The Arizona Aloha Festival

The Arizona Aloha Festival is the largest Hula Festival outside of Hawaii.
And it is right here in the middle of the desert!

I love all things Hawaiian. My daughters and I took Hula lessons for over 3 years. And a few years ago we danced in the Arizona Aloha Festival. And even though we aren't dancing right now, we still go to the Festival every year. We love seeing our friends & the group we used to dance with perform.

We started the day out with our first ride on the Light Rail.

This year our Hula group was dancing on Sunday. So, the girls & I played hooky from Church & planned to spend the whole day Living Aloha! We chose to get there by riding the Light Rail for the first time.

Just the 3 of us ready to cheer on our friends & Hula sista's!

Above & Below: Hula Hui O Le'ale'a
Hula Group of Fun, Joy and Merriment
performing at the Festival
Our friends we used to dance with!

We found out our Kumu (Hula teacher) is moving, & our Halau (dance group) will be no more. Even though we haven't danced with them in a few years, we've still felt like we were part of the group. They are still our Hula sista's. It's sad.

Me, and then my girls with our Kumu Christi Moore.
She introduced us to Hula, & we have learned a lot from her!

Below is Christi dancing her farewell song.
She will be missed in Arizona.

We ate some good Hawaiian food. And of course had the Hawaiian shaved ice, a must at the Hula Festival! Yum! (But, watch out for the Brain Freeze) We shopped the vendors & bought some souvenirs. The Arizona weather was beautiful, in the high 70's, low 80's. And with the breeze off the Lake in Tempe, it almost felt like Hawaii. (A girl can dream, can't she?!)

Then we saw Anuhea in concert, along with the band The Green.
They were so good! We loved them.

Kyle got a free song download from Starbucks a few months ago, it was a girl from Hawaii named Anuhea. It's kind of a soulful, Reggae sound. He & Olivia, his girlfriend really like it & bought the album. We were all excited to find out she was coming here to the Arizona Aloha Festival.

Lexi & Erica with Anuhea.
After having her sign their shirts.

Olivia with Anuhea!

Also performing with Anuhea was a new band named The Green. They were really good as well.

Our friend from Church, Angel (who is also from Hawaii)
with the band The Green.

Then it was back on the Light Rail for the ride home. A great time was had by all. It really was a fun day. And we will continue to go every year. It's become a Mother/Daughter tradition for us. And even though our friends will be dancing with other groups, we will be there to see them & cheer them on. And who knows maybe someday we will dance once again as well.

Lexi & Livy

Erica with me.

Living Aloha!