Alola

*If you were looking for the first Japanese opening theme of* Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon*, see Alola!!.*
*If you were looking for the first Korean opening theme of* Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon*, see ALOLA!.*
The **Alola** region (Japanese: **アローラ地方** *Alola region*) is a region of the Pokémon world. It was the seventh core series region to be introduced and is the setting of Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon.

Alola is made up of four islands: Melemele Island, Akala Island, Ula'ula Island, and Poni Island. In the center is an artificial island by the name of Aether Paradise. It is a popular resort destination and attracts a lot of tourists from other regions. In Alola, humans and Pokémon coexist in a very close relationship, and a culture has developed that is different from other regions.

The island kahuna of each island is known to offer the starter Pokémon to Trainers beginning their journey of this archipelago. In gameplay, the kahuna of Melemele Island, Hala, will offer the options of Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio to beginner Trainers in Sun and Moon, while in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Professor Kukui of Hau'oli City Outskirts will offer the same three Pokémon under Hala's behalf.

## Etymology and design concept

* Etymology
* Design concept

According to Shigeru Ohmori, the name "Alola" is meant to incorporate a meaning of a land that overflows with life force and supports various forms of life. Specifically, the name may come from *ola* (Hawaiian for life) and the traditional Hawaiian word *aloha*, which, beyond its use as a greeting, also signifies a respect and love for the shared life force between all. This etymology is likely also shared by the Alolan greeting and parting "alola". The adjectival form of Alola is "Alolan", as seen in the term Alolan Form .

*Main article: Pokémon world in relation to the real world → Alola*
Alola is based on Hawaiʻi, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean and a state of the United States. Each of Alola's natural islands is based on one of the Hawaiian islands:

* Melemele Island is based on the real-world Hawaiian island Oʻahu.
* Akala Island is based on the real-world Hawaiian island Maui.
* Ula'ula Island is based on the real-world Hawaiian island Hawaiʻi (the Big Island).
* Poni Island is based on the real-world Hawaiian island Kauaʻi.

Each natural island is named after a Hawaiian word for a color. These names correspond with the their real-life counterpart of Hawaii's official island colors. Like their real-life counterparts, each of these islands are associated with the colors they are named after. The colors also correspond with the nectar and flowers available on said island, as well as each island's guardian diety.
## History

* Dated history
* Undated history
* Contemporary history

* c. 500 years prior to the events of Pokémon Sun and Moon, Magearna was built and presented to a king's daughter.

- "Hundreds of years ago"
	* As the people of Ultra Megalopolis injured Necrozma in an attempt to steal its powers, pieces of its prismatic body were rained down onto different universes, which included Alola's, giving origin to the Sparkling Stones, Z-Crystals, and consequently, to the Z-Rings**S**  **M**  /Z-Power Rings**US**  **UM**  , and Z-Moves.
	* A Pokémon known as the Solgaleo**S US**  /Lunala**M UM**  emerged from an Ultra Wormhole. Seeing them as a threat, the guardian deities had battled the Legendary Pokémon but were defeated in the end. Solgaleo/Lunala then offered the tapu the Tapunium Z as a reward for their efforts. Afterwards, the Legendary Pokémon, along with a Lunala**S**  **US**  /Solgaleo**M**  **UM**  , eventually created a newborn in the form of a Cosmog for the tapu to take care of.
	* Necrozma, arrives in Alola through an Ultra Wormhole, stealing all of the light in the region and shrouding it in darkness. During the events it gets a hold of Solgaleo**US**  /Lunala**UM**  and turns into Dusk Mane Necrozma**US**  /Dawn Wings Necrozma**UM**  . Under the commands of Alola's royalty, the four tapu battled the now dubbed "pillager of light " to retrieve the region's light, with the help of a youth using a Sparkling Stone and Z-Power, managing to defeat and banish Necrozma, restoring the region's light and freeing Solgaleo**US**  /Lunala**UM**  from it.
	* All books related to Necrozma were burned.
	* The Battle Royal was created based on battles between the four tapu.
	* Alola's tradition of the island challenge was created after Necrozma was banished.

