The festival was held online last year.

LAHAINA — Returning to an “in-person” event under the shade of the Lahaina Banyan Tree, the 2022 Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy free keiki activities, ‘ono local eats, workshops, Hawaii made art, Hawaiian music and hula!

Opening the festival on Saturday at 9 a.m. will be Aunty Emma’s halau — Na Pua O Kapi’olani Hula Studio, now under the direction of her grand niece, Holoaumoku Ralar.

Halau hula performing at the festival include:

Na Pua O Kapi’olani Hula Studio and Napili Kai Foundation (Kumu Hula Holoaumoku Ralar);

Halau Hula Kauluokala and Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero;

Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi and Naā Kumu Hula ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes;

Halau Kamaluokaleihulu and Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson;

Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua and Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona.

“One of my favorite events of the year! I’m so happy to have it back in-person,” shared Daryl Fujiwara, event coordinator.

“It’s one of the few times our halau hula (hula schools) can be seen in public and free. I want to thank the County of Maui and the Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Funds made possible through their grants are infused right back into our community, to musicians, to halau — all to share our culture.

“Since the relaunch of this event, the ‘ohana Farden has honored someone, of this realm or another. This year, they wanted to honor ‘The Fabulous Emma Sharpe Entertainers’ — dancers and musicians that performed alongside ‘Aunty Emma.’ It’s a big list — you will definitely recognize a name or two. So please come and celebrate them with us.”

The 2022 Emma Farden Sharpe Legacy Award honorees are “The Fabulous Emma Sharpe Entertainers”: Phyllis Ross, Alice Shimomura, Mokihana Shipe, Kalei Jaramillo, Makanani Catugal, Malihini Heath, Stephany Sepulveda, Penny Schneider, Leimomi Santana, Pualei Estrella, Ku’uipo Haupu, Panui Shepard, No’eau Ralar, Kalani Naeole, Steven Lono, Sean Grady, Patrick Grady, Wayne Hirata, Manuel Criste, Randy Casco, June Kalepa and Pualalea Cabacungan.

They join past awardees Moana Dudoit (posthumously), Ualani Makaike-Calleja, Joseph Ilalaole (posthumously), Mary Kawena Pukui (posthumously), Kuhailikui Opunui (posthumously), Martha Medeiros (posthumously), Alehandro “Ale” Arao and Roselle Bailey.

An Ukulele Workshop will be held at 10 a.m., and a Hula Workshop is set for 2 p.m. (please note that times and locations can change at any time). E-mail will be mainly used for confirmation and updates. Reserve your workshop space by filling out the Google form at https://forms.gle/8UgR6GqUE23cmDCVA.

A renowned kumu hula, “Aunty Emma” made it her mission to perpetuate hula and the Hawaiian culture, so she created the Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival that started in conjunction with Na Mele O Maui, a choir contest among Maui County schools, grades K-12, and continues today.

Emma was one of the founders of Na Mele and added on a hula festival in her name. Sadly, it phased out in early 1990s.

The event honors Sharpe through a celebration of hula, auana (new) and kahiko (old), with a day of free keiki activities, workshops, artisans and a Lifetime Achievement Award dedicated to a pillar in the hula community.

Mahalo to the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Lahaina Hawaiian Civic Club, LahainaTown Action Committee, Best Western Pioneer Inn, Daryl Fujiwara – Smythe Fujiwara Design, Na Pua O Kapi’olani Hula Studio, Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Kathy Holoaumoku Ralar, ‘Ohana Farden and Pacific Media Group.

For more information about the festival, check out facebook.com/efshf.