The Friendship Gala enlarges our circle of friends through cultural exchange
March, 2011
The Hawaii Convention Center (HCC) was busy all day Saturday, March 12, 2011 from the morning till the afternoon with crowds attending the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival's first day open to the public. The doors closed at 5:00 p.m. The staff of the Hawaii Convention Center had two hours to transform the area for the event of the evening, the Honolulu Festival Friendship Gala. The staff of HCC is challenged every year, and each time, it is an amazing feat! When the doors reopened at 7:00 p.m., it was definitely a different atmosphere compared to that of the daytime. Many of the guests were dressed up in their evening attire. It was party time!
The annual Honolulu Festival Friendship Gala is an opportunity for the participants from Hawaii, Japan and other Pacific Rim countries to meet and acquaint themselves with the people of Hawaii. It is time to establish international friendships and deepen personal relations with one another.
We mustn't forget that guests get to taste the many delicious dishes created by the top restaurants of Oahu. The Friendship Gala is a great event for the gourmet of Honolulu to try new flavors and cuisine.
The participating restaurants of Hawaii, all very popular with the local people, included Roy's Hawaii Kai, 3660 on the Rise, Mariposa at Neiman Marcus, Ruth's Chris Steak House, BLT Steak, Shokudo, Nobu Waikiki, The Cheesecake Factory, La Palme D'or Patisserie, and the latest restaurant to open, by one of our Iron Chefs, Morimoto Waikiki. Each of the ten restaurants served a signature dish including appetizers, main dishes and desserts. The gala was indeed a gastronomical treat for all those attending.
There was even a live sushi demonstration at the Shokudo booth. Sushi Chef created superb California Rolls with avocado, crabmeat, and cucumber wrapped in sushi rice and nori, then topped with masago. Crowds were in awe of his quickness and versatility. It was Shokudo's desire to introduce the American sushi, California Roll, to the people from Japan. One could definitely say that this sushi is a product established through cultural exchange.
Another popular booth was Morimoto Waikiki, the newest restaurant to open by none other than Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Not only is he popular in America due to Food Network's Iron Chef but he is also well known in Japan because of his involvement in the original Japanese version known as "Ryori no Tetsujin." Everyone was eager to taste his dish at the Friendship Gala.
BLT Steak's dish was Grilled Hanger Steak on a Bed of Jalapeno Mashed Potatoes Topped with Grilled Pineapple. The pineapple flavor was a wonderful accent.
Steamed Bun with Kakuni (10 Hour Braised Pork Belly) by Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant, Morimoto Waikiki.
La Palme D'or Patisserie's lemon tarte and choux a la crème.
Shokudo's live demonstration of the California Roll.
Our friends from The Cheesecake Factory are all smiles.
Delicious food and refreshing drinks! And right when our stomachs were getting full... it was time for the program to begin. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and other guests spoke briefly, the groups who have been participating in the Honolulu Festival for many years were recognized, and then came the performers of the evening.
Hoku Zuttermeister, winner of the Na Hoku Hanohano Award, performed his wonderful Hawaiian music. The audience was swept away as if by a Hawaiian tropical breeze. And when his hula dancers came out to perform a popular tune, the hula halau from Japan started to dance along with the hula dancers on stage.
Japan's ukulele musician, Dai Hirai, who performed last year, came out on stage with the children of Niu Valley Middle School Concert Band and performed Honolulu Festival's theme song "ONE LOVE - Pacific Harmony -". He then rocked the place with another one of his songs.
Hoku Zuttermeister
Dai Hirai and the Niu Valley Middle School Concert Band
The annual Honolulu Festival Friendship Gala would not be what it is without the performance by SUGAREN. Having participated in all seventeen Honolulu Festivals, the people of Hawaii look forward to their creative performances each year. They are very popular with the local folks.
The final performance of the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival Friendship Gala was by the members of Hawaii United Okinawa Association. There is something magical about the beat and sound of Okinawan music. Before you knew it, many of the guests were dancing along to the Ryukyu rhythm, just having a grand old time. And that is how the second day of the Honolulu Festival ended... joyously.
SUGAREN form Kochi, Japan
Hawaii United Okinawa Association
The upbeat Okinawan music got the crowd
excited and on their feet.
The guests couldn't help but get up and dance to the beat of the Okinawan music.
Suddenly, streamers of every color came
gushing from the ceiling.
The sounds of laughter and applause filled the entire party area.
What a great finale to a memorable gala.
17th Annual Honolulu Festival Photo Gallery
Here are pictures from the 17th Annual Honolulu Festival. Share your best shots of the Honolulu Festival! [
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![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