The worlds of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon take place in different universes from one another, with the worlds of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon taking place in universes different from not only each other but to Sun and Moon as well, causing a set of parallel universes. Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon have a 12 hour time difference from Sun and Ultra Sun. Alola's contemporary history is different inn Sun and Moon compared to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Before the events of both sets of games, Professor Mohn of the Aether Foundation had conducted research on Ultra Beasts and discovering the existence of Ultra Wormholes, Cosmog, and Nihilego, he had ended up missing prior to the story of the games. Professor Mohn had named Cosmog's species.

Two years prior to the events of the games, Gladion steals a Type: Null species from the Aether Foundation and leaves Aether Paradise. While Three months prior, Lillie does a similar act and takes off with a Cosmog that she had also stolen from Aether Paradise. During the process, This Cosmog has transported her to a beach in Alola and is found by Professor Burnet. Lillie stays with both Professor Kukui and Burnet on Melemele Island leading up to the events of the main story. Sometime during this set of events the player character, who is either Selene or Elio leaves Kanto for their new home set on Route 1 .

* Pokémon Sun and Moon
* Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

The player begins their adventure after meeting Professor Kukui who takes them to receive their starter Pokémon from Hala, and meeting Lillie and Hau on their way to Iki Town. The player receives a Z-Ring at the festival inaugurating their island challenge, consisting of seven trials and four grand trials in order to become the island challenge champion. Along their journey, they encounter a group called Team Skull, whose members are misfits who failed the island challenge and aim to cause trouble, as well as the Aether Foundation, whose goal is to cure hurt Pokémon. Midway through their island challenge, the player is brought on a tour of Aether Paradise, where they find a Nihilego, an Ultra Beast and are tasked to defeat it. After defeating the leader of Team Skull, Guzma, at the Shady House, they learn that Lillie was taken away by Team Skull, and upon Gladion's request, him, the player and Hau travel to Aether Paradise to rescue Lillie, where they battle Lusamine, the president of the Aether Foundation who is also revealed to be Lillie and Gladion's mother. Lusamine opens Ultra Wormholes across Alola and enters one with Guzma. The player and Lillie evolve Nebby into Solgaleo**S**  /Lunala**M**  at the Altar of the Sunne**S**  /Altar of the Moone**M**  and travel into Ultra Space, where the player battles Lusamine once again and brings her and Guzma back to Alola. The player catches Nebby after Lillie tells it that she isn't a Trainer. The player then climbs to the summit of Mount Lanakila, where the newly opened Pokémon League stands. They defeat the Elite Four and Professor Kukui, becoming the first Champion of Alola. A festival is held in Iki Town, and Lillie brings them to the Ruins of Conflict to thank Tapu Koko.

The next day, Lillie leaves on boat for Kanto to help her sickly mother. The International Police contact the player to investigate and catch the Ultra Beasts unleashed across Alola.

Similar to the above, prior to the events of the games, Gladion and Lillie both steal Pokémon from the Aether Foundation. The player moves to Alola.

The player begins their adventure after meeting Professor Kukui who provides them with their starter Pokémon on Hala's behalf, and meets Lillie and Hau on their way to Iki Town. The player receives a Z-Power Ring at the festival inaugurating their island challenge, consisting of eight trials and four grand trials in order to become the island challenge champion. Once again the player comes across Team Skull and the Aether Foundation, battling a wild Nihilego found on Aether Paradise. However, the player is also met with a new group known as the Ultra Recon Squad, who are associated with Aether. Lillie and Nebby are kidnapped by Team Skull, and the group of three travel to Aether Paradise to rescue her. Lusamine opens a single Ultra Wormhole to enter with Guzma in a plot to stop Necrozma from stealing Alola's light. The player and Lillie evolve Nebby into Solgaleo**US**  /Lunala**UM**  at the Altar of the Sunne**US**  /Altar of the Moone**UM**  however, before they can go into Ultra Space, Lusamine and Guzma are immediately ejected from an Ultra Wormhole, being defeated by Necrozma. Necrozma soon follows and captures Nebby and takes control of its body, becoming Dusk Mane**US**  /Dawn Wings Necrozma**UM**  , and proceeds to not only summon Ultra Beasts into Alola, but steals all of Alola's light. With help from the Ultra Recon Squad, the player rides atop a Lunala**US**  /Solgaleo**UM**  and goes to Ultra Megalopolis to chase down Necrozma, who then uses the light it took from Nebby to become Ultra Necrozma, its original form. The player successfully defeats Necrozma and separates Nebby from it, returning the light to Alola. The player then finishes their island challenge and climbs Mount Lanakila where they defeat Hau, as their final obstacle and becoming the first Champion of Alola. A festival is held in Iki Town.

