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40--00 <br />277, <br />Festival Bq'ins in 199] <br />Under the direction of former county Parks and <br />Recreation Director George Yoshida, the festival <br />originated in 1994 in Church Row Park and has <br />evolved over the years to involve numerous <br />community organizations providing fun <br />activities throughout town. <br />While activities and locations vary each year, <br />the festival offers plenty of hands-on <br />fun: mochi pounding, bonsai demonstrations, <br />origami making, traditional Japanese tea <br />ceremonies, bon dancing and more. While many <br />venues are within walking distance of each <br />other, Roberts Hawaii graciously provides free <br />shuttle service among select locations. <br />Attendees are treated to a wide range of Local <br />entertainment including taiko <br />drumming, hula and Chinese Lion dance, plus <br />sometimes headliners from Japan delight <br />festival goers with authentic Japanese costume, <br />dance, song and instrumentation. <br />Stages outside Parker Ranch Center and at <br />Church Row Park present a wide range of local <br />and ethnic performing arts. Attendees can shop <br />among numerous craft vendors, a farmer's <br />market, tables of Asian-themed collectibles, <br />cherry tree blossoms and cherry-themed art. <br />Also on tap is a quilt show where quilt patterns <br />and sewing novelties can be purchased. <br />ALL the activities spur the appetite and festival <br />goers enjoy free samplings at staged cooking <br />demonstrations by local chefs. Hungry <br />attendees make their way among numerous <br />broke-da-mouth food booths, Asian baked <br />goods Like andagi and refreshing shave ice. <br />UCfiCial Fes(ij:al I I01101-ee s o>II(I .-�r�( <br />Since 2007, the festival has often celebrated <br />persons or organizations within the community <br />—whether they are community volunteers, leaders, <br />businesses or coLorfuI characters involved with the <br />festival— as official honorees. For 2023, the <br />festival remembers all these honorees and lists <br />them in this Souvenir Booklet (see page 6). in <br />addition, the Waimea Arts Council (WAC) <br />facilitates a contest for the festival's official <br />annual art that appears on this booklet's cover and <br />the event poster that can be purchased for $10 at <br />the Firehouse Gallery. WAC also presents the <br />annual "Cherry Blossom Art Exhibition" at <br />Firehouse Gallery, located at Waimea's Historic <br />Corner. <br />Festival Wad I Be Back in Act ion! <br />Morty Carter, Hawaii County Culture and Education <br />Administrator, says the festival planning committee <br />is eager to have this year's in -person festival after <br />two years of having a passive presence. "The <br />planning committee has stepped up to offer all the <br />fun, immersive activities that make the Cherry <br />Blossom Festival so special for people of all ages," <br />Carter shares. "Without these community volunteers <br />and organizations, the festival wouldn't be passible." <br />Folloi� (lie%Iiiiie;i ('Herr;) liloswiii HeriUige Fes(hii1 i)n l'iteebOA <br />