[ WEEKEND ]
COURTESY OF WARD WAREHOUSE
Chinese lions will make their through the Ward complex tomorrow, with a lion dance starting the festivities at the amphi-theater stage.
Events welcome
lunar year
The Lunar New Year is set to begin Jan. 22, and several weekend events will help revelers to welcome the Year of the Monkey.
The biggest setting for the celebrations, naturally, is Chinatown, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce will be hosting two nights of festivities at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza.
The fun runs from 5 to 11 p.m. today, and noon to 11 p.m. tomorrow.
It wouldn't be the new year without lion dances, and there will be lions from five Chinese martial arts clubs assembling at 6:30 p.m. today in front of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce headquarters at 42 N. King St. They will wind their way down Chinatown streets to scare evil spirits and bless shops with good fortune in the coming year.
At the cultural plaza, there will be merchants offering food, clothing, and arts and crafts for sale, with stage performances of ethnic dances, music, martial arts and weapons demonstrations, and an appearance by newly crowned Narcissus Festival queen Kerri Ching and her court.
For those who believe in Chinese astrology, the monkey year, according to the U.K.-based Feng Shui Consultancy, is said to be one in which individuals are drawn to gamble and speculate, with rewards for those who move quickly. However, it is not a year for the faint-hearted or slow-witted, who may end up losing to shrewder counterparts. So be careful out there!
The cultural plaza is at 100 N. Beretania St. For more information, call 533-3181.
Other events are:
Chinese New Year Celebration at Ward Warehouse: Chinese lions will make their way through the Ward complex for the event running 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, with a lion dance starting the festivities at the amphitheater stage.
There will be an exhibit of items related to Chinese New Year, including rare blood oranges, kumquats and blossoming quince branches in festive arrangements. Participants are invited to make free jumping monkey and lisee envelopes.
Mr. Egg Roll will be serving jai, gau and jin dui, to name a few dishes for purchase; Novel-T World will offer Year of the Monkey T-shirts for sale; and P.S. Jewelry will be selling feng shui charms.
Chinese New Year "Waikiki Style": The Outrigger Waikiki at 2335 Kalakaua Ave., across from the International Market Place, offers a chance for celebrating from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, with foods such as jai, gau, jin dui and candied vegetables offered from 1 p.m., and demonstrations of calligraphy, paper cutting and stamp carving throughout the event.
At 1:30 p.m., there will be a fashion show featuring Chinese designs, followed by a 2 p.m. appearance and signing by Clarence Lee, designer of the U.S. Postal Service's Year of the Monkey stamp. Outrigger Waikiki will have its own distinctive postal cachet available for sale and signing.
At 3 p.m., there will be the lighting of firecrackers in front of the hotel to chase evil spirits and bring good luck, while lions dance through the lobby.
Parking at the hotel is valet only, at $3 with validation.
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