Posts Tagged ‘Pacific Culture’

One of the many treats residents of O’ahu have come to welcome is the annual Honolulu Festival. Celebrating its fifteenth year, this celebration of ethnic harmony, economic cooperation and cultural understanding returns to Honolulu March 13, 14 and 15th with a wondrous variety of fun activities and things to do.

The Honolulu Festival features dance performances, educational programs, traditional art demonstrations from artist/artisans from Japan, as well as Australia, The Philippines, The Republic of China (Taiwan), Korea and Hawai’i and mainland US of A. It is like taking a tour around the Pacific without leaving Hawai’i, and what is even more amazing is that most of the fun is free and open to all who wish to attend.

Officially the Honolulu Festival kicks off with a trio of by invitation events on Friday March 13th 2009, but those with school age children should be aware of a special Educational Program at the Hawai’i Convention Center running from 9:30AM to 1 PM. The festival organizers say it best, “Hawaii students from elementary to high school are invited to an exclusive behind-the-scene tour of exhibits brought to Honolulu from various countries of the Pacific for the Festival. This is a wonderful opportunity for the young people of Hawaii to get a close-up look at the displays as well as interact with the Festival artisans and performers. It is also a great opportunity for the participating groups to share their culture and traditions with the children of Hawaii.”

As for the rest of us the real fun begins on Saturday March 14 2009. Performance Stages will be set up at Ala Moana Shopping Center, The Hawai’i Convention Center, and the Waikiki Beach Walk. Throughout the day from 10AM to 5PM various performers will showcase their talents. There will be singers, musicians, dancers celebrating & sharing their diverse cultures. Recalling past Festivals there will be representatives from various Japanese Prefectures, Philippine Provinces, and Pacific Islands showcasing regional treasures. The Performance Stages will be open from 10AM to 3PM on Sunday the 14th.

The Hawai’i Convention Center at 1801 Kalakaua Avenue plays host to a Craft Fair on Saturday March 14th from 10AM to 5PM and 10AM To 3PM Sunday March 15 2009. There will be more than a hundred booth featuring crafts from Japan, Hawai’i and a panoply of Pacific nations. Many of the booths will be interactive affording everyone the opportunity to create crafts under the guidance of artisans happy to display their regional specialties & unique traditions.

All of this fun activity ends with a colorful parade through the heart of http://www.honolulufestival.com/eng/gala2009.php . For additional info about the Honolulu Festival one can call 808-926-2424 or check out their colorful website http://www.honolulufestival.com/index.php .