Weekend of pageantry ahead

The Pan-Pacific Festival Matsuri, a celebration to promote intercultural friendship, will feature a parade Sunday evening through Waikiki. The annual lei-draping of the Kamehameha statue downtown begins at 3:30 p.m. today. Advertiser library photo

Advertiser Staff

Parade lovers, this is your big weekend. Bring your cameras to Waikiki as two popular cultural festivals focus most of their colorful, picture-perfect events in the tourism mecca.

Stuff of legend

This year's King Kamehameha Celebration is themed "Na Mo'olelo O Kamehameha I" ("Legends of Kamehameha the Great"). Among the highlights are a lei-draping ceremony and grand parade. Details:

• Kamehameha statue decoration, 3:30 p.m. today at Ali'iolani Hale downtown. The Royal Hawaiian Band, led by Aaron Mahi, kicks off the ceremony with a concert. Music and hula will accompany the lei-draping by volunteers, parade participants and community leaders.
• 88th annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade, 9:30 a.m. Saturday. It begins at King and Richards streets, traveling down Punchbowl Street to Ala Moana along Kalakaua Avenue, ending at Queen Kapi'olani Park. The parade, featuring floats, pa'u riders, marching bands and more, also will be televised at 10:30 a.m. on the 'Olelo Channel.
• Na Hana No'eau O Ka Pakipika (Artistic Endeavors of the Pacific), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Queen Kapi'olani Park bandstand. Arts and crafts of Hawai'i and Japan will be featured in this presentation of the state Council on Hawaiian Heritage and the Pan-Pacific Festival Matsuri in Hawai'i (see below). Other attractions include Hawaiian, Mexican, Filipino and other food, and entertainment.

Admission to all events is free. 586-0333.

The Kamehameha celebration continues on O'ahu with the 31st annual hula competition at the Blaisdell Center Arena June 25-26 (tickets go on sale June 21). Other islands will hold their own celebrations.

Making friends

The 25th annual Pan-Pacific Festival Matsuri in Hawai'i offers three days of entertainment in an ongoing effort to promote intercultural friendship. As many as 4,000 musicians, dancers and artists from Japan are expected to participate. Former sumo wrestler Konishiki (Hawai'i's Salevaa Atisanoe) will lend his star status, performing at the ho'olaule'a and riding on the Konishiki Kids Club float at the parade. Details:

• Ho'olaule'a, 6-10 p.m. today on Kalakaua Avenue, from Lewers Street to Ka'iulani Avenue. The annual block party offers a multitude of food booths, exhibits and entertainment such as taiko drumming, Korean dancers, traditional Japanese performances and hula. Note to attendees and motorists: Kalakaua Avenue will be closed from Lewers Street to Ka'iulani Avenue 30 minutes before the party begins, reopening at 11 p.m.
• Na Hana No'eau O Ka Pakipika (Artistic Endeavors of the Pacific), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Queen Kapi'olani Park bandstand.
• Hula Festival, 1-5 p.m. Saturday Ala Moana Centerstage. Hula halau from Japan perform with Hawai'i troupes in an exchange of artistry.
• Pan-Pacific Matsuri Parade, 5-7 p.m. Sunday. The main event of the festival begins at Fort DeRussy, travels along Kalakaua Avenue and ends at Kapi'olani Park. More than 1,000 marchers are expected to participate, with floats from Japan, high school bands and other groups.
• Performing Arts Showcases at Ala Moana Center (noon-4 p.m. today, 5-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday) and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday). Groups from Japan perform traditional regional specialties; Hawai'i groups also take part.

Admission to these events is free. Check www.pan-pacific-festival.com.

Other events include a ballroom dance tonight and Sunday at the Ala Wai Golf Palladium, and a half marathon, 5-mile walk and 5K fun run Sunday.