Visitors frequently stop for a moment and watch the dancers, in colorful leis and aloha wear, move gracefully to the rhythm of local Hawaiian music.

This is Ho’okipa, a strolling greeters program striving to revive the Hawaiian tradition of greeting tourists at the airport with song, dance, and aloha.

"It is really nice to dance for the tourists," said Keala Naluai, a member of Ho’okipa and a dancer with Aloha Serenaders. "They experience a very important part of Hawaiian culture. We tell stories through our music and dance, and we want to tell them what Hawaii is all about."

It seems to be working. Jeff Peracchi, a three-time visitor to Hawai’i, said: "With every visit I fall more in love with this place. The music and dancing is a nice touch, it makes me happy to be here."

Scott Mason, a skycap for Aloha, added that Ho’okipa was doing a good thing, but it was too bad that the younger people who visit Hawai’i do not appreciate it as much as the older people do.

"The older people love it. Last week there was this old guy who was so excited that he danced with the dancers," Mason said.

Aloha Airlines is also getting in on the action. Approximately 22 employees of Aloha Airlines volunteer their time to Ho’okipa. Albert Perkins, an employee of Aloha Airlines and member of Ho’okipa said: "Promoting the aloha spirit is something we all should be doing. Hopefully we will start a trend for the other members of the Honolulu International Airport to come and be a part of the program."

According to the group’s newsletter, "Ho’okipa Express," the primary goal of Ho’okipa is to preserve Hawai’i’s aloha spirit by providing native activities and events, such as hula and chanting, and also by offering classes at the Honolulu International Airport about the history of Hawai’i and its people."

The newsletter also stated that groups that want to be a part of the greeters program can come out and kanikapila (play music) by contacting Ho’okipa and getting on their monthly calendar of performers.

According to Naluai, Ho’okipa is growing at a steady rate. In operation for just a year, the organization has gone from two to three performances a week to two to three performances a day with a list of 28 groups on its performance calendar.

"When we first sent newsletters out to the schools to recruit performers and musicians a year ago, we did not imagine we would receive the kind of response that we did. People were excited and really wanted to be a part of the organization," she said.

Performances are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. The strolling greeters dance throughout the interisland terminal, then make their way to the main terminal. The music is provided by the Hawaiian Ensemble, the Hawaiian club, Aloha Kapuna as well as other Kapuna groups, and Waimanalo elementary, just to name a few.

Although Ho’okipa is partially funded by the state, it relies heavily on member dues.

Airport Administrator Jerry Matsuda told the "Ho’okipa Express" that "the only difference between Hawai’i’s airports and the rest of the world’s is...aloha. You can find views, palm trees, and even beautiful beaches almost anywhere, but no one can match the spirit of aloha that Hawai’i has to offer. The aloha spirit is what it is all about."