Intro
Welcome
As a part of the “Festivals of the World” event series, the Color Festival Hawaii is an annual “friend-raiser” music festival and features national and local talent, food vendors, activities for kids and climaxes with the throwing of colors.
April 29, 2023!
Tickets on sale March 11, 2023
Tickets to be sold at the MACC Box Office
The Color Festival Hawaii is intended to be a celebration of life, representing the diverse colors of life and the vibrancy of community. Imua Family Services, along with their partners, sponsors, musicians, and vendors, will be happy to welcome you for the return of the Color Festival Hawaii in 2023.
The goal is to come together at a time when we can celebrate our connected humanity, inclusive of ages and abilities—a pure representation of the rainbow that truly is Maui and Hawaii. We hope you will plan to join us next year for this joyous celebration and igniting of colors.
Videos
Artists
DJ Boomshot
Mas
Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band
Dr. Nat and Rio Rtimo
Eric Gilliom & Vince Esquire
Kanoa
Marty Dread, Gretchen Rhodes and the Houseshakers
Sponsors
Sponsors
Photos
FAQ
The Color Festival Hawaii is a modern American version of a traditional Indian Holi Festival, a thousand-year-old ritual of throwing and applying of colored powders on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name, “Festival of Colors.” Clouds of colors dancing in the wind carry the message of love and happiness across to all who participate.
What are the ingredients of the colored powders?Festival goers are cautioned not to go into the middle of the color throwing area if they have allergies or respiratory problems. Children should not be in the middle of the color throwing area and/or should have dust masks. Anyone with breathing issues should stay away from the dust or wear a dust mask. Dust masks will be available for sale for $2 each. Persons who are coming for the first time might also want to stay to one side and observe.
Consuming cornstarch is not dangerous at all and quite the opposite as it may turn out to be a rather pleasant experience! Should it get into your eyes please wash them with water.
The festival is enjoyed by kids of all ages. Kids will love it! The Color Festival Hawaii is a safe event for families. Children as young as 3 years old can enjoy running around and playing with colors. However, babies and toddlers will need some extra care and supervision to avoid colors in the eyes. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult to enter
You will not leave the festival looking the same as you arrived. Festival goers should wear white and leave colorful! Comfortable shoes/sandals and clothes you don’t mind getting full of colorful powder are recommended. The powder is just colored cornstarch and most of it will just blow right off unless you get wet. We recommend you to wash your clothes right after the festival.
If you have light colored or highlighted hair, you may want to oil your hair before the festival. Coconut oil or olive oil work best, but a good leave-in conditioner will usually do the trick as well.
No. For safety reasons, colored powders other than those distributed inside the event area are strictly prohibited
Step 1: Open up you colored powder bag.
Step 2: Throw the powder to the air, towards your friends or even on yourself!
No. Outside food and beverages and alcohol are not allowed. It is a family friendly festival. Food and beverage options will be provided on site. Additionally, smoking of any kind is strictly prohibited. There will be a bag check for security purposes.
- Hat and sunscreen
- Protecting your eyes with sun glasses or goggles is strongly recommended.
- Replacement T-shirt and pants (Remember, there is a good chance the clothes you wear will be colored beyond recognition.)
- Plastic bag to put the colored clothes in
- Be prepared to be colored by others; even your hair will be full of colors
- The colors are all easy to wash off. However, your clothes will be totally colored and need to be disposed of or washed at home with special care. Please bring a plastic bag with you to put your clothes into, and bring other clothing you can put on before you go back into your car.
No. Any personal belongings brought into the Color Festival Hawaii are the responsibility of the owner. We suggest you either leave your valuables in your car or at home.
STEP 1: Spray your shirt in vinegar to soak.
STEP 2: Air dry flat
STEP 3: Iron the shirt, which helps the colors be absorbed further
STEP 4: Cold wash the shirt
STEP 5: Place in Dryer
About
Color Festivals originally began in India as Holi Festivals dating back to the 4th Century. Color Festivals have since spread around the world and are also known as Festivals of Color or Festivals of Love. These events signify the arrival of spring and end of winter, the victory of good over evil, and for many, a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forgive, repair and restore relationships. (Some might also find this correlates with the meaning and message of Easter.) Like the coloring of Easter Eggs, a Color Festival is an artistic, creative and visual expression where people throw colors at each other and into the air until everyone is thoroughly shaded in beautiful and vibrant colors. Combined with music and dancing, it is a perfect symbol of life, love and happiness.
On Sunday, April 1st 2018, the first ever Color Festival Hawaii took place at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center with non-stop music featuring DJ Boomshot, Broadway performers Teal Wicks & Matt Doyle, local favorites Shea Butter & The Cream, YumYum Beast, Eric Gilliom and a special surprise performance by Amy Hanaiali’i. Food and refreshments were provided by The Outrigger Pizza Company, Grandpa Joe’s Cotton Candy, Star Anise Indian Cuisine, Cream B Roll’d Ice Cream, Maui Sweet Cakes and Three’s Bar & Grill. It was a unique and fun afternoon of music and dancing which ended with the throwing of colors!