HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-31 Cherry Blossom Festival Schedule and Venues -- press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Fern Gavelek Communications, (808) 329-0833
Contact ferng@hawaii.rr.com for 2018 festival art and past event photos
Media Contact: Bert Mukai, Culture and Education Administrator,
Hawai‘i County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, (808) 961-8706
WAIMEA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 2018 VENUES
WAIMEA, HAWAII ISLAND— The 25th annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival has
a full lineup of free, multi-cultural performing arts and hands-on demonstrations, plus over 150
crafters and food booths 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3.
Festivities are at various venues sprawling through the town’s center—look for pink banners
identifying site locations. New to the festival is the Cherry Blossom Express—a Disney-themed
“train” for small children offering rides at Church Row Park by Clarence and Gloria Yee of
Hawi.
Parking is available at Parker Ranch Center, the soccer field across Church Row Park and
along Pukalani Street. Festival shuttles offer free transportation among most venues 8:30
a.m.-3:30 p.m. by Roberts Hawaii, though walking is encouraged among venues. A map of the
shuttle route and festival venues is available in a detailed festival program available at each
venue location on February 3.
The festival marks the blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates
the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami, which translates to “cherry blossom viewing”. After
a seasonal winter chill, the trees typically are blooming in early February.
The 2018 event artwork is “Celebrating the Bloom” by Waimea artist Anna Sullivan. Her original
mixed media wood piece will be for sale—and appears on a limited number of $10 collector
posters—at the Waimea Arts Council’s Firehouse Gallery. Sullivan will be present to sign
purchased posters during the festival.
Festival venues are as follows:
Church Row Park
• Historical Cherry Tree Display: Waimea Lions’ Club offers a pictorial history of the cherry
trees and serves as the festival’s official Lost and Found station. T-shirt sales.
• Entertainment: 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Hula, Japanese dance, koto music by Darin Miyashiro,
taiko drumming, lion dance.
• Bonsai: The Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club offers a display and sale of bonsai, ongoing
demonstrations and a clinic to discuss and work on the art of bonsai.
• Cherry Blossom Express: Train ride for small keiki.
• Asian Collectibles/Food Sales at Kamuela Hongwanji: Browse Asian-themed collectibles,
cherry blossom crafts, plus Asian foods: Inari sushi, nishime bento, chichi mocha and andagi.
• Cooking Demos/Entertainment at Kamuela Hongwanji: 9 a.m.-noon, Kona-Kohala chefs
offer cooking demonstrations with free samples, lion dance.
• Origami instruction at Kamuela Hongwanji: Hands-on fun with Kikuko Kibe.
• Open House at Kamuela Hongwanji: Rev. Shingo Furusawa explains Shin Buddhism
rituals.
• Food Sales: Imiloa Church and in park
Parker Ranch Center- Hwy. 19
• Festival Entertainment Stage: In the back parking lot. Opening 9 a.m. dedication
ceremonies kick off continuous entertainment until 3 p.m.: Bon Odori Taiko, Hula Halau Ka
Noeau with Kumu Hula Michael Pang, Lion Dancers, Ira & Boy Varize, Darlene Ahuna and
Patio Productions.
• Craft Fair: Nearly 150 crafters inside Center and in the back parking lot.
• Mochi Tsuki Pounding: Help pound mochi using 500 pounds of rice with the Kona
Hongwanji Mission outside the Fireside Food Court starting 10 a.m.; samples.
Kahilu Theatre - Lindsey Road/Parker Ranch Center
• Tea Time: In the lobby: Mauna Kea Tea provides tastings of Hawaii-grown and Japanese
teas with local tea maker at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Performing Arts: On stage: Koto player and teacher Darin Miyashiro at noon; Shizuno Nasu
of the Spiral Vision Company bringing traditional music and dance from Japan and the Cosmo
Orchestra performing the Sakura Shumphony, 1:30-3 p.m.
Mana Christian Ohana Church – (Former Kahilu Town Hall) Behind Parker Ranch Center
• Ka Hui Kapa Apana O Waimea Quilt Show: Display by six generations of quilters in the
family of club president Cyndy Martinez; sewing novelties and craft fair.
• New Car Display: Kama‘aina Motors
Historic Spencer House – (Next to Waimea Center) Hwy. 19
• Japanese Collectibles: View a display of kimonos and collection of kokeshi dolls, plus learn
about the 1840 Spencer House.
Waimea Historic Corner-Hwys. 19/190 intersection
• Firehouse Gallery Activities: Waimea Arts Council presents cherry blossom and spring-
themed art, sales of $10 festival poster with artist signing, sidewalk chalk drawing for all ages,
food sales
• Waimea Senior Center: Cherry Bakeoff Contest at Waimea Senior Center. Entries must be
submitted 8-10 a.m. and will be sold after winners announced at 10:45 a.m., along with other
baked goods. Proceeds benefit Waimea Senior Citizens Club.
• Waimea Preservation Association: Waimea Outdoor Circle heirloom seed giveaway, t-shirt
sales
• Thelma Parker Gym: Craft fair
• Thelma Parker Library: Explore the effects of ultraviolet radiation on humans and Waimea
cherry blossoms while learning how to protect objects from UV exposure during a NASA@My
Library Activity 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Parker Ranch Historic Homes-Hwy. 190, Shuttle transport between Parker Ranch Center
• Japanese Tea Ceremony: The Urasenke Hilo Association performs traditional tea ceremony
(chanoyū) 9 a.m.-2 p.m. inside Pu‘uopelu.
• Hands-on Fun: Free, self-guided tours of homes, feather lei making
• Keiki Paniolo Activities
• Food Sales
W.M. Keck Observatory Hwy. 19
Solar Scope Viewing: West Hawaii Astronomy Club and Keck provide solar telescopes for
viewing the sun and answer questions. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kamuela Liquors-Hwy. 19
Sake Tasting: Noon-3 p.m.
The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced by the Hawaii County Parks and
Recreation’s Culture and Education Section. Overseen by Parks and Recreation Director
Roxcie Waltjen, the festival is a community-wide effort by a dedicated team of volunteers, 808-
961-8706.