[ SUNDAY TRAVEL ]

HONOLULU FESTIVAL Hilton Hawaiian Village employees pulled their mikoshi (float) along KalakauaAvenue during last year's Honolulu Festival. The giant sumotori atop the float wore an apron bearing Hilton's logo. Trailing it were smaller floats for Hilton's Rainbow, Tapa and Diamond Head Towers.

Japanese culture
shines in annual fest

The Honolulu Festival features
parades, art, music and dancing

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By Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Floats that rise higher than four stories, costumes that reflect the rich colors of nature, sounds that range from the soothing notes of the koto to the energizing beat of taiko -- you'll experience all this when different cultures "Come Together in the Pacific" at the eighth annual Honolulu Festival, running Friday through next Sunday.

In keeping with the theme, about 3,500 artisans, craftspeople, musicians and dancers from more than 20 prefectures in Japan will join their counterparts from Hawaii at performances and exhibitions at Ala Moana Center, Kapiolani Park Bandstand and the Hawai'i Convention Center. Consul generals from Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines serve as committee members of the festival, and their countries also will be represented during the free three-day event.

"The Honolulu Festival gives residents of Hawaii and Japan a chance to rediscover their shared history, traditions and customs," says Charin Tomomitsu, executive director of the nonprofit Honolulu Festival Foundation, which organizes the annual event. "During the festival we are able to cross language barriers with demonstrations of some of the most popular dances, music, fashion and art of Japan and Hawaii."

HONOLULU FESTIVAL Japanese drummers perform on taiko at Ala Moana CenterStage.

New this year is the Na Kupuna Hula Festival, featuring dancers ages 35 and older from Japan and Hawaii performing auana, or modern hula. "Hula tells its story through hand movements, a method shared with Japanese dance," notes Tomomitsu.

"It seems only natural that the Japanese people would be enamored with hula."

Also making its debut will be the Uneme Taiko, a giant drum float from the Uneme Festival in Koriyama City, Fukushima prefecture, that weighs 2 tons and stands 14 feet tall. During the Grand Parade, 10 drummers will ride atop the Uneme Taiko as it glides down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.

Two hundred other men and women, who will be dancing and drumming smaller taiko, will accompany the imposing float.

Parade spectators also will be able to admire a magnificent float that made its Hawaii debut at last year's festival. Standing 53 feet high and weighing close to 2 tons, Uozu Tatemon is one of the world's tallest and longest floats. It comprises more than 90 beautiful lanterns that form the shape of a giant ship. Eighty men hoist and spin the Tatemon as they walk the parade route.

For many who attend, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view firsthand some of Japan's most cherished arts, exhibits and performances, many of which have never been seen outside of Japan.

HONOLULU FESTIVAL Traditional Korean dance and attire are showcased at Honolulu Festival events.

The first Honolulu Festival was held in 1995 on the grounds of Bishop Museum and drew more than 87,500 visitors and local residents. In the past six years, the number of venues, activities and attendees has steadily increased; last year, more than 333,500 people enjoyed the festival.

"Someone would have to travel throughout Japan year-round in order to see everything they can see during the three days of the Honolulu Festival," Tomomitsu said. "The artisans and performers from Japan come for one purpose: to perform and share with the people of Hawaii important aspects of Japan's culture and to take home with them new friendships and an understanding of Hawaii's culture."

8th annual Honolulu Festival events

Highlights of the festival running Friday through Sunday include entertainment at Ala Moana Center and the Hawai'i Convention Center, plus a Grand Parade down Kalakaua Avenue from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Admission to all Honolulu Festival events is free. For more information, visit the Honolulu Festival Web site at www.honolulufestival.com, call the Festival Hotline at 597-8100 or send e-mail to honfestfoundation@hawaii.rr.com. Please note that the following schedule is subject to change.

Friday

>> 6 to 7 p.m.: Opening ceremony at Honolulu Hale will feature a video presentation of festival highlights, music and dance performances, and Japanese and Hawaiian arts and crafts.

Saturday

>> 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Headlining the entertainment at Ala Moana Center's Center Stage will be Hanohano Hula Ooita and Studio Hoaloha (Japan hula troupes), the Uneme Matsuri Taiko Performance Group, and the koto group Koto Shakuhachi Sakata-shi Yachiyokai. In addition, the Honolulu Academy of Arts will be waiving its $7 admission fee for festival-goers.

>> 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: The lineup of performers at the Hawai'i Convention Center includes Japan recording star Yuri Chika, Hui Hula Naleikalakupua (a Japan hula troupe), the Suga Yosakoi Naruko-Ren dance troupe, Leilani Hula Studio, the Star of Tokyo marching band and baton twirling unit, Hawaii ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, and the koto groups Taishogoto G. Tanuki, and Koto Shakuhachi Sakata-shi Yachiyokai. Traditional cultural displays on view through Sunday include Sogetsukai (flower arranging), Pop-Lar (bead crafts) and the Uozu Tatemon. Special exhibitions through Sunday include the Japan Food & Health Fair.

Sunday

>> 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: At the Hawai'i Convention Center, the spotlight shines on Roy Sakuma's Ukulele Studio, Studio Hoaloha, Theatrical Musical Theater MIMICO (performing mini plays based on traditional Japanese tales and samurai stories), Sistah Robi Kahakalau, the koto group Okada Koshinryu Taisho Goto, and the Na Kupuna Hula Festival.

>> 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Appearing at Ala Moana Center's Center Stage are Taishogoto G. Tanuki, Suga Yosakoi Naruko-Ren, and NHK Mito Bunka Center Hula.

>> 5 to 9 p.m.: The festival highlight, a Grand Parade down Kalakaua Avenue, will feature marching bands from several Oahu high schools, the reigning Cherry Blossom Queen and her court, the reigning Narcissus Queen and her court, Nissen Ladies Kimono Kai (performing a bon dance in traditional kimono), Star of Tokyo and Theatrical Musical Theater MIMICO. For the first time this year, the parade will be broadcast live on KHON (Fox), from 6 to 7 p.m.

>> 5 to 9 p.m.: The grand finale takes place at Kapiolani Park Bandstand, with performances by Honolulu Festival participants, an awards ceremony, food booths and Japanese and Hawaiian arts and crafts.

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Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based free-lance writer.