WIHF in the News - Read the story from the Honolulu Star Bulletin

The 18th Annual World Invitational Hula Festival at the Waikīkī Shell in Honolulu, Hawai'i November 12th through the 14th 2009

Participants were from:  

Vendors of Hawaiian made products offered their wares for sale and super Lomi Lomi was available for anyone who wanted to watch the performances while receiving a soothing massage.

The lawn section was open for picnics and family outings.

The World Invitational Hula Festival has had participants from the mainland USA, Alaska, Easter Island, Holland, Germany, France, Mexico, Central America, the Orient, Pacific Basin, the Middle East, Africa, and New Zealand and offers those who love and respect our unique Hawaiian culture through the art of hula an opportunity to "Return to the Source", Hawai'i, to learn more about hula and Hawaiian traditions as well as to experience "Love of the Aina" (Earth) through preservation... Then return to their homeland and, in turn... teach what they have learned.
We have twenty-one judges in seven categories who make constructive remarks on their scoring sheets. Everyone invited to participate becomes a member of the E Ho'i Mai Ohana and may be invited back at a future time.

Achievement awards are given in fourteen categories.

The 2009 results can be found here.

Workshops are available and a special Ho'olana Hula Workshop is conducted at the Kamehameha Schools the Sunday before the performances for all judges and participants. Together, the openning ceremonies are created in a spirit of comraderie, cooperation, and fun.