At the beginning of August, on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, the annual Aloha festival will take place in San Francisco at the Presidio Parade Grounds. The event, now in its tenth year, is a celebration of the culture of Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders. Each year the exciting event brings thousands of Islanders and others together in what is one of the largest organised gatherings of Hawaiian Islanders outside of Hawaii.

The festival is free for all and attracts many music lovers dressed in Hawaiian costumes and fancy dress. Organised by the non-profit Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association, the event is an exciting showcase for Hawaiian talent, and features music concerts from both established Island musicians and upcoming bands and singers.

As well as the music and other cultural and artistic attractions, a number of workshops take place over the course of the weekend, and some give participants the chance to learn a new musical instrument, such as the ukulele or steel guitar.

There is a strong emphasis on Hawaiian influences at the festival, but music and art from Pacific Islands such as Tahiti and Samoa are also featured.

If you like the idea of the festival but are unable to afford the plane ticket to San Francisco, why not organise your own Aloha festival in your back garden or local park?

See if you can track down any local musicians with Hawaiian influences, or if they might be persuaded to learn some Hawaiian music and perform live at the event. Organise Hawaiian food at the event and have everyone turn up in Hawaiian grass skirts, shirts and flower leis. Guests may take a while to warm to the idea, but pretty soon they’ll be loving the island vibes and tropical flavours.