Step into the spectacle of Honolulu Festival

Advertiser Staff

The mission: to promote cultural understanding between Hawai'i and Japan.

The Mandala quilt makes its U.S. debut at the 10th annual Honolulu Festival this weekend. Honolulu Festival photo

The Suga Yosakoi Narukoren dance group from Japan offers high-energy performances. About 5,500 participants are expected to arrive from Japan for the festivities, being held at various spots. Honolulu Festival photo

The Fire-Spitting Dragon makes a return appearance at Sunday's grand parade along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Advertiser library photo

Today there are educational tours for school kids at the Hawai'i Convention Center, and then the festival plays to the public in a big way Saturday, with performances at Ala Moana Center, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the convention center.

Among the highlights:

• Sunday night's grand parade in Waikiki should be, as in years past, a real eye-grabber. Floats include the 40-foot-tall Hita City float, with a theme rooted in Chinese and Japanese folklore and kabuki; the Fire-Spitting Dragon; and the Inflatable Dragon float, 50 feet high and intended to pass on the folkloric traditions of the dragon to the next generation. The local contingent includes the Royal Hawaiian Band, the 2004 Narcissus Queen, the reigning Cherry Blossom Queen, Miss Korea and marching bands from Damien, Nanakuli and Waipahu high schools. Performance groups from Japan also will take part.

• The world's largest patchwork quilt, the creation of the Mandala 21st Century Project, makes its U.S. debut as part of the festival. The quilt, depicting the four major events in the Buddha's life, weighs more than two tons and was created by 10,000 volunteers from 16 countries. The 81 quilts, when put together, create a patchwork nearly the size of a football field. The U.S. section was created by more than 70 volunteers, ages 8 to 85, in a small California town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The patchwork quilt will be displayed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the convention center.

• More than 50 delegates from Japan and local students in historical costume will demonstrate traditional Japanese archery, begun in the mid-13th century. See it 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the convention center's rooftop garden.

• "Black Ships and Samurai: Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan" is an exhibit by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It will be on display 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the convention center. This year marks the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States.

• Among the many performances are these notables, times subject to change:

• Hawai'i's 'ukulele stylist Jake Shimabukuro strums his stuff 3 to 3:25 p.m. Saturday at the convention center.

• Suga Yosakoi Narukoren, a high-energy dance group, steps up with a blend of jazz, hip-hop and the naruko (a traditional Japanese instrument) 2:05 to 2:15 p.m. and 4:20 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the convention center, and 2:10 to 2:20 p.m. Sunday at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.

• Funabashi Shibaroku Taiko, a drumming group, will perform 9:45 to 10:10 a.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Centerstage; 11:30 to 11:55 a.m. and 3:50 to 4:15 p.m. Saturday at the convention center.

This year's festival theme is "Where Culture Comes Alive." About 5,500 participants are expected from Japan.