SaltPhoenix
And if any of you want to see what a $500 Papale Piko'ole, or crownless hat looks like, go to the #merriemonarch #crafts fair. These hats are traditionally made from Lauhala leaf. There were some cheap reproductions there too. They were "only" $35. 😅
Taking pictures of the $500 papale at the fair felt like stealing, so I didn't really get any. 🙈
The prices of many things were jacked up for this event. I see the same vendors at lesser venues, selling the same stuff at noticably different prices. 💸 Any time I asked a price on an unmarked item, I got the staredown moment of silence, as the local vendors tried to figure out if I was a local or not. 🤣
This festival is big and beloved. People come from all over the world to participate in #MerrieMonarch festival. They dress in their finest Hawaiian print dresses and hats and lei. It's a see and be seen type of event. People come every year to shop the local Hawaiian vendors selling beautiful Hawaiian print clothing and jewelry and other Hawaiian crafts.
https://www.merriemonarch.com/2024-merrie_monarch_festival/
https://www.merriemonarch.com/2024-merrie_monarch_festival/
you see some interesting contrast of cultures here as well. You have your specifically ancient and modern Hawaiian cultural expression and practice, but you also see an entire faction of glamorizing the plantation era, with the elaborate hats and specific textile prints, the pa'u riders. Pa'u riders are glamourous, long skirt wearing, women on horses that are thickly decorated with beautiful flowers. At the parade (tomorrow) they send a pa'u (long fancy skirt) rider and court from each island to represent.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pa'u_riders
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pa'u_riders
#MerrieMonarch festival is definitely 100% #Hawaii Pride Week and I'm here for it. ✊🏼🌺🌈🤙🏼
