日本語
The Grand Parade was held in the warm weather during the evening on Sunday, March 12, which is the final day of the 23rd Annual Honolulu Festival. This is a parade that is being held on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki every year. The performers will be performing from Saratoga Road and heading to the east, where the Honolulu Zoo is located.
Many spectators regardless of race gather by the roadside to see the dignified performers who presented their own talent and unique culture in 3 days for the last time. Those performers gave joy and inspiration which the audience discovered new findings of various cultures.
The Honolulu Festival’s Grand Parade received the Legacy Award from the City and County of Honolulu
Over many years, the Honolulu Festival Foundation continued to serve as a mediator of a sister city between Nagaoka City and the city of Honolulu. Also, there was a special event to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II at Pearl Harbor on August of 2015 which was successful. Also, the Mayor and the Vice Mayor of Honolulu visited Japan and established a good relationship with Nagaoka City.
Furthermore, the Honolulu Festival’s Grand Parade has received the Legacy Award from the city of Honolulu on October 22, 2015. As a result, our Grand Parade was recognized as an annual event of Honolulu, which does not require a special request for approval from the city.
We would like to give a great appreciation to the city of Honolulu for understanding and supporting the Honolulu Festival.
【Opening Performance】
The opening performance was held at 4 locations, where the mic stands were set up.
*Click on thumbnails to view enlarged image.
Studio Dance Alive excited the spectators by their uplifting dance.
Outstanding performance by the Akita Kanto Festival.
The members of the Akita Kanto Festival showed their great skills by holding Kanto (a bamboo pole with lanterns) only with their flat hand, forehead, shoulder or lower back.
The spectators were looking up as Kanto was raised high up toward the sky.
During the national anthem, the VIPs stood up to show respect and gave their attentions .
The national anthem was performed by Ohana Arts.
【Grand Parade】
The Grand Parade finally began at 4:30 p.m.
Japan Airlines (JAL) cabin attendants held the banner of the Honolulu Festival while they paraded the streets with smiles.
Color Guard
Royal Hawaiian Band
Aloha from the Mayor of Nagaoka City!
Nagaoka City’s mascot, Nacchan, a fairy of the Nagaoka Fireworks.
Nagaoka Parade
This year, Nagaoka City marks the 5th anniversary of sister city relationship with the city of Honolulu.
The Mayor of Chigasaki City came toward Yasushi Misawa, the Consul General of Japan in Honolulu and they had a firm handshake.
Chigasaki Beach Hamaori Festival, Shoshu-Mikoshi
Chambara Eboshi
The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band
The 64th Cherry Blossom Festival Court
Hawaii United Okinawa Association
The powerful sound of taiko drums resonated on the streets.
Komaki Kei ABC Academy Hula Halau
The 68th Miss Narcissus Queen & Princess
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
International Flower Arrangement Association
International Flower Arrangement Association
Hula Pomaikai Chiyoda
HYOTTOKO- Hawaii Miyazaki Kenjin Kai
Delegation from the Philippines
The 52nd Honolulu Sister City Goodwill Delegation from Hiroshima
【In the midst of the Grand Parade】
Ohana Arts
‘OLI’OLI Friends with ‘OLI’OLI Walker
Seabury Hall Middle School Marching Band
Kawehilani
Miss Chinatown
Hawaii Taiwanese Center
David Ige, the Governor of Hawaii wrote his signature on the banner of the Hawaii Chinese Center.
The children proudly marched on the streets as well.
The Original Beauty of Formosan Aborigines Developing
Inaho Kodomo Mikoshi
Satsuma Biwa Gogen Suimei Fujino
Maki Uehara Hula Studio & Leila Uehara Ukulele Studio
Alohappy! We are Japanese Regional Characters
LOVE JUNX
MITO EIKO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Izumo Taisha Mikoshi. The performers were shouting “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!” in front of the VIP seats.
The students of Sakuragaoka Junior & Senior High School played active roles in the Educational School Tour. They performed their dance that they have been practicing for the parade as well.
Ritsumeikan University dig up treasure performed Double Dutch, which the spectators gave applause to such an acrobatic performance.
TOKYO VISUAL ARTS
Hau’oli ‘Ohana Hula Halau
Kalakaua Avenue was filled with about 250 students of Sonoda Gakuen High School, where they danced vigorously.
Saitama Rujin Matsuri Kai’s gigantic dragon rises in the sky of Honolulu with shining red eyes.
Minna Unicycle Club
Satsuma Biwa Gogen Suimei Fujino
JAPAN NANKIN TAMASUDARE ASSOCIATION
Bunkyo University Japanese Drum Club KAEDE
Littlefield High School Band
Taiwanese Association of America, Hawaii Chapter
All Japan Gymnastics of Health Study Association
Chun Nam University
The members of BESTBODY INTERNATIONAL in Honolulu showed off their proud bodies to the crowd.
Wadaiko Mamezakura
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Samurai Maeda Toshiie ONDO Mai (yosakoi)
Kagoshima Ohara-bushi Dance Group
Wagana Aboriginal Dancers
Hawaii District 50 Lion Clubs and LEOS
Takamori Chindon-Tai
【End of the Grand Parade】
The Grand Parade reached its final stretch as the sky gradually became darker.
Remember 3.11 Kyushu Hula Girl Caravan
Yatsushiro Myoken Festival Yabusame Preservation Association
Ashikaga-City promotion team, samurai armor
Yunohana Kai, Iwaki-Yumoto Onsen
Hempfield High School Jazz and Marching Band
Heartnest
BIBAK HAWAII
IBUKI
Akita Kanto Festival
By the time when the sun was set, the Akita Kanto Festival reappeared and performed once again.
Those 46 lanterns are torched with real flame which lights up the darkness.
The words of encouragement were written on the lanterns.
Those messages on the lanterns were conveyed by the spectators as well.
Sakuran
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Mikoshi
Maui Mikoshi
Hirosaki Neputa Manji Kai
Hawaii Senior Life Enrichment Association
Honolulu Daijayama
Then finally, the Honolulu Daijayama made a powerful appearance as the flames were sparking from its head! It appears for the finale of the Grand Parade every year.
The Honolulu Daijayama stared at the spectators with a rough expression on its face as it moved left and right.
Honolulu Daijayama
Kalakaua Avenue was still filled with excitement even after the final Honolulu Daijayama had passed by. The performers performed their best with smiles while the spectators gave a big cheer.
The Grand Parade was created by the performers, guests and affiliates from around the world with Hawaii, which this event can be a great memory.
The theme of the 23rd Annual Honolulu Festival is “Cultural Harmony, Journey to Peace”. We believe that this Grand Parade leads to the “Journey to Peace”.
The Honolulu Festival will continue to host the Grand Parade every year, where people can enjoy cultural exchange and lead them to “Journey to Peace”.
