Hawaii's month-long Aloha Festivals turns 80 this year, a bright spot for islanders and visitors at a time when most news is grim.

• The festival started in 1946 as Aloha Week to help the islands recover after World War II.
• It was also meant to bring back Hawaiian traditions lost after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
• It is now considered the biggest Hawaiian cultural celebration in the United States, known for its pageantry.
• Kumu hula Blaine Kamalani, who joined the Royal Court in 1979, now runs it and passes on what he learned from earlier teachers.
• Organizers frame the event as a source of hope against a steady stream of negative world news.

Outlook: The celebration runs through the month, with the Royal Court and its selection process at the center of the anniversary programming.