Though a bit smaller than in previous years, tonight's Aloha Festivals Waikiki Ho'olaule'a packs a punch with stellar entertainers on each of the five stages along Kalakaua Avenue.

Folks such as Amy Hanaiali'i, Raiatea Helm, Maunalua, Manoa DNA, Ten Feet, Ku'uipo Kumukahi, Kelly "Kelly Boy" De Lima and 'Ohana and Taimane Gardner are on the roster, sharing contemporary Hawaiian, traditional Hawaiian, rock and party-hearty music.

"It's a very attractive lineup," said ho'olaule'a producer Mike Rossell.

With the festival's "Hula: The Art of Hawaiian Dance" theme, hula will prevail on most stages.

Rossell is a veteran of Waikiki celebrations, with involvement in such endeavors as Brunch on the Beach and Sunset on the Beach over the past several years.

So he's no stranger to gathering talent and assembling vendors.

"The festival board had tough decisions several months ago, so there have been expenses cut for staff and space," he said of the challenges of staging a ho'olaule'a.

"Adversity sometimes pulls people together," Rossell said. "When they feel something's at stake, their spirit prevails."

He said that a cancellation of the ho'olaule'a and the festival at large would be damaging. "You lose momentum if you stop," he said.

"We're not trying to reinvent the event; we're striving for improvements, but stick to what everybody's used to."

That means stages with an array of music, with Cox Radio deejays such as Billy V, Bruddah Wade, Shannon Scott, Randy Hudnall and Harry B. Soria Jr. each emceeing on each stage.

That means food and beverage vendors, and crafts merchants, too. "Interspersed with the stages are 56 vendors, offering a variety of food options and authentic Island crafts and official festival merchandise, plus seven lei stands," said Rossell.

"It's a very interesting cross-section of content. We did not have many craft participants in the past, but we're working with Mea's Creations of Hawai'i to round up 20 craft positions that meet standards of their guild."

TONIGHT'S LINEUP

Stage 1: Bank of Hawaii at Royal Hawaiian Center

7 p.m.: Na Mea Hula O Kahikinaokalalani (kumu hula Karla Akiona)

8 p.m.: Manoa DNA

8:55 p.m.: 2008 Miss Aloha Hula, Kuhilani Suganuma

9:10 p.m.: Ten Feet

Stage 2: Royal Hawaiian Center at the Royal Grove

7 p.m.: Halau Hula O Maiki (kumu Coline Aiu)

7:30 p.m.: to be announced

8:15 p.m. Kawika Trask, Ku'uipo Kumukahi

Stage 3: Outrigger Hotels & Resorts at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach

7 p.m.: Halau Ka Liko 'O Ka Palai (kumu Ainsley Halemanu)

7:45 p.m.: Halau Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Hulu Hiwa (kumu Jack McKeague)

8:30 p.m.: Taimane Gardner

9:30 p.m.: Na Pualei Liko Lehua (kumu Leina'ala Kalama Heine)

Stage 4: Starwood Hotels and Resorts at Westin Moana Surfrider

7 p.m.: Kelly De Lima and 'Ohana

8:10 p.m.: Ellsworth Simeona and Lawrence Kidder Duo

9 p.m.: Planet Jane, featuring Starla Marie

Stage 5: Hawaiian Airlines at Hyatt Regency Waikiki

7 p.m.: Halau 'Olapakuikala'i 'o Hokuaulani (kumu hula Hokuaulani Nihipali)

7:50 p.m.: Raiatea Helm

8:30 p.m.: Maunalua

9:20 p.m.: Amy Hanaiali'i