CHINESE NEW YEAR
Chinatown gets jump on Year of the Rat
THOUGH the Year of the Rat doesn't officially start until Feb. 7, it doesn't mean that the "Month in Chinatown" cultural celebration can't get an early start. Organized by the city and private partners, the coordinated celebration got its start with a summit in the famous downtown area in 2006.
So here are the fruits of that summit, which started last weekend. It's all free to the public ...
» 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: Chinese New Year Festival at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza, with food vendors, exhibits and entertainment, martial arts and other demonstrations.
» 3 p.m. Sunday: Chinese New Year Festival at Pearl City High School Auditorium, with top performers visiting from China. To purchase $10 and $15 tickets, call 224-1220. Proceeds will go to the Palolo Chinese Home.
» 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 1: 59th annual Narcissus Festival in Chinatown, with the Narcissus court and lion dances, starting at 42 N. King St. Chinatown businesses will celebrate with firecrackers, and the cultural plaza will have food vendors, craft booths and entertainment.
» 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 1: The ARTS at Marks Garage presents "Chinatown, HI," featuring artwork and artifacts. The monthly "First Friday" gallery event and Chinese New Year will combine with street celebrations and open houses between River and Bethel streets, and Beretania and King streets.
» 5 to 11 p.m. Feb. 1 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Feb. 2: Chinatown Open House at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza. Food vendors, entertainment, ethnic dance troupes, music, martial arts and weapons demonstrations.
» 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Feb. 2: Night in Chinatown Festival and Parade. The parade, featuring acrobats and martial artists, begins at 4 p.m. and runs along Hotel Street, from Richards to River streets. Festivities continue on Maunakea and Hotel streets with entertainment and concessions.
» 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 9: Market City Shopping Center celebrates the Year of the Rat with firecrackers, lion dances and a fortune-cookie giveaway. Festivities take place in the back parking lot facing Kaimuki High School. Call 734-0282.
» 11 a.m. Feb. 10: Aloha Tower Marketplace kicks off its celebration with a traditional lion dance presented by the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association, followed by firecrackers. Then, in the Center Atrium, the Wah Ngai members will give a modern acrobatic performance with the lion jumping from poles. Free. Call 566-2337.
» 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 16: Chinese New Year Celebration at the Ward Warehouse Amphitheatre features free keiki activities, a lion dance and appearance of the Narcissus Queen contestants. There will also be traditional Chinese foods such as jai, din jui and dim sum; and T-shirts for sale.