Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival
The soul of Hawaiian culture through music, language, and hula
Written by a Local Expert
Kalani MillerFall (September): The Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival - The Soul of Hawaiian Culture
The Story of Cultural Revival
Of all the festivals on Kauai, the Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival, held every September, is perhaps the most culturally profound. It's more than a series of performances. It's a living, breathing testament to the resilience and revival of Hawaiian culture. Its origin story is incredibly powerful. The festival began in 1984 as a simple composers' contest, started by three men with just $300 and a deep passion for their heritage.
One of its founders, the respected Kumu Hula (hula teacher) Nathan Kalama, was part of a generation that was cruelly punished for speaking ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) in school. For nearly a century after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the language was banned in schools, and a vital part of the culture was nearly silenced.
The Mokihana Festival was born from this history—a defiant and beautiful act of cultural reclamation, designed to ensure that the language, music, and stories of Hawaii would not only survive but thrive for future generations.
The Festival's Soul
Today, the week-long festival is the premier event of the Mālie Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. When you attend an event here, you're not just watching a show. You are witnessing the "living, breathing culture" in action. The festival is a key fundraiser for scholarships that support students learning the Hawaiian language and for programs like the Pūnana Leo immersion schools, which have been instrumental in revitalizing ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. This deep connection between celebration and education gives the festival a unique integrity and importance.
What to Expect: A Week of Artistry and Tradition
The festival is a carefully curated week of events that celebrate both ancient traditions and contemporary Hawaiian arts.
🙏 The Opening
The week begins with a beautiful and welcoming Hawaiian church service at the historic Kapaʻa First Hawaiian Church, which was founded in 1879 by Queen Deborah Kapule.
🎵 The Music
The festival stays true to its roots with the original Composers Contest and Concert. This event is vital because it encourages the creation of new mele (songs) and stories, ensuring that the culture continues to evolve and reflect the present day, rather than just looking to the past.
📚 The Education
A core part of the festival's mission is education. Throughout the week, there are cultural workshops where you can learn from masters. Past workshops have included instruction on hula implements like the ʻiliʻili (smooth stone castanets) and the hōkiokio (a nose flute), as well as classes on the Hawaiian language.
💃 The Hula
The festival culminates in a prestigious two-night hula competition held at the Kauaʻi War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhuʻe. It's a major event that draws hālau (hula schools) from across Hawaii, the mainland U.S., and even Japan.
The Hula Competition: Two Nights of Sacred Storytelling
The competition is split into two nights:
Hula Kahiko (Ancient Hula)
This is the ancient, powerful style of hula. It is performed to chants (oli) and percussive instruments like the pahu (drum) and ipu heke (gourd drum). It tells the epic stories of gods, goddesses, and chiefs.
Hula ʻAuana (Modern Hula)
This is the modern style of hula that most visitors are more familiar with, performed to song and melodic instruments like the ʻukulele and guitar. While the themes can be more contemporary, the storytelling remains just as rich and graceful.
Kalani's Insider Tips
If you can only attend one part of the festival, make it the Hula Kahiko competition. A tip: buy your tickets in advance online or at a shop like Vicky's Fabrics in Kapaʻa, as they often sell out. The power and emotion you'll feel in that hall is something that will stay with you forever. It's not entertainment. It's a sacred cultural practice being shared.
The craft fair that runs alongside the hula competition is one of the best on the island for authentic, high-quality Hawaiian arts, jewelry, and clothing. It's the perfect place to find a meaningful souvenir made by artisans.
The festival was intentionally scheduled in September, which is a slower time for tourism, to help support our economy. By attending, you're not just a spectator. You're actively contributing to the health of our community and the preservation of our culture. It's a beautiful example of how tourism can be a positive force.
To purchase tickets and find the latest information, visit the Mālie Foundation's official Kauaʻi Mokihana Festival page.
ℹ️ Quick Info
- When: September
- Duration: 1 week
- Location: Various venues
- Tickets: Required for hula
- Established: 1984
🎯 Don't Miss
- Hula Kahiko Competition
- Hula ʻAuana Competition
- Composers Contest
- Cultural Workshops
- Artisan Craft Fair