A treasured celebration of cultural diversity for the whole family to enjoy, the Honolulu Festival returns with a full slate of music, dance, crafts, arts, special exhibits, and fireworks display presented by the people of Asia Pacific on March 3 and 4.
Admission to the Festival performances and exhibit display is free to everyone and is being hosted at three convenient locations – Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, and Waikiki Beach Walk – on Saturday, March 3, from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, March 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Following Sunday’s performances, the festivities shift to Waikiki for the Festival’s finale. The visiting performers from Asia Pacific will entertain in the Waikiki Grand Parade on Kalakaua Avenue, starting at 4:30pm, followed by the spectacular Nagaoka Fireworks Show making its first appearance outside of Japan to light up the skies over Waikiki Beach.
Last year’s Honolulu Festival was interrupted by the tragic earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, the eve of the Festival’s opening. While the Festival proceeded with most of its scheduled activities, more than 30 performing groups comprising more than 800 visitors from Japan had to cancel their trip to Honolulu, with the highly anticipated fireworks show from Nagaoka also canceled out of respect to the victims and their families.
Presented under the banner of “Pacific Harmony,” the theme for this year’s Honolulu Festival is “Bonding together, hand in hand.” More than 4,500 performers and visitors are coming to Hawaii from Asia Pacific, mostly Japan. Performers representing the cultures of Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Canada, Alaska, U.S. Mainland, and Hawaii will dazzle guests with their entertaining displays of music and dance.
Visit Honolulu Festival for more information and for its schedule of cultural performances and displays.
For more information about top events in Hawaii take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Hawaii.