Aside from the sunshine and beautiful beaches, Hawaii can always be counted on for some incredible cultural festivals. Regardless of the island you find yourself on, there are usually plenty events in the works that celebrate Hawaii’s rich cultural diversity. The good folks over at The Shops at Mauna Lani in Waimea certainly know how to throw some of the best!
Hawaii is well known for its Asian influence and is home to a thriving Chinese community so the Chinese New Year is always cause for celebration. This year’s New Year began on February 19th, and The Shops at Mauna Lani are hosting the Chinese Fortune Festival on February 27th between 5 PM – 8PM.
Family-friendly and free of charge, the Chinese Fortune Festival welcomes the year of the Goat with various cultural activities, food, dance and martial arts demonstrations. Attendees are invited to “feed” the dragon to attract good fortune in the year ahead, and watch the 100 foot dragon parade. Other activities include fire blowing, costume contests for children and adults, as well as fireworks which are traditionally thought to ward off evil spirits.
For those hoping to get a glimpse of their future, there is a fortune teller on-site as well as a beer and wine garden should you wish to toast the good fortune you can expect in 2015!
According to the Chinese Zodiac, those born in the year of the goat (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 2003, 2015), are calm and gentle people bursting with creative energy making them ideally suited to careers in the arts. Their lucky numbers are 2 and 7, and their colors are browns, reds, and purple. If you’d like to learn more about the Chinese zodiac, and see how Chinese culture influences the fabric of Hawaii, the Fortune Festival is definitely for you!
See more here: http://bigislandnow.com/2015/02/10/mauna-lani-to-present-polynesian-and-fortune-festivals/
