Heritage homage

Cherry Blossom contestants join the fun at the Japanese Cultural Center

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cherry Blossom Pageant contestant Danika Kim wielded a mallet Saturday afternoon as the Rev. Yoshinobu Nakao of Tenrikyo Church folded steaming mochi during a mochi-pounding demonstration at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. The demonstration was part of the Heritage Fair, which featured a variety of performances, activities and food showcasing Japanese culture.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Shinnosuke Kikuchi, 5, Justin Teruya, 5, and Kounosuke Kikuchi, 7, from the Manoa Japanese Language School could hardly wait to sing while onstage.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tiare Niland brushed her name in katakana, a phonetic form of Japanese writing. Volunteers from Nihon Shuji, a Japanese calligraphy school, set up the table so that individuals could try their hand at katakana, hiragana and kanji.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cherry Blossom Festival 2005 Ms. Congeniality Tracyn Wong peered out from behind the "fishing pond" as Princess Kacie Takushi reached for the line.