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Festivals and Events, 2014-2015
Who said PAAC Club meetings and activities can only happen in the classroom? Here are just
some of the cultural festivals and O’ahu cultural community events your club can
participate in! Gather a group and volunteer while enjoying the cultural sounds, tastes and
sights! Check each event’s website as the date draws nearer for updates.
31st Okinawan Festival
August 30, 2014 – August 31, 2014
Kapiolani Park
Times TBD
http://www.okinawanfestival.com/
To volunteer, contact Hawaii United Okinawa Association at
676-5400 or e-mail: [email protected]
“Attracting more than 50,000 visitors annually, the Okinawan Festival
has become the premiere annual event of the Hawaii United Okinawa
Association. Proceeds from the Festival support the HUOA's mission of
preserving, promoting and sharing the Okinawan culture.”
(From website)
Moon Festival
September 8, 2014
A traditional Chinese mid-autumn celebration, the Moon
Festival is celebrated in China, Taiwan and Vietnam on the
15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar.
Commemorating the autumn harvest, the day is often spent
celebrating and praying for further good fortune. Mooncakes
are traditionally eaten.
Activity suggestion: mooncake distribution and brief
presentation about the festival’s significance. For more
information:http://chinesefood.about.com/od/mooncake/a/
moonfestival.htm
Fourth Annual Hawaii Rice Festival
September 28, 2014
Ward Centers
11:00AM-5:00PM
http://www.ricefest.com/
“Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 28th, 2014 and come
celebrate Hawaii’s beloved grain at the Fifth Annual Hawaii Rice
Festival. A full day of activities is planned including cooking
demonstrations, eating competitions, yummy food, and more! We’ll
be taking brown rice donations for Lanakila Pacific’s “Meals on
Wheels” program, which feeds needy seniors.” (From website)
Double Ninth Festival
October 2, 2014
A traditional Chinese celebration, Double Ninth
Festival is still celebrated in China, Taiwan,
Vietnam and parts of Japan with the hopes of
transforming an unlucky date – the ninth day of the
ninth month of the lunar calendar – into just the
opposite. Traditionally, chongyang cakes and
chrysanthemum wine is consumed.
Activity suggestion: chongyang cake distribution and
brief presentation about the festival’s significance.
To learn more:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holida
ys/chongyang.htm
33rd Annual Hawaii International
Film Festival
October 30, 2014 – November 9, 2014
Numerous venues and show times
http://www.hiff.org/
To volunteer, please register online at
http://www.hiff.org/about-hiff/volunteer/
“Established in 1981, the Hawai’i International Film Festival is
a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of
cultural exchange and media awareness in the Pacific Rim…
HIFF’s programming has two particular mandates: to be a
festival of record for emerging films from Asia and the Pacific,
and to present the top festival films from around the world,
annually screening films from over 45 countries.” (From
website)
2014 Splendor of China 12th Annual
Cultural and Trade Festival
November TBD, 2014
Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall
http://www.splendorofchina.com/
To volunteer, please check website for updates.
“This signature event promotes the rich Chinese cultural
heritage to the community through exhibitors, cuisine,
fashion and jewelry, arts and crafts, and more. Due to the
strength of the Chinese Chamber's relationships with
various organizations, they are able to consistently bring
unique entertainment and exhibits directly from
China.”(From website)
World Origami Day
November 11, 2014
Traditional origami – the folding of paper
into unique shapes and designs – is a
Japanese custom now widely celebrated
around
the
world.
This
day
commemorates
the
practice
and
encourages its longevity.
Activity suggestion: distribute standard
origami-sized paper and walk club
members through a crane-folding tutorial.
For more origami ideas and information on
the practice:
http://www.origamiinstructions.com/index.html
Winter Solstice
December 21, 2014
A traditional Chinese celebration, the Winter Solstice is
celebrated during the 22nd solar term of every year among
family and warm foods to combat the winter chill. As the winter
season would traditionally be spent mostly indoors, activities
included the practice and perfection of calligraphy. Popular
foods include dumplings in a glutinous rice soup, warm
vegetables and warm noodles.
