The Hawaii Okinawan Festival is a two-day celebration of Japanese heritage and culture held at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. The festival attracts about 50,000 attendees annually. Visitors can learn the Okinawan language and culture at the Cultural Tent and see Okinawan ceramics, fabric, and glassware, as well as bonsai plants from the Hawaii Bonsai Association.
The festival features lots of hands-on experiences in Japanese arts along with calligraphy and flower arrangement demonstrations. Everyone has a chance to try on an Okinawan costume—a female kimono with hanagasa or a paranku drummer outfit.
Cultural Events
The Okinawan Festival, which began in 1982, has become one of the most popular in the state due to colorful cultural performances like taiko and paranku, Japanese drums, eisa dance, and martial arts. Eisa dancing and paranku are usually featured in the opening parade for the festival.
You will also have an opportunity to watch the Kachashi dance, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko drumming dance, which consists of karate and eisa movements, performances by music and dance dojos, as well as Japanese artists. With such a rich, jam-packed program, the Okinawa Festival definitely has something for everyone.
Japanese Food & Beverages
A great way to immerse yourself into a country's culture is food. You'll have a chance to try maki sushi, the champuru plate, a stir-fried Okinawan dish, steamed Okinawan sweet potato, pig’s feet soup, soba, and more Okinawan delicacies. Okinawa's rice liquor awamori tastings take place during the festival as well. The third floor of the Convention Center usually features Heiwa Doori or Okinawa street market with many foods like konbu (dried kelp), bitter melon, andagi mix, and kokuto candy.
Schedule & Location
The festival usually runs from 9 am until 4 pm and takes place in Honolulu at the Hawaii Convention Center, located along the Ala Wai Canal. If you'd like to book a flight to attend the Okinawan Festival, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is situated 8 miles (13 km) away from the venue. Paid parking is available at the center, usually from 7 am until 10:30 pm.
