Eo e Emalani i Alaka‘i 2018

18- Left to right, Shannon Nohealani Bucasas as lady-in-waiting, Sharalyn Kahealani Bucasas as Queen Emma, and Norman Ho‘okano as Kaluahi

Kaua‘i celebrated the 30^th annual Emalani Festival Kaua‘i, Eo e Emalani i Alaka‘i, at Koke‘e State Park Oct. 13. Each year, the iconic hula festival attracts several hula halau from around the state, the Mainland and even from other countries.

Sharalyn Kahealani Bucasas, a graduate from Waimea High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, portrayed Queen Emma this year. The festival celebrates Queen Emma’s 1871 voyage from Lawa‘i Valley to Kilohana Lookout in Koke‘e.

The festival, co-sponsored by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Hui o Laka, along with many community partners and businesses, has grown to be one of the most popular and authentic cultural events on Kaua‘i.

Rebekah Magers and Nicolai Barca

Julia Diegmann

Shirley Simbre-Medeiros

Left to right, Alice Brown, Emma Wong and Kauai Kupu

Chelsea Chock, left, and Puanani Wakuta

Linda Oshiro, left, and Sherry Harris

Left to right, Natalie Koziarski, Bryce Kubond, Lorraine Whichman, Brett Kubond, Wendy Kubond, Christine Matsumoto, Elizabeth Piccard, Sandy Howatt, Bernardo Lizarraga and Patrice Pendarvis

Christine Spath and Debbie Wakuta

Will Lydgate

JoAnn Yukimura

Irene Miyashiro

Nick Kaneakua’s Halau from Anahola

Dale Rosenfeld, left, and Chris Faye

Kumu hula Leina‘ala Jardin

Jaedyn Pavao

Sharalyn Kahealani Bucasas as Queen Emma, left, and Shannon Nohealani Bucasas as the lady-in-waiting

Left to right, Kauhi Agoun as kumu hololio, Shannon Nohealani Bucasas as lady-in-waiting, Sharalyn Kahealani Bucasas as Queen Emma, and Norman Ho‘kano as Kaluahi