Gladion leaves for Kanto and Johto by boat. The player then returns home, where they are contacted by Hau and the Ultra Recon Squad to catch Blacephalon**US**  or Stakataka**UM**  . They then learn of Team Rainbow Rocket, who take over the Festival Plaza and Aether Paradise. Lillie reaches out to the player for help and they intervene, dealing with several Rainbow Rocket Grunts in the altered Aether Paradise, as well as several past villainous Team Leaders: Archie, Maxie, Cyrus, Lysandre, and Ghetsis; all coming from timelines where they were successful in their plans. Finally, they reach Lusamine's chamber and defeat Rainbow Rocket's Giovanni, who then leaves the Paradise and restores it to normal after his defeat. However, before he leaves, he subtly implies he has yet more plans in mind. Gladion returns a month later after Giovanni's defeat.
## Geography

* Enviroment
* Climate
* Ecology
* Demographics
* Notable locations
* Appearance

The Alola region consists of four main islands: Melemele Island, Akala Island, Ula'ula Island, and Poni Island. It also includes one artificial island, Aether Paradise, described as a "very large floating structure" or VLFS. People can travel between the islands via boat, the Poké Ride's Charizard Glide, and Mantine Surf; it is not possible to use the Poke Ride's Lapras Paddle or Sharpedo Jet to move between the islands. (It is also impossible to use Surf or Fly for inter-island travel, since these moves cannot be used outside of battle in Generation VII.) All four natural islands are, to an extent, forested and mountainous. Most of these islands' cities and towns are on the coast, with the notable exceptions of Iki Town and Paniola Town. Routes are relatively developed here compared to other regions, with several of them having their own Pokémon Centers in addition to residential buildings.

Though steeped in nature, Melemele Island, in the northwest of the archipelago, has the least extreme environments. It is home to Alola's largest settlement, Hau'oli City. Its routes gently slope up towards the center of the island to form a gradual mountain, on top of which are the Ruins of Conflict. A notable Melemele Island landmark is Ten Carat Hill, which was formed out of an underwater volcano and has an open-air hollow in the middle, itself resembling a volcano.

Akala Island, in the northeast of the archipelago, contains Alola's only active volcano, in Wela Volcano Park. It also has the most settlements of the four natural islands. Its largest city, Heahea City, boasts several huge resort hotels, such as the Hano Grand Resort, which has its own beach and golf course. A notable Akala Island landmark is Brooklet Hill, which has cascading waterfalls that give off the impression of a terrace field.

Ula'ula Island, in the southeast of the archipelago, is the largest of Alola's islands. It is also the most varied in terms of weather and terrain, with significantly rougher terrain areas than other islands. For such a large island, it has few settlements: Malie City, the largest city in Ula'ula; Tapu Village, destroyed by the tapu a long time ago, contains just a Pokémon Center; and Po Town, occupied by Team Skull. These settlements all sit in the shadow of a contiguous mountain range in the heart of the island, which includes three mountain peaks and a harsh desert. On the southwest coast of the island is a large lagoon with breakable rocks that the Poké Ride's Sharpedo Jet can break through. Notable Ula'ula Island landmarks are the Lake of the Moone and the Lake of the Sunne, both perfectly circular lakes that have special connections to the Legendary Pokémon of Alola, Solgaleo and Lunala.

Poni Island, in the southwest of the archipelago, is the most sparsely populated of Alola's islands, with only one settlement. Similar to the Battle Zone in Sinnoh, it is full of rugged and harsh environments. Though its coasts are fairly flat, the island is mostly mountainous and rocky, in part due to the sprawling Vast Poni Canyon — described as a natural trial site — that takes up over half the island's land.

Aether Paradise, just west of the center of the archipelago, starkly contrasts with the natural islands. It is strikingly modern, with a huge building in the center that serves as both the main area and the headquarters of its owners, the Aether Foundation. Behind this building is a sprawling mansion that serves as the office and residence of its head, Lusamine.

