Honolulu Festival || Highlight [ 15th Annual Honolulu Festival ]

*This page is constantly updated without notice, so please check back often for details.

Daidengaku
Daidengaku was a popular form of Japanese performance from 1000 A.D. to 1600 A.D. This art which perished at one time has been revived today in Japan. The production is about dancers praying for a good harvest and honoring the gods in their floral hats and colorful costumes. The spectacular dance is done to the beat of the taiko and the melody of the flute. We are excited to have 25 local dancers from Honolulu participate with us on stage. Please enjoy Daidengaku, its Japanese melody and rhythm.

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Stage)
Mar 14, Sat 2:30pm - 3:00pm

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Tenshumonogatari
Tenshumonogatari is a story recital in a world where images actually move in front of your eyes. This story takes place in Tenshu kaku (castle tower) and is about the untimely death of Tomihime, whose ghost inhabits the tower with her lady attendant. A young samurai captivates her heart and the two fall in love. A surprising fate awaits them. Keiko Matsuzaka is one of Japans leading actresses. She has dedicated her life to revive the new production of Tenshumonogatari.

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Stage)
Mar 14, Sat 2:00pm - 2:30pm

We are a group of hula students ranging from 10 years to 80 years of age from the city of Obama in Fukui Prefecture. Obama City, our home, is the same name as the President of the United States, Barack Obama. The group, Obama Girls, was formed to promote goodwill through hula, the traditional art of President Obama's hometown of Hawaii. Though we are inexperienced, it is a great honor to be able to dance in Hawaii, the President's birthplace.

Ala Moana Shopping Center
Mar 14, Sat 11:45am - 12:10pm

Waikiki Shopping Plaza
Mar 15, Sun 2:05pm - 2:30pm

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

©FUJIKO-PRO, SHOGAKUKAN, TV ASAHI, SHIN-EI ANIMATION, ASATSU-DK 2006

Doraemon is a character in a Japanese manga (cartoon) series. Doraemon is a robotic cat who travels back in time from the 22nd century to befriend a young boy named Nobita Nobi. This series of cartoons for magazines, television and movie was created by Fujiko Fujio, the pen name of two anime artists, in 1969.

DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA AND THE LITTLE DINOSAUR Hawaii Convention Center
DORAEMON THE MOVIE: NOBITA AND THE LITTLE DINOSAUR
(English subtitle)
Mar 14, Sat 1:30pm -
Mar 15, Sun 12:00pm -

Montessori de Cagayan, a children's dance group from Tuguegarao City, capital of the Cagayan province in the northern region of the Phillipines, will be participating in the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival for the very first time. The children of this elementary school will be sharing their folk dances with the people of Honolulu. Their performance in colorful costumes is something that should attract the attention of the local Filipino community as well. Mabuhay!

Waikiki Shopping Plaza
Mar 14, Sat 10:00am - 10:30am

Hawaii Convention Center (Friendship stage)
Mar 15, Sun 11:10am - 10:40am

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

The Alaska Native Heritage Center Dance Group includes young Native adults trained at the Center and instructors, who work to encourage other youth to participate in sharing and learning Native Cultures. They have performed all over the United States.
The Alaska Native Heritage Center's Dance Group began in 2001 as part of the Center's After-School Program for Alaska Native high school students. This program won a Presidential award in 2008. Members of the dance program include extremely dedicated and enthusiastic Alaska Native people from many of Alaska's Native cultures. The dancers, dressed in traditional regalia, perform dances that tell the stories of traditional Native legends and lifestyles.

Hawaii Convention Center (Friendship Stage)
Mar 14, Sat 3:00pm - 3:30pm

Hawaii Convention Center (Friendship Stage)
Mar 15, Sun 1:40pm - 2:10pm

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Anime corner will be open at the 15th Honolulu Festival for the first time. Maid Cafe, Manga library and Manga artist workshop will be set up. Cosplay girls are waiting for you!

