OluKai 5th Annual Ho'olaule'a Ocean Festival Attracts World-Class Paddlers and All-Star Musical Line-Up

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Next month OluKai kicks off its 5^th annual Ho'olaule'a on May 11-12 in Maui, Hawaii. This unique ocean festival brings together the world's best paddlers to race the legendary 8-mile Maliko downwind run for a chance to win the gender equal prize money of $15,000. To celebrate the competition and OluKai's 'Ohana Giveback partners, this year's entertainment will bring six of Hawaii's top musical recording artists on one stage, culminating in a night of island music history.

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OluKai's Ho'olaule'a perfectly blends elite competition with family-friendly and traditional cultural activities. This one-of-a-kind festival gathers communities to enjoy canoe sailing, surfing, ancient Hawaiian games, luau, hula, and live music. As the original footwear brand behind the sport, OluKai is pleased to attract the biggest names in SUP (stand up paddle), OC1 and new for this year, OC2 paddlers. Athletes last year included names like Connor Baxter, Andrea Moller and Travis Grant.

Making music history, the Saturday night concert will include performances by six of the top Hawaiian artists in an authentic backyard style Hawaiian Kanikapila; a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session. Paula Fuga, Kimie Miner, Justin Young, Ekolu Kalama and Hawaii's hottest female recording artist and longtime OluKai brand partner, Anuhea along with Billboard's #1 Reggae artist, Mishka will all play their original hits as well as special selections, traditional and modern, in various configurations with each other.

Along with over 2,000 event participants and festivalgoers, this year OluKai will host employees, sales reps and retailers from across the country, introducing them to Hawaiian culture through Ho'olaule'a. "As a company we believe that everyone, no matter where they are, can live Aloha. This event brings together friends and family from all areas of the country giving us the opportunity to share 'Ohana and honor our giveback partners," says Kerry Konrady director of marketing at OluKai. "One of the most important roles of 'Ohana is the passing along of shared history and hard-won wisdom to the next generation. All the organizations participating in our Giveback Program are actively involved in this connection of past and future."

OluKai employees have been preparing for several months for this special weekend by earning their way to Maui as a part of 'Ohana Giveback Program. To be eligible to travel to Hawaii and participate in the festivities, employees were challenged to volunteer locally a minimum of twenty hours as one of the prerequisites.On Monday following the event, OluKai employees and local volunteers will travel together to Honokowai Valley, a cultural heritage preservation site, and spend the day on reforestation and archeological stabilization projects with OluKai's 'Ohana Giveback partner Maui Cultural Lands.

The entire event will be filmed in HD and broadcast on national TV. Media partner and air-dates to be announced.

About OluKai

OluKai is an ultra-luxury lifestyle brand that believes everyone, no matter where they are, can live Aloha. OluKai is one way to unlock its spirit in all of us. It is an inspired brand that whole heartedly believes in creating an emotional connection with the consumer and communicates from an "inside-out perspective." The company is committed to building a unique and better class of products that blend ocean heritage with modern performance while leaving the smallest footprint possible on the planet. Through its Fit by Nature™, Crafted by Hand™  design principle, OluKai builds every pair of footwear with signature anatomically contoured footbeds to deliver the perfect balance of instant comfort and lasting support. Each pair features beautiful, quality materials and handcrafted details inspired by island culture. In every facet of its business, the brand is committed to respecting the people and the environments it touches. Inspired by the strong tradition of giving an offering or tribute in Polynesian culture, OluKai established the 'Ohana Giveback Program to support the efforts of those who continue to give back to preserve local cultures and traditions. For more information visit www.olukai.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ramsay Horn
SnL Communications
310.996.0239
[email protected]

SOURCE OluKai