The annual Prince Lot Hula Festival will turn 30 this year, and Moanalua Gardens Foundation has a lineup of special festivities to celebrate the event on July 21.

"Our theme, ' 'Olelo mai na kupuna mai ... the legacy lives on,' represents the evolution of the festival over the past three decades, as it has grown into the state's largest noncompetitive hula festival," said Moanalua Gardens Foundation president Alika Jamile, in a statement.

The grass-roots event will feature halau from the Leeward area, from which Prince Lot once invited his dancers, as well as halau from other parts of O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands.

"This year marks a very special occasion for Moanalua Gardens Foundation and for the community who have helped us make the event what it is today," said executive director Mahealani Merryman. "We are excited about bringing back some of the halau who participated in the early days of the festival. When we looked back over the past 30 years, we discovered some incredible dances and chants that were rarely performed in public. We will be reprising some of them."

The event celebrates hula kahiko: ancient hula and chant. 'Auana (contemporary) hula performances also will be featured.

Anniversary activities include cultural workshops, July 16-18. Conducted by respected Hawaiian artists, kupuna and crafters, these workshops will include kapa, Hawaiian dyes, lei hulu (featherwork), lei-making, Hawaiian saddle- making as well as a special workshop on the genealogies of Moanalua by Analu Josephides. Moanalua Gardens Foundation staff will lead an educational walk through the gardens, pointing out the park's exceptional trees, cultural sites and historic buildings.

Workshops are free. However, there is a nominal fee for the lei hulu session to pay for supplies. Pre-registration is required for the genealogy and lei hulu workshops; all others are open to the public. On the day of the festival, there will be demonstrations of Hawaiian arts and crafts, and the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club will teach ancient Hawaiian games.

There is no cost to attend the festival. A $5 button donation to the foundation is requested to help defray festival costs.

Festival sponsors and supporters include the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. A new supporter this year is Kaimana Ventures Ltd., whose president, John Philip Damon, owner of Moanalua Gardens, has provided the use of the gardens for the festival.

Named for Prince Lot Kapua'iwa, who reigned as Kamehameha V, the festival was founded in 1978 and now attracts up to 8,000 residents and visitors each year.

For more information and a complete schedule of performances, go to www.mgf-hawaii.org.

For vendor and registration information, call 839-5334.