Moses Nakao will be in the swing of things at the sixth annual New Year's Ohana Festival next Sunday, welcoming the Year of the Ox.

The 27-year-old administrator at Tenrikyo Hawaii will be among two dozen other church volunteers at the celebration who'll be wielding heavy wooden mallets to pound mochi, a traditional Japanese New Year's treat.

Sponsored by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, the event will feature entertainment; games; sales of crafts, books and “;cha dogu”; (tea implements); and cultural displays and demonstrations, including the popular “;mochitsuki”; (mochi pounding).

“;Japanese people offer mochi to God to give thanks for the past year's blessings and with the hope of being blessed with another prosperous year,”; said Nakao. “;They eat mochi for good luck and longevity.”;

  To make mochi, sweet rice is steamed, pounded and shaped by hand into round, slightly domed cakes that represent the sun, harmony and completeness.

Festival-goers will be able to see the entire process and sample fresh mochi filled with mashed azuki beans.

Nakao learned how to make mochi under the watchful eye of his grandfather Yoshinobu Nakao about 15 years ago, when he was in middle school.

Eighty-year-old Yoshinobu will be the oldest person pounding mochi at this year's Ohana Festival.

“;Making mochi is a lot of work, but I enjoy doing it because it perpetuates the culture,”; said Nakao. “;At the festival I've heard people say, 'My family used to make mochi when my grandma was alive, and we still have all the equipment.' Maybe watching our demonstration will inspire them to make mochi again the traditional way.”;

The Japanese were the largest group of immigrants who came to Hawaii as sugar plantation workers at the turn of the 20th century. Today they are the state's largest ethnic group, 202,000 strong, representing 16.7 percent of the state's population.

“;By virtue of those sheer numbers, many aspects of Japanese culture have become part of local culture, from sushi to bon dances,”; said Lenny Yajima Andrew, JCCH's president and executive director. “;At the Ohana Festival we're proud and excited to expose kamaaina and visitors to a rich sampling of Japanese culture brought to Hawaii by our issei (first-generation immigrants) and subsequent generations.”;

  IN ADDITION TO mochi making, attendees can learn about Japanese music, dance, kimono dressing, “;kyodu”; (archery), “;shuji”; (calligraphy), anime (animated films), origami (paper folding), bonsai (miniature potted plants), “;ikebana”; (flower arranging), “;chanoyu”; (tea ceremony), “;chigirie”; (collages made of torn paper) and “;kumihimo”; (braiding cords and ribbons).

Children will enjoy storytelling; make-and-take crafts; rides on two vintage firetrucks, courtesy of Fire Truck Hawaii; and appearances by Kikaida and other superheroes. They can take pictures with their favorite characters and participate in a “;Kikaida-oke”; song contest.

Meanwhile, foodies can fill up on traditional treats, including andagi (Okinawan doughnuts); mitarashi dango (dumplings); sekihan (rice steamed with azuki beans); and okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pancakes topped with meat, vegetables and noodles).

“;The Ohana Festival appeals to all the senses,”; said Andrew. “;People can learn about Japanese culture by experiencing it firsthand, and having a lot of fun to boot!”;

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii beckons

The nonprofit Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii spotlights the Japanese-American experience in Hawaii. Facilities include two galleries, a resource center, banquet hall, teahouse and martial arts dojo (school).

The Historical Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. It features the permanent exhibit “;Okage Sama De: I am what I am because of you,”; which chronicles the history and legacy of Japanese-Americans from the arrival of the first immigrants to today.

Guided 75-minute tours of the gallery include the 15-minute video “;Ganbare,”; which focuses on the Japanese in Hawaii during World War II.

Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 6 through 17 (kamaaina pay $3 and $1, respectively). Kids 5 and younger are admitted free, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Ask about custom private tours.

Historical displays, art exhibits and related lectures take place in the Community Gallery. Topics range from woodblock prints and Japanese tattoos to samurai (warriors) and the history of karate in Hawaii.

Sales of “;kokeshi”; dolls, tea implements and other traditional “;things Japanese”; also are held here.

Call or check the Web site for the center's schedule of events.