Facts About Kakegurui

The Kakegurui festival is celebrated during the month of January/February in Hawaii. The festival is dedicated to the Gods of the Sea and to the Oahu Island. The festival involves many cultural events, parades, rituals, dances, feasts, songs and food. It is one of the most popular events in Hawaii.

During the festival people put new hope in the incoming New Year by sending prayers and gifts to the Goddess of Water. Some of the main events of the Kakegurui Festival include the opening ceremonies, parades, ceremonies, competitions, dances and foods. On the day of the festival many houses are decorated with fresh flowers as a symbol of blessing. It is believed that the flowers and plants from this tree will bring prosperity and abundance into the home.

Another Kakegurui tradition is for the people to send two red roses to the Goddess of Water. This is done during the day of the festival. People traditionally burn a special candle at the base of the fountain known as ‘Oahu’s best waterfall’. The ceremony is held to bid farewell to the year and to welcome the next.

The Kakegurui Festival celebrates the Oahu Island’s rich cultural heritage. There are many Hawaiian events which are celebrated with great fanfare all over the island. During the week before the festival people would set up road blocks to block traffic, clean the sacred temple areas and carry out general cleanliness. People also prepare presents for the Goddess of Water and the spirits who preside over the area.

For the Goddess and her sisters, it is believed that they are constantly attending the human celebrations. They watch from the sides and laugh when children play games or throw spears into the water. They appear in groups like a family of warriors. This is also the time of year when they send gifts and prayers to their beloved relatives back home. Flowers, coconuts, hula dancing, music and poetry are some of the major elements of the Kakegurui festival.

In ancient times, people threw pebbles along the beach to bring down the sea gulls that came to feed on the grains of the sun. Today, the festival is more focused on the rituals. People place offerings at various points along the coastline. They also dance and pray to the Goddess. The biggest highlight of the festival is when a tree trunk is dipped in the water and decorated with leis, trinkets and plants. It is believed that when the goddess sees the tree trunk, she will give her blessings and allow the sun to shine there each day.