Franco

Seems like in the past few years, festivals of all types have been dominating the Honolulu Calendar Activities. Basically it was just those of certain ethnic groups who settled in Hawaii during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, along with the indigenous Native Hawaiians who celebrated Kamehameha Day and Aloha Week. The Chinese of course with their Chinese New Years, Japanese with their Cherry Blossom Festival and O-Bon Dances during the Summer. Some celebrated quietly among their own ethnic groups but recently have made their festivals more public and welcoming to outsiders. Even small ethnic groups that may make up less than 5% of the population started celebrating in public venues and opening it to the public. Of course it didn’t hurt to have booths selling their unique cuisine or handicrafts. Among them are the Thais, ... read more

A couple of weekends ago, was the 14th Annual Honolulu Festival. Though it’s in it’s 14th year here, admittedly I know very little of the origin and the purpose of this Festival and only started taking interest during the last 3 years. From what I can gather, it seems to be sponsored by a major Japanese Airline. The Convention Center is rented out for Cultural Performances by visiting Japanese Dancers and performers as well as various local ethnic groups such as Koreans, Filipino, Chinese, Okinawans, etc. As last year, an Australian Aboriginal and a Taiwanese Aboriginal Dance Troupe were brought in also. The 2 days event climaxed with a 4 hour parade down the main drag in Waikiki, known as Kalakaua Ave. Many various dance troupes especially Hula Dancers from Japan, as well as traditional and ... read more

Holiday Season in Hawaii. No Snow, no White Christmas, no Problem. As reported in last years Blog complete with photos, titled, O Come All Ye Bruddas, The City spares very little expense and effort to convert our City Hall Complex into a Winter Wonderland, with mammoth statutes of Santa Claus, Frosty the Snow Man and Family and various Christmas Scenes. On top of this, the tree lighting ceremony is preceded by a Honolulu City Lights Parade, a fairly short parade through the main heart of downtown Honolulu, consisting of gaily decorated City Vehicles and marching bands from almost every major high school on Oahu. It was my first in attendance, though it’s in it 10th Annual year. Frankly it was pretty Small Town production, however the spirit and enthusiasm of the surprisingly pretty large crowd was ... read more

A few weekends ago, The Foster Gardens celebrated it’s Hundredth Anniversary with entertainment and free admission to the Gardens. Also many speeches were made praising the founder, Mary Foster for her visionary and progressive actions especially for a woman living during that era. Many of the trees there were huge in girth and tall almost giving the impression they could be about 500 years old, but mostly likely were not, as the garden was only a 100. Many of the trees were from other tropical countries of Asia, South America and Africa. She was also credited with bringing back a cutting from the original Bodhi Tree that the Buddha had attainment enlightenment under. Somewhere in India there is said to be a Mary Foster Temple dedicated to her by the people. In the following weeks, an ... read more

Under The Ryukyuan Sun… they glanced back at their motherland, perhaps for the very last time, as they boarded the ships bounded for the scorching pineapple and sugar plantations of Hawaii, over a hundred years ago. The past weekend the descendents of these Okinawan immigrants celebrated their 25th Annual Parade and Festival in Waikiki. The event has grown so much, they could no longer use the existing bandstand in Kapiolani Park but constructed a special stage, with Diamond Head in it’s backdrop. Okinawa, along with the rest of the Ryukyu Islands was once an independent Kingdom with their own language and culture, but fell under Japanese Rule during the early 1600. Basically most races here automatically consider Okinawans as Japanese, but seeing how the local Okinawans hold their own special Festival, one can surmise the Okinawans ... read more