Hawaii Convention Center
Mar 14, Sat 10:00am-5:00pm
Mar 15, Sun 10:00am-3:00pm

Spectacular Honolulu Daijayama is coming back for the 15th Honolulu Festival. Their powerful Mikoshi and many fireworks will get the audience's attention. The exciting news is that we will be adding a "Chibikko Daijayama" in the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival. "Chibikko" is a slang word meaning "Kids" in Japanese. This means that not only will we the large Daijayama but also a little one manned by the kids of Honolulu! [ See more ]

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

The Honolulu Festival prides itself in having the Tonosama Ren from Tokushima represent this ever popular festivity. This group has been dancing since 1951.
[ See more ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Stage)
Mar 15, Sun 10:35am - 10:55am

Waikiki Beach Walk (Lewers St.)　
Mar 15, Sun 1:50pm -2:10pm

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

The Honolulu Festival is delighted to have Suga-Ren, an exciting yosakoi dance troupe from Kochi perform for the 15th consecutive time. [ See more ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Stage)
Mar 14, Sat 1:45pm - 1:55pm

Waikiki Shopping Plaza
Mar 15, Sun 11:10am - 11:20am

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Tahiti Nui International is a cultural organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii whose primary objective is to preserve, promote and share the cultures, arts and crafts of the five groups of islands of French Polynesia, commonly known to the world as "Tahiti". The archipelagos are the Society Islands, Australs, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Gambieri. Some of the more popular islands within French Polynenesia are Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Raiotea. The colonization of these islands date back to 200 BC.

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Stage)
Mar 15, Sun 11:10am - 11:40am

Descendance will be participating for the fifth consecutive year. This Indigenous Australian group, very popular with the audiences, is known worldwide and has performed in over 15 countries. Descendance is providing Australia and the world the finest in traditional and contemporary indigenous culture and music. Spectators of the Honolulu Festival will have the opportunity to see their exciting, powerful and sometimes comical performance once again. [ See more ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Friendship Stage)
Mar 14, Sat 11:50am - 12:20pm
Mar 15, Sun 1:05pm - 1:35pm

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Manoa DNA, the newest and hottest of Hawaii's bands, is a "family affair" comprised of Dad, Lloyd Kawakami, and his two sons Nick and Alex.Their music consisting of a 12 string, ukulele and guitar along with their harmony will excite and entertain spectators during the event. [ See more ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Stage)
Mar 14, Sat 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Mar 15, Sun 11:55am - 12:55pm

Baldwin High School, led by teacher Rory Sato, is the winner of the Honolulu Festival Maui Mikoshi Design Contest. This is the second time that Baldwin High School has won in the past six years, the last time in 2006. [ See More ]

Hawaii Convention Center
Maui Mikoshi Unveiling Ceremony
Mar 14, Sat 3:30pm -

Grand Parade (Waikiki/Kalakaua Ave.)
Mar 15, Sun 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Ennichi is a special day where the Japanese people celebrate their relations with a particular deity.The Honolulu Festival would like to simulate this Ennichi atmosphere at the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival. [ See More ]
[ See 2008 report ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Square)
Mar 14, Sat 10:00am-5:00pm
Mar 15, Sun 10:00am-3:00pm

The 15th Annual Honolulu Festival will feature Poakalani & Co., the well known Hawaiian quilting company owned by the Serrao Family of Oahu. A display of over 60 quilts made by the students of Poakalani & Co. will be displayed at the Hawaii Convention Center from March 14-15, 2009. Quilt demonstrations and workshops will also be part of the program. [ See more ]
[ See 2008 report ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Square)
Mar 14, Sat 10:00am-5:00pm
Mar 15, Sun 10:00am-3:00pm

100s of Local & Japanese Crafters!
[ See more ]
[ See 2008 report ]

Hawaii Convention Center (Festival Square)
Mar 14, Sat 10:00am-5:00pm
Mar 15, Sun 10:00am-3:00pm

The Friendship Gala promotes friendship, understanding and international goodwill between the people of Hawaii and other Pacific Rim countries. Attendees are offered a unique insight into the cultures of the Pacific through dance, song and regional cuisine by some of Hawaii's most famous chefs.
[ See more ]
[ Buy Tickets ]
[ See 2008 report ]

Hawaii Convention Center
Mar 14, Sat 7:00pm - 9:00pm