The 17th Annual Honolulu Festival was held from March 11, Friday through March 13, Sunday in Hawaii for three days.

The culmination of the Honolulu Festival was the Grand Parade down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki on March 13, Sunday, from 4:30 pm.
The Nagaoka Fireworks from Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture which was to be one of the highlights of the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival was cancelled because many of the persons involved in the fireworks were unable to come to Hawaii due to the Tohoku Kanto Earthquake and Tsunami. There were other performing groups from Japan that had to cancel forcing the Honolulu Festival Foundation to change parts of the Grand Parade.


The Grand Parade was held among anxious spectators
Parade spectators began lining up along both sides of Kalakaua over an hour before the parade began as in previous years. The sun was still out and very strong. Kudos to the crowds who waited for the parade to begin in the hot sun.
Opening performances were held at designated areas on the parade course a little before the official start of the Grand Parade.
Japanese musician Dai Hirai and the Niu Valley Middle School Concert Band entertained the VIP guests in front of the Westin Moana Surfrider by singing Honolulu Festival's theme song "ONE LOVE -Pacific Harmony-". That was followed by ASSESS Cheerleading group from Korea's Inha University. Their energetic dance was a great kick off for the Grand Parade.

Dai Hirai of Japan and the children of Niu Valley Middle School Concert Band perform.

The cheerleading team from Korea's Inha University show their stuff.

Jake Shimabukuro, shaka sign and ukulele.	Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle was all smiles.
Master Terukina Choichi of Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Choichi Kai.	Members of Hawaii United Okinawa Association.

A Great Gathering of many Pacific Rim Countries
This year's Grand Parade once again exceeded expectations with a colorful array of performances from many Pacific Rim countries including China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, Samoa, Alaska, Hawaii and Japan. All our world neighbors were there to share their culture. One by one, through their dances, songs and costumes, the crowds were able to get a glimpse of each people's culture and tradition. That is what is so unique about the Honolulu Festival's Grand Parade.
There was also the hula halau, modern dance, cheerleading, and traditional Japanese entertainment like Nankin Tamasudare... just a huge variety of performances!

The colorful and long Chinese dragon circles around Kalakaua Ave, performed by members of the Chinese Chamber Commerce of Hawaii.	Mikoshi and the loud cheering by the supporters depict the true essence of MATSURI. Members of Inaho Adult Mikoshi perform.
Crowds gather from one end of Waikiki to the other. Lots of smiles and cheers.	The colors and brilliance of the performers from Taiwan stand out among the crowd.
The experienced Hellgate High School Band from Montana has participated in many parades. And now, the Honolulu Festival!	Hilo Hattie's gigantic Aloha Shirt holds a Guinness World Record. The size of this shirt…400 XL!
The folk music and dance of Korea performed by The Korean Traditional Music Association of Hawaii. Their taiko and dora (small gong) resonate.	Oedo Tamasudare group show their techniques of creating many designs with their sudare. This is a traditional form of Japanese street entertainment.
The Alaska Native Heritage Center members continue to preserve their culture and traditions.	The rhythmical Samoan dance by Sogaimiti and Malu Community makes the crowd want to dance too.
Members of the NHK Mito Komaki Kei Hula Halau brighten up the parade with their red costumes and exuberant smiles.	Ysleta High School cheerleaders from El Paso, Texas have won many competition titles.
The Descendance from Australia perform an aboriginal dance depicting their traditional ways of living with nature.	The Vietnamese Student Association of Hawaii parade down Kalakaua wearing their traditional Aozai.
The Sumo Mikoshi from Hilton Hawaiian Village sways slowly, from left to right, down Waikiki.	The Hirosaki Neputa is paraded with the support of volunteers. The gallant faces painted on the lantern shines in the darkness.
The Chibikko Honolulu Daijayama made by local volunteers debuts at the Honolulu Festival for the first time.	The fire bell heard throughout Waikiki announced the coming of Hawaii's own mikoshi, Honolulu Daijayama.

Dai Hirai

Manoa DNA

What a great turn out.

	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 ]