Honolulu Festival

More than 90 groups provided Hawaii and visitors an opportunity to get up close with pacific rim cultures. Four popular venues were used to showcase the activities and performances. Cultural education melted in with all of the eye candy and onlookers often were invited on stage to join the celebration.

Attending every event was not possible. The spacious Hawaii Convention Center, the large open air center stage at Ala Moana, Waikiki Beach Walk, and Waikiki Shopping Plaza were all enticing scenes. For the purpose of viewing as many events as possible, I chose Waikiki Beach Walk and Waikiki Shopping Plaza. The short walk between the two venues allowed for a quick rotation during breaks.

The Grand Parade is always popular. This year was no exception. The parade lasts for three and one half hours. Beginning in late afternoon, it continues well after sunset. Most of the large crowds stayed into the night in order to view the spectacular fire breathing dragon. Assembly is required! The construction of the Dragon begins early in the morning the day of the parade. It takes a skilled and hardy crew to build this beast.

All of the presentations were colorful and captivating. The performers were well rehearsed and practiced to the point that they were truly enjoying the moment. Capturing the spirit via a camera was a pleasure. Hopefully the images have conveyed the ambiance.

Another interesting opportunity of the Honolulu Festival was the Craft Fair. More than 100 booths at the Hawaii Convention Center offered hands on experience to interact with exhibitors from around the Pacific Rim.

View excerpts from a few performances on video below. Tip: If you ever get the chance to play the card game Karuta [読み札] with the young lady in the video, expect to lose. She is a 14-time champion winning 11 consecutively.

The Honolulu Festival Foundation is a non profit corporation. It’s no cost to the public policy truly promotes the Aloha spirit of Hawaii. This premier event is certainly worth putting on your schedule for next year.