"We are thrilled to celebrate the 10th Annual Honolulu Festival by increasing its depth and diversity," said David Asanuma, executive director of the Honolulu Festival Foundation. "Sharing culture and providing an exciting learning opportunity for students have always been the primary objectives of the Festival. This year we have planned the Festival’s most comprehensive program to date in order to further these goals."
The theme of this year’s Festival is Where Culture Comes Alive. Festivalgoers will be able to experience and learn about Japan’s diverse heritage through dance and musical performances and an array of cultural demonstrations by groups representing prefectures throughout Japan. Approximately 5,500 Japanese performers and artists are expected to travel to Honolulu this year to share their customs, traditions, history and art with residents and visitors.
Highlights of the 10th Annual Honolulu Festival include:
- Celebration of 150 Years of U.S.-Japan Relations
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Exhibit "Black Ships and Samurai: Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan"
An exploration of the dramatic confrontation between "East" and "West" during Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s forced opening of Japan through the artwork produced by each side at the time. Honolulu Festival Seminars:"Early Encounters of Two Different Civilizations"
This seminar will feature two speakers: Dr. Fred Nichols, third great grandson of Commodore Perry, and Akiko Kuno, executive director of the America-Japan Society, Inc."The U.S.-Japan Alliance in a Globalized World"
Ambassador Yoshio Okawara, former Japanese Ambassador to the United States from 1980 to 1985, will lead this seminar. - Mandala 21st Century Project (The World’s Largest Patchwork Quilt)
The world’s largest Mandala quilt, a piece of Tibetan religious art depicting the four major events of the Buddha’s life, will be on display at the Hawaii Convention Center for the first time in the U.S. during the Festival. The patchwork quilt weighs over two tons and consists of 81 sewn quilts that when put together make one large patchwork 50 meters by 70 meters - almost the size of a football field. - Traditional Japanese Archery (Iimori Shirine- Busha Sai)
Over 50 delegates from Japan, as well as local students, will demonstrate traditional Japanese archery wearing artistic and historical costumes. This form of archery began in the middle of the 13th century (Kamakura Era) and will be seen in Hawaii for the first time. - Hita City Float
This upright 40 foot tall float contains scenes depicting village life. Each section is meticulously detailed and focuses on a different daily activity. - Fire Spitting Dragon (Omuta Daijayama Matsuri) The dragon, a favorite among parade watchers, shoots smoke and spits fire as it makes its way along Kalakaua Avenue in the Grand Parade.
The Honolulu Festival Foundation is committed to making the Festival an educational opportunity for the school children and community of Hawaii. Last year, more than 750 students took a behind the scenes tour of the Festival and met with Festival participants from Japan. Last year also ushered in the first ever Honolulu Festival Fujifilm Photo Contest.
Over 500 students photographed costumed performers, larger than life parade floats and heartwarming moments of cultural exchange. This year the educational component of the Festival has been expanded even further through seminar offerings and roundtable discussions. In addition to providing residents and visitors with unique cultural and educational experiences, the Honolulu Festival also contributes significantly to Honolulu’s economy. Local economists estimated the 9th Annual Honolulu Festival generated approximately $2.3 million in additional revenue for Oahu.
Honolulu Festival events will be held at venues throughout Honolulu including the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. All festival events are presented free of charge.
For more information, including updated time and location of performances, please visit the Honolulu Festival Foundation website.
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