The Honolulu Festival's performance stages exceeds expectations once again!
March, 2011
The 17th Annual Honolulu Festival was held for three days from March 11-13, 2011 in Hawaii.
Local students were invited to the educational tours conducted at the Hawaii Convention Center on March 11th, Friday, the first day of the Honolulu Festival. March 12th and 13th, the second and third days of the Festival, was open to the public.
Crowds of people came out to be entertained at the various venues of the Honolulu Festival.
Participants and spectators go beyond borders to support Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami Victims
Many participating groups from Japan were abruptly detained from participating in the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival due to the earthquake and tsunami that hit the Tohoku area of Japan on March 10, 2011 (March 11 Japan time).
The earthquake and tsunami, very sad and unfortunate series of events, continue to worry the entire global community.
It was decided that the Honolulu Festival would go on, despite this tragedy, with the support of participants and spectators from the Pacific Rim and all over the world. It was the desire for those who were left to carry on the Festival to share their feelings of love for the Japanese people by continuing with the events. And as soon as it was determined that the "show must go on," donation boxes were placed throughout the convention center and other venues to support the victims of Japan. The Honolulu Festival would like to thank the local community and our visitors who donated their money in this time of need.
The sub theme for the 17th Annual Festival was "We are neighbors, around the world," and what an appropriate sub theme it was. The participants and spectators went beyond borders to support Japan in their darkest hours. People in Hawaii displayed their aloha by being good neighbors of Japan and coming to their aid through the Honolulu Festival.
A variety of festivities at 5 locations The Hawaii Convention Center served as the main venue for the Honolulu Festival once again this year. Performers from Japan, Hawaii and other Pacific Rim countries entertained the many spectators on the stages at the Hawaii Convention Center. Other activities included Ennichi Corner, the Craft Fair and Anime Corner. Movies were shown on Saturday. The Honolulu Festival also had their first ever Bon Dance that day.
The Hawaii Music Festival was held simultaneously on Saturday on the 3rd floor of the Convention Center, the atmosphere there being quite different from the happenings on the first floor.
Performances were also held at the Ala Moana Center's Center Stage and Waikiki Beach Walk on Saturday, additionally at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza and DFS Galleria (duty free shop) on Sunday.
[ Hawaii Convention Center ]
The very unique costumes of the ASSESS cheerleading team of Inha University of Korea
are quite prominent.
The members of Hawaii's Filcom Banda Kawayan play gentle and natural sounds on their traditional Filipino bamboo musical instruments.
Drum Dance Artists Churasa from Okinawa
are all smiles. They are great representatives
of the power and cheerfulness of the Okinawan people.
The audience enjoy the performances that come out on stage one by one. Spectators gather much earlier than other years to watch the entertainment.
The Global Drums-Pangea from Canada excites the audience with their steel drum performance.
THE SUKAKKO SORAN group with their energetic, little dancers is popular with the audience.
Everyone is surprised by the energetic voices. They are the Creative Dance Company "Takarabune."
The innocent smiles that shine on the faces of members of the Sanyo Girl's School, Senior High, Baton Club are very impressionable.
[ Waikiki Beach Walk ]
The members of Yutaka Hula Halau perform for the people of Hawaii with their beautiful smiles and graceful hula.
The scene where Susanoo-no-mikoto exterminates the serpent. Performed by Nichinan Kagura (Noh) Dance "Jinkosha."
Members of the Yosakoi Team TOKIWA nail
their beautiful and stylish Yosakoi dance.
[ Waikiki Shopping Plaza ]
LOVE JUNX dance with a joyful exuberance.
The Descendance from Australia perform their unique aboriginal song and dance.
[ DFS Galleria ]
The use of the entire stage by T.G.P. gets the audience going.
Taiko KOZO performs to the pleasure of the audience. They various types and sizes of wadaiko.
More people turn out for the Honolulu Festival than in previous years. A wonderful sight of crowds everywhere.
More people attended this year's Honolulu Festival compared to previous years. Some areas were so crowded that it was difficult to move around. There were more than 16,300 who attended the event in the two days.
Speaking of crowds, we can't forget the people that line up in the foyer of the Hawaii Convention Center prior to the opening of the doors. We all know that each year they line up so that they will receive the animal figurine representing the year based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Sure enough, there was a long line of people eagerly waiting to get their rabbit figurine.