Similar to Hoenn, Alola as a whole seems to have a warmer climate than other regions. It is implied to have a tropical climate, similar to its real-world counterpart, Hawaii. For example, a thriving rainforest grows on Akala Island. The Pokémon themselves have also adapted to Alola's tropical atmosphere, the biggest example being the Exeggutor that grow on Poni Island, who have reached lengths other Exeggutor are unable to reach, due to the amount of sun that shines over the islands. However, Mount Lanakila, Alola's highest point, constantly experiences snow and hail due to its high altitude.

Each of the natural islands also experiences a wide variety of weather conditions. For example, Ula'ula Island hosts environments with harsh sun , extreme sandstorm s, and frequent rain , in addition to the snow and hail on Mount Lanakila.

The ecology of Alola is described as being diverse. While plenty of the Pokémon who live in Alola has lived with human natives for generations, plenty of new Pokémon from other regions have shown up recently as well. Alola's environmental conditions affect its Pokémon in various ways. To adapt to the unique environmental pressures of their Alolan habitats, a number of Pokémon species originally found in the Kanto region have developed regional forms named Alolan forms. Alolan Exeggutor, for instance, are five times as tall as those in other regions due to Alola's abundant sunlight, and Alolan Vulpix, which moved to snowy mountain peaks to avoid the normal habitats of other Pokémon, adapted to their new environment by becoming Ice-type .

What has added to this diversity is also the inclusion of Pokémon being brought over from other regions, however this had lead to the issue of multiple invasive species, such as Rattata and Gumshoos.
The Alola region has a total population of 1005**US UM**  , including all towns, cities, and other areas. Since its introduction in Generation VII, it has been the second largest region by population.

Alola has nine cities and towns, a big avenue and a Pokémon League. Like in Unova and Kalos, the routes of Alola start counting again from 1, likely to represent its geographical isolation from the original four regions. There are 17 routes in total, although there are many other locations in the form of a route that in this region are named differently, such as Akala Outskirts or Poni Grove.

* Settlements
* Landmarks
* Anime-exclusive
* Manga-exclusive

* Artwork
* In-game

## Island challenge

*Main article: Island Challenge*
The island challenge is a rite of passage in the Alola region consisting of trials on each of Alola's four main islands. Each trial has a Trial Captain who provides guidance to Trainers undertaking a trial. At the end of each trial, Trainers must face a Totem Pokémon in an SOS Battle. The final trial on each island is called the grand trial, where the Trainer must battle the island kahuna. The goal of those taking the island challenge is to become the strongest Trainer, known as the island challenge champion .

* Captains and Totem Pokémon
* Island Kahunas

* Melemele Island
* Akala Island
* Ula'ula Island
* Poni Island

## Alola League

*Main article: Alola League*
A Pokémon League for the Alola region was developed on top of Mount Lanakila by Professor Kukui only recently. As a result, the Alola League has no Pokémon Champion. Instead, in Sun and Moon, after defeating the Elite Four, the player must battle Kukui, the founder of the League, in order to formally attain the title of Alola's first Pokémon League Champion. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the player battles their rival Hau instead.

## Trivia

* Alola is the only core series region:
	+ To have the player 's home not be located in a city or town. Instead, it is located on Route 1 .
	+ To have an Elite Four member change within a single generation.
	+ Whose name is a palindrome.
	+ To have more than one burial ground at once.
* Alola is the only core series region not to feature:
	+ Gym Leaders, Gyms, and Badges.
	+ A notable Ice-type expert.
		- However, Sina, who comes from Kalos, being introduced in , is revealed to be an Ice-type expert when the player meets her in Alola.
	+ A Champion that precedes the player.
	+ A diploma received from someone upon completing the Pokédex.
* Alola is the first core series region not to feature:
	+ HMs and field moves.
	+ Cuttable plants.
	+ Gates.
* Alola is the least visited core series region in *Pokémon Journeys: The Series*, only being visited in three episodes.

## See also

* Pokémon Sun and Moon
* Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
* Alala, Alola
* Alolan form

## References

1. ↑ Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3 (recorded)
2. ↑ Pokémon Sun and Moon Japanese official site
3. ↑ Junichi Masuda's LINE blog
4. ↑ Pokémon Sun and Moon official website (archived): "*The Aether Foundation is researching this unusual Pokémon, and one of the professors at the foundation recently dubbed it Cosmog.*"
5. ↑ Pokémon Sun and Moon official website (archive)

* Regions
* Alola