Hoʻolauleʻa Celebrates Kā Molokai Makahiki 2026 at Kaunakakai Ball Park

Annual festival features live music, hula performances, and community booths after sports competitions

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

More than 500 people attended the Hoʻolauleʻa celebration at Kaunakakai Ball Park on January 24, 2026, marking the conclusion of Kā Molokai Makahiki 2026. The event featured live music by Hawaiian group Hōlei, hula performances by several local hālau, and food and community booths.

Why it matters

The Hoʻolauleʻa is an important cultural celebration that brings the Molokai community together after the traditional Makahiki season of sports competitions. This year's event was especially significant as it marked a return to normalcy following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, with off-island competitors once again joining the Makahiki games.

The details

The Hoʻolauleʻa took place at the same location as the Makahiki sports competitions, Kaunakakai Ball Park, starting at 5 p.m. on January 24th. In addition to the live music and hula performances, the event featured food and beverage booths from local vendors and community outreach booths covering topics like native Hawaiian plants, sustainable agriculture, and Hawaiian culture and history.

  • Kā Molokai Makahiki 2026 concluded with the Hoʻolauleʻa on January 24, 2026.
  • The Hoʻolauleʻa event took place at 5 p.m. on January 24, 2026.

The players

Hālau Hula ʻo Molokai

A hula hālau that co-hosted the Hoʻolauleʻa event.

Hōlei

A Hawaiian music group that provided live music for the Hoʻolauleʻa.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'In the spirit of this year's theme, Liko aʻela nā lālā nolu pē i ka ua Kilihune, this Kā Molokai Makahiki has been a season of return and renewal following the pause brought on by Covid. This year, off Island competitors once again joined the Makahiki games, restoring a practice that has long connected Molokai with the wider pai ʻāina,'”

— Hala Pa-Kala, Hoʻolauleʻa emcee

“'We haven't had Ka Hula Piko since Covid. It was another really big event, very similar to Makahiki, but during that event, we focus only on hula,'”

— Lima

The takeaway

The Hoʻolauleʻa celebration at Kaunakakai Ball Park marked a significant return to normalcy for the Molokai community after the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the restoration of off-island participation in the traditional Makahiki games and a renewed focus on the cultural traditions of hula and community gathering.