2022-01-07 Cancellation of 2022 Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival

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Mitchell D. Roth Mayor Countp of abaai`i DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 (808) 961-8311 • Fax (808) 961-8411 January 7, 2022 PRESS RELEASE Maurice C. Messina Director Michelle Malia Hiraishi Deputy Director Cancellation of the 2022 Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival The County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation announces the cancellation of the Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival. "On January 6, 2022, the coordinating committee of the Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival met to discuss the upcoming event which was scheduled for February 5, at various sites throughout Waimea," said Maurice Messina, Director of Parks and Recreation. "At the meeting, concerns were raised about the current surge of Covid-19 cases on Hawaii Island and if it is appropriate at this time to hold an event that has traditionally attracted 30,000+ visitors to the Waimea area. Many people have worked hard to make the Cherry Blossom Festival one of the island's premiere events and the committee expressed that they felt obligated to cancel this year's event out of concern and love for their community," said Messina. The coordinating committee, along with the department's Culture & Education Division, will work on a plan to pay tribute to all those who have helped bring the Cherry Blossom Festival from its humble beginnings to what is now a cherished annual event on our island. "Several community partners have already pledged their support to assist in developing, coordinating and producing newspaper inserts to ensure our communities can reminisce about what makes this annual tradition so special," Messina said. "Although we have to regrettably cancel this year's event, we're looking forward to bringing back the traditional Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival in 2023 — which will be its 30t' anniversary." For more information, please contact the department's Culture & Education Division at 961-8706.