Hawaii's Aloha Festivals parade returns to Waikiki this weekend, and the riders keeping its oldest tradition alive say rising costs are the biggest threat to it.

• Faith Kalamau is this year's Pāʻū Queen, representing all eight islands.
• Building one pāʻū riding unit now costs between $10,000 and $20,000, and takes a full year of planning and fundraising.
• Horses have been hard to find since the pandemic, and the price of flowers, foliage, and supplies keeps climbing.
• The tradition dates to the 1800s, when Hawaiian women wore pāʻū skirts over their gowns to keep them clean while riding horseback to formal events.
• Kalamau's group is also building a float at the convention center this year, on top of the riding unit.

Outlook: The parade rides through Waikiki this weekend, with the riders asking the community to back local fundraisers so the tradition can survive the cost.