People were lined up in the foyer of the Hawaii Convention Center before opening time.
And the crowds flowed in quickly as soon as the doors opened.
Figurines of the Year of the Rabbit were given
to the attendees on a first come first serve basis. So popular each year, they quickly disappeared.
Folks purchased the official Honolulu Festival T-shirts as well as other logo items.
There are always many who hope to win door prizes at the Honolulu Festival. The Grand Prize
is an overnight stay at a resort hotel. Other
prizes are logo items.
Hilo Hattie displays a gigantic aloha shirt… SIZE 400 XL!
Chest measurement 4.3 m, waist 4.1 m, neck 1.5 m!
And once again the Ennichi Corner was bustling with crowds of people. It wasn't only the children who were serious in scooping goldfish and hooking yoyo balloons. The adults were just as involved playing like children with Kendama, Shateki (cork gun) and more. Cute. There were other interactive stations of traditional Japanese art forms such as origami and calligraphy. Those that participated paid close attention to their teachers and enjoyed each experience.
Many people gathered at Ennichi Corner. It was a perfect location for our donation box to collect money for Japan.
Children were having a bit of difficulty trying to get their yoyo balloon moving all over the place in the water.
The kids were distracted by the number of prizes to choose from. Now which one do I want?
These two friends are from Honolulu. They made their own wall hanging with their names on it. Hope they decorate their rooms with it.
"Don't you think mine is better?" "Maybe, but I think you cheated a little!" This happy couple enjoying calligraphy.
Food booths next to Ennichi Corner included Crepes No Ka 'Oi from Kailua.
A Donation Box for collection of money for Japan at the Ennichi Corner.
A Cultural Experience, from cultural exchange to crafts, and exhibits.
More than half of the area of the ground level of the Hawaii Convention Center was used for Honolulu Festival's Craft Fair and cultural exhibits. Booths galore… made in Hawaii products were sold and exhibited from the islands. There were displays representing the Pacific Rim countries where the performers came from. It was a great opportunity for attendees to shop and also share cultural exchange.
Once again there was a Cosplay Cafe at the Honolulu Festival this year. This area served as a rest stop for those walking around. It was a great place for children to take pictures with their favorite characters. Lots of fun was had by all at Cosplay Cafe.
A calligraphy demonstration. Her smooth technique stopped spectators in their tracks to watch.
It took over half a year to make these samurai armors. Just wearing it made our attendee feel like a samurai
Look how large the firework shell is from
Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture. The smaller
ones are neatly lined up in the interior of the firework.
Many products made in Hawaii are sold at the Craft Fair. Taste testing is part of the fun.
Miss Kona Coffee 2011 Lacy Deniz from the Big Island represents the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival booth.
The traditional arts, songs and dance of Taiwan are performed at the Taiwan booth. Their colorful costumes are a major attraction.
Here are members of the Cosplay Cafe.
Even Spider-Man gestures a cute heart for us.
The characters in their costumes are kind enough to pose for pictures with children… even adults.
The very first Bon Dance of the season.
Honolulu Festival's first attempt at a Bon Dance was held on March 12, Saturday. It was located in one corner of the event area, decorated with yagura (scaffold) and paper lanterns. Many of the local Bon Dance clubs offered their expertise and we were able to create a true summer bon dance atmosphere.
We had over 100 Bon Dance teachers dressed in the Honolulu Festival original happi dancing throughout the area. What a sight! The dance circle got larger and larger as spectators decided to participate when they saw how much fun the teachers were having. The one hour of Bon Dance flew by and everyone seemed to enjoy their first Bon Dance of the season.
The dance circle around the YAGURA got larger and larger.
Members of a local Bon Dance Club show their moves.
No matter what season, Bon Dance is always fun.
The sound of the taiko gets louder and louder.
17th Annual Honolulu Festival Photo Gallery
Here are pictures from the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival. Share your best shots of the Honolulu Festival! [
facebook photo album ]
![Volunteers! [ Hawaii Honolulu Festival ]](http://www.honolulufestival.com/eng/imgs/volunteers.gif)
![Press [ Hawaii Honolulu Festival ]](http://www.honolulufestival.com/eng/imgs/t_press.gif){kind=small}
17th Annual Honolulu Festival Photo Gallery
