E Komo Mai
Sunday, August 23, 2026. We are excited to announce that E Komo Mai & Tacoma Creates is back for its 3rd annual event on August 23 at Owen Beach! This year’s event will feature:
- Live music by Monday Ukulele Ohana & Northwest Blend
- Hula performances by Halau Hula Ka Lei Mokihana I Ka Ua Noe
- Ukulele lessons
- Hands-on workshops, including lei making and keiki (kids) games
- Delicious Polynesian food from Cafe Ohana, Hefa’s Otai, and Kehau’s Ono Grindz
- Outrigger paddle experiences
Whether you paddled with us last year or this is your first time, we welcome you to experience the spirit of aloha with us.
E Komo Mai means “Welcome” in the Hawaiian language, and welcome is exactly the spirit of this day. Each August, Kīkaha O Ke Kai opens the shoreline at Owen Beach to all of Tacoma for a free Hawaiian cultural festival on the waterfront. Hawaiian culture is immersive and sensory, built on relationships with one another and with the land and sea. E Komo Mai is our invitation to experience it firsthand, whether you are part of the Hawaiian diaspora or simply curious about the spirit of aloha.
Presented with support from Tacoma Creates, E Komo Mai brings hula, music, outrigger paddling, and hands-on cultural learning to Point Defiance Park for a day the whole family can enjoy.
