CULTURE
COURTESY THE HONOLULU FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
The 13th Annual Honolulu Festival will feature performers from Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and the Philippines, as well as workshops, crafts and a parade.
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‘Pacific Harmony’
You can sing with Raiatea Helm or swing with Tadd Fujikawa at this weekend's Honolulu Festival
More than 5,000 artisans and performers from Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and the Philippines will gather in Waikiki this weekend for the 13th Annual Honolulu Festival.
This year's theme is "Pacific Harmony," honoring the Asia-Pacific Rim cultures represented at the festival. There's also a subtheme, "Pacific Renaissance," celebrating new developments and revitalization of the famed tourist area.
Last year, more than 49,000 residents and visitors attended. Participants spent about $9.8 million during the event, which generated almost $1 million in tax revenue for Honolulu.
All events, with the exception of the Friendship Gala, are free and open to the public.
COURTESY THE HONOLULU FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
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COURTESY THE HONOLULU FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
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Festival highlights
For information, or to buy tickets for the Friendship Gala, call 596-3327 or visit
www.honolulufestival.com.
» Performances by Descendence, the internationally renowned aboriginal dance troupe from Australia and the Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village, representing Taiwanese aboriginal tribes.
» Grammy nominee Raiatea Helm, as well as the local Tahiti Nui International dance company, will perform.
» Local teenage amateur golfer Tadd Fujikawa, who made history at this year's Sony Open as the second youngest player to make the cut in a PGA Tour event, will be Sunday's Grand Parade marshall.
» Students from Kamehameha High School's Maui Campus will carry their mikoshi (traditional and decorative Japanese float) in the parade. The school is this year's winner of the annual Maui Mikoshi Design Contest.
» Japanese and isle artisans will also showcase their crafts in more than 100 booths at the Hawaii Convention Center Saturday and Sunday.
COURTESY THE HONOLULU FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
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Saturday
» 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Music and dance performances, Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center and Waikiki Beach Walk
» 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: 4th U.S.-Japan Cultural Exchange Seminar Program, convention center, Room 310. The program, "Building Friendships by Playing Hardball," will include a seminar with Wally Yonamine -- who played pro ball in Japan -- about the evolution of Japanese and American baseball. Yonamine will also discuss how baseball helped build U.S.-Japan relations.
» 7 to 9 p.m.: Friendship Gala at the convention center, Kamehameha Exhibit Hall 1. Entertainment and food from Hawaii restaurants such as Alan Wong's, Sam Choy's Diamond Head, John Dominis, Roy's, Mariposa, TOWN and Shanghai Bistro. Benefits the Honolulu Festival Foundation. Tickets are $85 ($35 tax-deductible).
Sunday
» 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Performances at Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center and Waikiki Beach Walk
» 4:30 to 8 p.m.: Grand parade down Kalakaua Avenue