Can’t finagle a flight to Hawaii right now? Then hula on down to the Bay Area Aloha Festival, taking place in August with Hawaiian and Tahitian music, arts and crafts and food vendors slinging everything that’s “ono.”
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It’s the 30th anniversary of this lively event, which is put on by the Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association at the San Mateo County Event Center. Music is a huge part of it this year: Tunes will be continuous through the fest with acts like the Manuia Polynesian Revue and Oahu’s Ten Feet, winner of multiple Hawaiian music awards. Needless to say, there will be hula dancing and ukulele jamming with free lessons (ukes provided).
More than a dozen restaurants will serve wok-fired noodles, sushi and sumptuous pork belly, Fiji-style hand pies and shave ice. There are workshops devoted to things like flowery lei making and lomi-lomi massage, and 50-plus vendors offering local artwork, jewelry and apparel. This year there’s also a Keiki Korner for children, where the lil’ ones can receive temporary tattoos and fashion their own leis with candy. It’s enough aloha to last the rest of the year.
Details: Festival runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on August 9-10 at 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo; free ($5 suggested donation), also free for children under 12. Parking at the event center is $20. For more information visit pica-org.org