King’s Hawaiian Football Festival: A Celebration of Kānaka-Māori Football and Culture

20 Nā Kāne20 Nā WāhineNā ʻĀlapa HawaiʻiHawaiian Football Festival

Jun 24

Written By Trisha Kapuaʻala

WAILUKU, MAUI — The Hawaiian Football Federation is thrilled to announce the inaugural installment of the King’s Hawaiian Football Festival, set to take place from July 7-19, 2024, in Hilo, Hawai‘i. This landmark event is made possible through the generous support of Hilo native, Mark Taira, Chief Executive Officer of King’s Hawaiian.

Hosted in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i — Hilo, the King’s Hawaiian Football Festival will feature Nā ‘Ālapa Hawai‘i 20 Nā Kāne and Nā Wāhine (U20 Hawaiian National Teams) competing against the indigenous men’s and women’s teams of Māori Football Aotearoa. In addition to the international matches, the event will include intercultural education and exchange at Te Mauri o Ana Piko‘u (Kānaka-Māori Identity) Symposium at Hale‘ōlelo, College of Hawaiian Language, at UH Hilo.

This partnership will see the football festival named in honor of Hilo’s own, Robert Taira, the founder of King’s Hawaiian. The winner of the Kānaka-Māori tournament will be awarded the prestigious King’s Hawaiian Football Award.

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“We are excited to partner with Hawaiian Football to support its mission of combining sport, competition, cultural exchange, and education to positively impact players and the community. Because the festival is held in Hilo, where my grandfather started our first bakery, this gathering is even more special for me and the entire King’s Hawaiian `ohana.”

— Mark Taira, Chief Executive Officer, King’s Hawaiian

“We are honored to welcome King’s Hawaiian as a founding partner of Hawaiian Football. Together, we will highlight our shared values of Kūpono (Excellence), Hanohano (Dignity), and Koa (Courage) — embodied by our National Teams. We extend our deepest aloha to King’s Hawaiian and the Irresistible Food Group. Their generosity will significantly enhance our ability to deliver high-quality programs and make a lasting impact on Hawaiian lives. A special and heartfelt mahalo to Ron Takahashi for believing in Hawaiian Football’s vision, mission, and work. ”

— Vernon Kapua‘ala, Hawaiian Football President

ABOUT THE HAWAIIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION

Hui Kanaka Pōwāwae (the Hawaiian Football Federation) is committed to fostering the well-being of Native Hawaiians through football, promoting national identity and pride. Through international events like the King’s Hawaiian Football Festival, Hawaiian Football aims to build a solid community of supporters; garner international attention, awareness, and support; and engage with the international community, by sharing our values—with a world in dire need of aloha—embodied through aloha ‘āina (love of country, love for Hawai‘i) and aloha kānaka (love for humanity, love for Hawaiians).