September is Aloha Festivals month in Hawaii, a series of events that celebrates Hawaiian culture through song, dance, tradition and food.

The best part? The hoolaulea.

It means party in Hawaiian. Twelve blocks of Kalakaua Avenue are closed to traffic, with four stages of entertainment, Hawaiian arts and crafts, and dozens of food booths that offered... well, everything: from local-style barbecue plate lunch to Korean to crepes to shave ice to vegetarian tacos. And the Royal Hawaiian Center obliged the thirstier patrons with a beer garden. (Mahalo!)

I was especially excited to see the Makaha Sons: It had been years since I last saw them at Moonlight Mele at the Bishop Museum. See the video above for those beloved westside boys and other hoolaulea action.

And the party isn't over! Friday is the Taste of Helumoa, a food and wine soiree at the Royal Hawaiian Center benefiting Aloha Festivals. Saturday is the Aloha Festivals Parade, with the royal court, pau riders festooned with flowers, floats and more — a colorful, music-filled showcase.


Locals and visitors alike packed onto Kalakaua Avenue.


Yum! Plate lunches with rice and mac salad. The pulehu ribs (short ribs) looked good.


The entire street smelled like barbecue.


Dim sum, manapua, noodles: goodness.


But K-Restaurant's food was calling to me.


Garlic shrimp and beef/veggie mandoo. I wanted more...


The Makaha Sons sounded great. They were asking about the results of Hawaii's primary election between songs.