If your March break plans include a vacation in Hawaii, you won’t want to miss the Honolulu Festival. Now in its 20th year, the annual festival is a celebration of the various cultures that make up the Pacific region.
Sponsored by the non-profit Honolulu Festival Foundation, this three day event showcases the art, culture, food and traditions of Hawaii, Japan, Tahiti, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The Festival Foundation aspires to promote harmony and understanding between the various cultures of the Pacific, all of which can be found right here in Hawaii! The Honolulu Festival also contains an educational component in which students are invited to browse the exhibits and speak with the performers and artisans. Students from elementary through high school levels are given the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the cultures and traditions through personal interactions with festival participants.
In addition to various exhibits, the Honolulu Festival boasts a spectacular performance stage which showcases dancers, musicians and even comedy troops and musicals. The Craft Fair is one of the more popular attractions as it allows visitors to shop, observe artists at work, or even create right alongside artisans from all over the region.
Another popular attraction is the Friendship Gala. Some of Hawaii’s best restaurants come together with each offering up one of the signature dishes they’ve built a reputation for. A visit to the festival will also provide the opportunity to meet some of Hawaii’s beauty queens! From Miss Chinatown, to Miss Kona Coffee, to Miss Waikiki – if she’s been crowned here in Hawaii, chances are that she’ll be at the Honolulu Festival! The festival wraps up with a parade down Kalakuau Avenue in Waikiki. Much to the delight of the locals and Hawaii vacationers alike, admission to the majority of the festival events is free.
This year’s festival takes place from March 7th – March 9th. For more information, visit the official website at: http://www.honolulufestival.com
