This event is the real deal.

"What this festival does is bring people together and extend the authenticity of the Polynesian culture," said festival organizer Ka'uhane Lee, president of the Ka Ala 'Olino Native Cultural Center in Kane'ohe.

"It's about exchanging our culture and supporting one another, then sharing that with the world."

The festival, which kicks off Makahiki Pasifika Week, will feature everything from bone-carved necklaces to traditional tattoos to voyaging canoes.

And, of course, Polynesian food.

The purpose of the event, Lee said, is to encourage and celebrate unity, peace, healing and aloha during the makahiki season, which starts in mid-October and lasts about four months.

"It's a profound time of reflection, especially on the balances of things and connections," said Pasifika Foundation project coordinator Gretchen Kelly, who helped organize Makahiki Pasifika Week.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend today's celebration.

"It will be very exciting and eye-opening for a lot of people," Kelly said.

"They will learn that the Polynesian culture is so much more than fire-knife and Tahitian dancers.

"But we'll have those, too."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.