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We love Hawaiian culture. We love the brightly colored flower leis, the easygoing atmosphere, the chilled-out music, and the fluid, rhythmic moves of the hula. And most all we love how everything seems to come accompanied by a great big aloha smile.

You can find the famous Hawaiian spirit in abundance at Honolulu’s annual Aloha Festivals. Every year for well over 60 years, throughout the month of September locals have celebrated the history and traditions of Hawaii with kamaʻāina (local residents) and malihini (visitors).

The Floral Parade is one of the most beautiful of the festival’s events. During the cool of morning, dozens of horse-mounted Hawaiians wearing garish traditional ensembles (flowing dresses and capes for the ladies, cowboy-style outfits for the gents) with matching floral leis and headdresses (men wear cowboy hats) elegantly parade from Ala Moana Park, along Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park. With them, comes a retina burning and eardrum busting cascade of floats and marching bands. Catching it is easy – it’s free to stand anywhere along the route.

This year’s Floral Parade takes place on Sept. 22 at 9am (HST). If you want to see what it’s all about but can’t make it there in person, head over to the official live stream courtesy of Channel 808.

Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…

(Image: Aloha Festivals)

About the author

Brett AckroydBrett hopes to one day reach the shores of far-flung Tristan da Cunha, the most remote of all the inhabited archipelagos on Earth…as to what he’ll do when he gets there, he hasn’t a clue. Over the last 10 years, London, New York, Cape Town and Pondicherry have all proudly been referred to as home. Now it’s Copenhagen’s turn, where he lends his travel expertise to momondo.com.

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