Aloha Festivals was first held in 1946 as Aloha Week, and over the past six decades has become a celebration of Hawaiian culture, integrating the traditions and cultures of the Islands through music, dance, cuisine and art. Its mission is to foster the Aloha Spirit through the perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture and the celebration of the diverse customs and traditions of Hawaii. Pa'u riders are a major part of this parade. Pa'u riders have brought Hawaiian grace and beauty to this parade. The Pa'u rider is something unique to Hawaii. The Pa'u (a very long skirt of fabric) was originally used in the 1800s as a protective covering for women as they rode from one social event to another along dusty or muddy trails. Keeping the tradition alive and remembering just what a Pa'u rider should be is very important in Hawaiian culture. She's the most elegant royalty on horseback, the most beautiful individual in a saddle, has a respect and true appreciation of the ranching lifestyle and works at preserving Paniolo(Hawaiian Cowboy) history and culture. The first island princesses began riding in a floral parade in Honolulu in the early 1900s.
History and Tradition of the Pa'u.
Since the early 1900s, Pa'u riders have brought a quintessential Hawaiian style to floral parades across the state. A type of culotte or skirt, the Pa'u is made of a single piece of fabric, usually nine or 12 yards in length, wrapped around the rider in such a way as to flow regally over the stirrups and to the ground. The Pa'u is held in place with kukui nuts that are twisted inside the fabric, tucked into the waistband for a secure fit. With the Pa'u Queen and her unit leading the way, each Pa'u princess presides over her own unit representing one of the eight Hawaiian islands. They are joined by their respective attendants, outriders and page, all adorned in the flowers and colors of the islands they are representing. A unit representing the Island of Hawai'i, for example, will traditionally wear red attire and lei made of red lehua blossoms, while a unit representing Oahu would showcase yellow ilima and yellow attire. When riding for Lana'i, the princess will showcase the lei made of orange kauna'oa, for Maui, the pink lokelani, Kauai is the Mokihana and color purple, the island of Molokai has Kukuis and their color is green, the island of Niihau has Niihau Shells and the color white, and Kahoolawe has Ahinahina and their color is grey.