May Day Festival May 1, 2009


Hawaii Music and Book Festival May 16-17, 2009

Celebration of Story and Song

The Mayor of Honolulu described the event as:

"This unique event will showcase the proud literary and musical traditions of our islands in a way that is
fun, accessible and memorable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and tastes. Hawaii’s publishers strive to
introduce Hawaii’s books and music to the world and to introduce Hawaii to new worlds of books and
music. They honor our host culture, including the oral and written histories of the Hawaiian people, and
highlight lifelong literacy for all of Hawaii’s people."

The 2008 festival featured Michael Ondaatje, Linda Sue Park, and James Rumford.

Images of the 2008 festival

World Fireknife Dance Competition and Samoa Festival May 1- 30, 2009

On the grounds of the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Attracting competitors from Hawaii, American Samoa, Samoa, the US mainland and other locations in the
Pacific-Rim, this event sees participants compete in dance-offs to be crowned champion in the World
Fireknife Dance Competition. Winners progress to the next round and the final is held on the last day of the
festival. The competition is part of the Samoa Festival, which includes a high school competition of
traditional customs such as speech making, basket weaving, coconut husking and fire-making - as well as
singing and dancing.

Hawaii Romance Festival May 1-14, 2009

Concerts and events that celebrated romance and highlighted Hawaii as one of most romantic destinations
in the world. The 2008 Festival featured Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Aaron Neville, Sergio Mendez,
Brian Stokes Mitchell, American Idol's Kimberly Locke, and Martin Nievera. Events included a renewal of
vows on the grounds of the Iolani Palace, music under the stars at the Waikiki Shell, presentation at the
Hawaii Theatre of World's Most Romantic Songs Ever Written, R&B concert at the Blaisdell Arena, and a
Mother's Day evening at the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel to raise funds for breast cancer.

2009 Ford Ironman 70.3 Honolulu Triathlon May 16-17, 2009

One of the premier sports events in the world. Starts at Ala Moana Park.


To find out about May 2009 events
Hawaii Travel Newsletter

about MLA09, post a thread or email mlahi09@gmail.com