Activity suggestions: pending available resources, hold a
calligraphy demonstration or make dumplings.
For more
information:
http://www.ncuscr.org/files/Getting%20Started%20with%20Chin
ese%20Calligraphy.pdf
http://appetiteforchina.com/recipes/guide-wrapping-and-panfrying-dumplings/
22nd Annual Ohana Festival
January TBD, 2015
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
http://www.jcch.com/index.php/thingstodo/ohana
To volunteer, please call (808) 945-7633 for more information.
“The New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival provides fun, food, and culture for
the entire family. The event brings the community to the Cultural
Center and neighboring Mō‘ili‘ili Field for a festival filled with
Japanese and multi-cultural customs…This fun-filled event will feature
food, crafts, entertainment and cultural demonstrations of the people
who make up this island state (From website)
Chinese New Year Festivities
January TBD, 2015
Honolulu Chinatown venues
http://www.chinatownhi.com/
To volunteer, please check website for updates.
Chinese New Year will fall on Friday, January 31, 2015 and ring in
the Zodiac Year of the Sheep. This year’s events will likely take
place the week leading up to Chinese New Year though events may
occur the first weekend in February.
Check out last year’s events for ideas about what to expect in
2015: http://www.chinatownhi.com/?q=node/648.
20th Annual Honolulu Festival
March 6-8, 2015
Hawaii Convention Center
http://www.honolulufestival.com/index.php
To volunteer, please check for updates at
http://www.honolulufestival.com/eng/volunteers.php
Events mostly take place at the Hawaii Convention Center but also
include parades along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki as well as other
Waikiki venues. Check the website for updates.
“The Honolulu Festival is Hawaii's premier cultural event,
promoting understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic
harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim
region. Each year, the Festival draws thousands of new and
returning spectators who are looking for an experience beyond
Hawaii.” (From website)
White Day
March 14, 2015
On this Japanese cultural day commemorating Valentine’s Day,
valentines given the month prior are returned in kind, if only out
of social obligation.
Activity suggestion: distribute White Day candy to club members
regardless of whether anyone in the club shared valentine and
discuss the day’s significance in Japan, where it originated and is
extremely popular. To read more on this interesting day:
http://japanese.about.com/od/namikosbloglessons/a/lesson11.htm
24th Annual Honolulu AIDS Walk
April TBD, 2015
Kapiolani Park
http://www.honoluluaidswalk.com/
To volunteer, please check for updates at
www.honoluluaidswalk.com
“This easy 5K walk around Kapi‘olani Park is the largest AIDS
public awareness event in Hawaii, and an essential annual
fundraiser for Life Foundation… Be a part of this amazing
event that continues to inspire and provide hope for those
living with HIV/AIDS!” (From Examiner website regarding last
year’s event)
13th Annual Waikiki Spam Jam
May 2, 2015
Kalakaua Avenue
http://www.spamjamhawaii.com/
“The Waikiki Spam® Jam is a street festival that
celebrates the people of Hawaii’s love for Spam®, a
canned meat from Hormel Foods… This street festival is
great for all ages, as the event includes Hawaii’s top
restaurants, two stages with free entertainment, and a
variety of Hawaiian crafters. This is also a special event
that benefits the Hawaii Foodbank, the largest nonprofit in Hawaii that feeds the needy.” (From website)
Lantern Floating Ceremony
May 25, 2015
Ala Moana Beach Park
http://www.lanternfloatinghawaii.com/
To volunteer, please contact us via email at
[email protected].
“Held annually on Memorial Day on Oʻahu’s south
shore, Lantern Floating Hawaii brings together over
40,000 people on the beach, joined by thousands
around the world via live streaming and telecast for an
evening of honoring loved ones and generating
collective hope toward the future. Lantern Floating
Hawaii is a ceremony where all can come together for
a personal and collective moment of remembrance,
reflection, and offering gratitude to those who have
gone before us.” (From website)