Please follow us!   Our Sponsors More Sponsors Home l Privacy l The Educational Tours, a chance for the kids of Hawaii to experience many cultures March, 2011 The 17th Annual Honolulu Festival was held from March 11, Friday, through March 13, Sunday, 2011 for three days in Hawaii. Hawaii students from public and private schools in Oahu were invited to participate in the educational tours conducted at the Hawaii Convention Center on the first day of the Honolulu Festival, March 11, Friday. Over 1,000 students were expected to attend the educational tours. Unfortunately, due to the prolonged tsunami warnings affecting Hawaii after Japan's Tohoku Kanto Earthquake and Tsunami, many schools cancelled. The tsunami warnings in Hawaii were called off at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning. Some of the schools participated in Honolulu Festival's educational tours as scheduled. The students of Hawaii were in for a treat this year. As part of the Japanese culture experience, students got to meet the popular SUGAREN dancers from Kochi Prefecture and learn to dance Yosakoi. They also got to beat on the wadaiko (Japanese drums) with the help of members of Tokyo wadaiko group Kaze Damari and Taiko Kozo. As part of the Matsuri experience, students got a close look at the Mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine) and the head of the Daijayama. This Daija, originally from Omuta City in Fukuoka Prefecture and featured in their annual Daijayama Matsuri every summer, has made Honolulu its home. It is currently used for the Honolulu Daijayama. The parade goers of Honolulu know it as the Fire-breathing Dragon. It is one of the highlights of the Honolulu Festival Grand Parade. Members of the Free Guide Club at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, who normally take foreign visitors visiting Kyoto to their famous shrines and temples, introduced the likes of Kinkakuji and Kiyomizudera to the Hawaii students. They prepared "omikuji" (written oracles) which are staples of every Japanese shrine. The Free Guide Club had each student pick their omikuji and then explained what was written on it. The students from Kyoto and Hawaii engaged in cultural exchange through this experience. Hawaii students were also entertained by the dancing group from Taiwan as well as the aboriginal dance group Descendance from Australia. They challenged themselves to make hachimaki (headbands) and origami. The students eagerly took home the crafts that they made. SUGAREN dancers As you can see, the students were excited by Yosakoi The students imitated the moves of the SUGAREN dancers. The children were serious about mastering the Yosakoi although it was their first time. The Hawaii students thoroughly enjoyed dancing Yosakoi. Students learned about the traditional Matsuri Experience by listening to the story of Daijayama from Fukuoka Prefecture. The Wadaiko performance is always very popular with the students. Members of Japan's Kaze Damari Wadaiko group. Wadaiko challenge! Pretty good too. The beat of the wadaiko vibrates in your body… WOW. The flower and Hello Kitty origami were popular with the girls. Homeschoolers Brianna and her sisters from Wahiawa. A one of a kind hachimaki, made with traditional Japanese designs. Beth and her children from Kailua, all homeschooled. Tweet 17th Annual Honolulu Festival Reports The Honolulu Festival's performance stages exceeds expectations once again! The Honolulu Festival Grand Parade united people from many countries as one The Friendship Gala enlarges our circle of friends through cultural exchange The Educational Tours, a chance for the kids of Hawaii to experience many cultures Cultural Exchange among performing Indigenous Groups and the Peace Dance Hawaii Music Festivals

Copyright© Honolulu Festival Foundation. All Rights Reserved.