15th Annual Honolulu Festival to Celebrate Pacific Harmony

Hawaii's premier cultural festival, the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival, will take place Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, 2009. The annual festival highlights the people and diversity of the Pacific and Asia through an impressive showcase of the arts and culture. Under the banner of "Pacific Harmony," the 2009 festival will focus on the theme, "Heart of the Pacific, Creating Our Future."

The three-day celebration will feature live musical and cultural performances, as well as impressive art exhibits from groups in Asia and the Pacific. The free events will be conveniently located at the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Shopping Plaza and Waikiki Beach Walk, concluding with a Grand Parade along Kalakaua Avenue through the heart of Waikiki on the final evening.

Among the highlight performers are the Obama Girls from Obama, Japan, the daijayama or fire-breathing dragon float, and the Descendance from Australia. The festival is also a prime opportunity for cultural groups in Hawaii to share the beauty of their heritage with residents and visitors.

Friendship Gala to Support Educational Programs

In addition to the free events, the Honolulu Festival Foundation will hold a fundraiser the evening of Saturday March 14 called "Friendship Gala" to support Foundation-sponsored educational and cultural programs in Hawaii.

"Supporting the Friendship Gala helps enable us to provide cultural programs for the educational benefit of Hawaii's youth," said Tatsuo Watanabe, Secretary of the Honolulu Festival Foundation.

Held at the Hawaii Convention Center from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Gala will feature live performances and delicious Pacific Rim cuisine. Admission to the Gala is $85, of which $35 is tax deductible. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Honolulu Festival hotline at (808) 596-3327. Parking is available at the Hawaii Convention Center for $5.

The Honolulu Festival was founded in 1995 to help promote cultural understanding and harmony between the people of Hawaii and Asia-Pacific. The Honolulu Festival is supported by the Honolulu Festival Foundation, a non-profit organization formed in 2000 to administer Festival activities and perpetuate the culture, customs and traditions of Asians and Pacific Islanders through community outreach and charitable efforts.

For more information, please visit www.honolulufestival.com or call the hotline at (808) 596-3327.

_{Photo of the 2008 Daijayama or Fire-Breathing Dragon Float Courtesy of the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival}