The first Lokahi Festival Waikiki will celebrate local culture and small businesses and give visitors and kamaaina the opportunity to enjoy local flavors, handcrafts and other businesses’ wares.
Lokahi Festival Waikiki
When: Saturday, 4-10 p.m.
Where: Kalakaua Avenue, between Seaside and Kapahulu avenues
Cost: Free admission
Info: millwoodohanaproductions.com
The word “lokahi” in Hawaiian essentially means unity.
“Our main purpose is to showcase the local vendors and give them the opportunity to get in front of a nice audience … of locals and the visitor community,” said David Millwood, president of event organizer Millwood Productions.
“We have more local artisans than we’ve had in the past. It’s so neat,” he said, and there are approximately 80 vendors registered for the event.
Popular food trucks and vendors will include Noi Thai Cuisine; Nosh, famous for its Brazilian cheese bread; Delice Crepes; Dick’s Lechon; Olay’s Thai Express; Petit Suisse Crepes; local-style comfort food from Ronnie’s Kitchen; Blue Teppanyaki; Crazy County Corn, featuring roasted corn with various flavored toppings; Da Bolalohan BBQ & Grill offering Filipino and local food; Dragon Cones’ uniquely shaped ice cream treats; the Latin American food of Flavors of the World; Guava Smoked’s smoked meats; Il Gelato Hawaii; Kettle Corn Hawaii; Mega-Load Burgers; Snow Factory; and Uncle’s Handmade Ice Cream.
Millwood estimates that food prices will range “from a couple dollars to $15 for a plate of steak and shrimp.”
While the Pineapple Guy might sound like a food vendor, its specialty is delivering 30-pound cases of pineapple to visitors on the day of their departure. People are able to take a 30-pound case of local pineapple back to the mainland without a luggage fee, according to Millwood, who also is owner of The Pineapple Guy.
In addition to the food, retail and craft vendors, painting activities will be offered by Wine & Canvas, though no alcohol will be served at the block party.
For the wee ones, bouncy houses and other jumpers will be offered.
Unplugged entertainment will be offered by amateur entertainers including a high school ukulele group.
A portion of sales proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association.
