HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-07 Cancellation of 2022 Waimea Cherry Blossom FestivalMitchell 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.