Hui O Laka - Kokee Museum Eo e Emalani Festival

Hui O Laka - Kokee Museum, a small non-profit group, is hosting their first virtual "Eo e Emalani Alakai" Festival. This festival which is normally a live reenactment of Queen Emalani's 1871 trek to Kokee by horseback. However, this year's event will not include the horseback procession but will offer a wonderful selection of incredible video performances by many halau groups and musical performers. Hui O Laka is active in preserving this historic cultural event to inspire the next generations to remember a moment in Kauai's past.

A virtual event will mean that we can broadcast our YouTube event all over the world. We have a small Hawaii Tourism grant to cover some of the expenses and will need your kokua to raise the rest of the funds.

Through the generous gifts of individuals and companies, we are pleased to offer a wonderful variety of items to support our first Virtual Eo e Emalani Alakai Festival silent auction. All are welcome to participate in our easy and exciting online auction. Bids are updated instantly and fresh new items are added daily.

The online bidding closes on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Hawaii Pacific Time). You do not need to be present to win.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our museum doors open.

Winners may pick up prizes at Tire Warehouse, Lihue, Kauai,
3028 Aukele Street in Lihue, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Call Lorraine Wichman (808) 651-7866 or contact wichmanpoipu@msn.com

Hui O Laka - Kokee Museum its core service for almost 70 years as a contributing partner with the Kauai visitor industry and with the DLNR/State Parks as it serves visitors and locals at no cost to the State of Hawaii. The staff provides daily information about our beautiful upland parks, history, the lookouts, weather, trails, birds, plants, etc. Using the stunning natural environment as an outdoor classroom, HOL serves approximately 2,000 youngsters on excursions to the parks prior to covid.

Kokua Kokee, our volunteer program, involves groups of residents or visitors, in the care of the parks, as well as the removal of invasive species along trails, lookouts, and park roadsides. The Hawaii State Parks Division, recognizes Hui O Laka as one of its most supportive non-profit partners with hundreds of volunteer hours.

Between 1990 - 2009 Hui O Laka renovated the buildings constructed by the Civilian Conservations Corps funded by Franklin Roosevelt’s stimulus funds in 1935. In 1996, the renovated CCC camp was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in Hawaii.

The inspiration for our other festival called the Banana Poka Festival came from the threat of the South American vine choking out our native forests on Kauai.

The Kokee Natural History Museum provides and supports a wide variety of education and stewardship programs, heightening a sense of place by looking to the past, enriching the present, and conserving and restoring for the future.

In order to continue to nurture a mutually beneficial connection between people and Koke'e, a globally significant and locally cherished place with rich natural and cultural diversity, Hui O Laka needs your help.

Its main source of income is donations at the door, memberships, grants and sales of souvenirs and gifts in their museum.