Hawaii
29th annual Honolulu Festival offers weekend of cultural performances, activities
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The 29th annual Honolulu Festival takes place March 8-9 with a cultural celebration of music, dance and arts featuring 91 groups from Japan, the Pacific Rim and Hawaii.
Cultural performances will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center and Waikiki Beach Walk, and festivities include the Waikiki Grand Parade and Nagaoka Fireworks Show.
This year’s theme is “Bringing cultures together for a peaceful tomorrow.”
Honolulu Festival Foundation president Ted Kubo said, “Sharing culture, promoting education and environmental conservation are the core values of our Foundation and the inspiration that helps drive our corps of volunteers, our corporate donors and our government partners to make the Honolulu Festival a memorable experience for everyone to enjoy.”
For the first time, the Honolulu Festival Foundation is requiring a nominal admission fee for adults to enter the Kamehameha Exhibit Hall on the ground floor of the Hawaii Convention Center, where most cultural and music performances, arts, activities, exhibits, and the trade show takes place.
Attendees can save money and time by paying the admission fee in advance online or pay upon arrival at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Click here for full event information and check out a few highlights below.
Friendship Gala
Friday, March 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m., ticket purchase required.
Attendees are treated to a variety of delicious entrées and desserts prepared by popular Hawaii restaurants while enjoying live cultural music and dance performances. Proceeds support the Honolulu Festival Foundation’s educational and cultural programs.
Cultural Performances and Exhibits
Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Artisans from Japan, the Pacific Rim, and Hawaii will perform traditional music, dance and exhibitions of their native culture at three locations, the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, and Waikiki Beach Walk.
The Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall will feature more than 200 trade show booths offering an array of multicultural exhibits for attendees to enjoy and experience, including crafts by local vendors and works of art by local artists. Unique snacks and food delicacies from Japan will be available. Cultural displays include the Ennichi Corner with fun games and activities for children.
Sake and Food Fest
Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This highly popular exhibit has been expanded this year with more shops and foods from Japan to learn about and enjoy. A special highlight for attendees is the free samplings of select Japanese alcohol, such as sake, shochu, and awamori. Sake samplings are for adults ages 21 and older. Attendees must show identification.
Sushi to Me
Saturday, March 8, 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Sunday, March 9, at 11 a.m.
FREE NEW EVENT: This free and fun special workshop will present a rare opportunity for attendees to participate in a hands-on, real-time learning experience about the art of preparing sushi, as taught by a renowned sushi chef from Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii. Participation in one of the three sushi-making workshops will be limited to the first 100 attendees who sign up at the Sushi To Me exhibit area after entering the Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall.
Bon Dance
Saturday, March 8, 12 to 12:15 p.m.; 2:20 to 2:35 p.m., and Sunday, March 9, 12:20 to 12:35 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join Hawaii’s first bon dance of 2025 near the front entrance of the Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall.
Japanese Film Festival
Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Internationally acclaimed films are presented on the third floor of the Hawaii Convention Center. Admission is free, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. View film listings and times here.
Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden
Sunday, March 9, at 8 a.m.
A sister event of the Honolulu Festival, the 5K Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden is a relay race for teams of 3-5 runners starting at Kapiolani Park. Also offered is a 5K Fun Run & Walk for individuals and 1.6K ‘Oli ‘Oli Kid’s Challenge for children, ages 6-12. For information, please visit rainbowekiden.com.
Waikiki Grand Parade
Sunday, March 9, at 4:30 p.m.
This showcase of culture features dozens of performing groups, marching bands, parade floats, and demonstrations of cultural traditions that move through Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue.
At 4 p.m., there will be 30 minutes of special performances in front of the four main stage areas on the route, after which the parade will get underway, leaving Saratoga Road near Fort DeRussy Park and continuing along Kalakaua Avenue before ending at Kapahulu Avenue at the entrance to Kapiolani Park.
Nagaoka Fireworks Show
Sunday, March 9, at 8:30 p.m.
Following the Grand Parade, the Nagaoka Fireworks Show concludes the Honolulu Festival celebration in spectacular fashion by illuminating the sky above Waikiki Beach with a sparkling orchestrated display of colorful and fascinating pyrotechnics. Three barges from where the fireworks are shot high into the sky will be safely positioned far away from the shoreline and centered between the approximate midpoint area facing Waikiki Beach. Spectators are encouraged to arrive at the beach early to secure their preferred viewing spots.
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HONOLULU (KHON2) — Three of Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation released statements on Saturday, Jan.3, in response to President Trump’s overnight operation in Venezuela.
“At a time when Americans can’t afford rent, healthcare, or groceries, the Trump administration found time and money for regime change in Venezuela, risking a war that Americans don’t want. Before we spend another dollar on this reckless conflict, the American people deserve answers, including what this administration’s exit strategy is. Americans wanted help and hope in 2026, not another war,” said Tokuda.
U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02)
Others echoed concerns about the legality of the operation, pointing to both international law and the U.S. Constitution. While acknowledging Venezuela’s political situation, some members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation said military action raises serious questions that extend beyond the actions of any one leader.
“Nicholas Maduro is an illegitimate and oppressive dictator and the people of Venezuela deserve better. But that alone doesn’t justify an armed attack on a sovereign country and forced regime change in violation of international law,” said Case. “And unless there was an imminent threat to our country, it doesn’t justify violating our Constitution and war powers law, which wisely reserves to Congress the grave decision to go to war.”
U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01)
Case also emphasized that Congress plays a critical role in decisions involving war and military force.
“I don’t yet know the full facts or the President’s justification to attack Venezuela, place our troops in harm’s way, capture Maduro and administer the country,” said Case. “But the precedent of any President taking our country to war arbitrarily, single-handedly and without the approval of Congress has cascading effects that are far more dangerous.”
U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01)
Senator Brian Schatz also weighed in, saying the operation could put American lives and interests at risk.
“President Trump is jeopardizing American lives and interests — and stating plainly that the purpose is for U.S. oil companies to make money in Venezuela. Either these companies knew about these plans in advance, or he’s ordering corporations to be a part of his effort to overthrow another government,” said Schatz. “This operation is illegal under international law and unconstitutional without prior congressional approval. The United States should not be running other countries for any reason. We should have learned by now not to get involved in endless wars and regime change missions that carry catastrophic consequences for Americans.”
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i)
Hawaii’s congressional lawmakers stressed that, while the situation in Venezuela is complex, military action should not be taken lightly.
“Nicolas Maduro should be held accountable for his actions, but Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to overthrow his regime does nothing to make our country safer. Instead, without any authorization from Congress or any clear plan for what comes next, Trump is plunging our nation into a conflict that could put American lives at risk while destabilizing the region and our relationships with our allies,” said Hirono. “Trump’s characteristically chaotic suggestion that the U.S is “going to run” Venezuela indefinitely, without any details, shows his disregard for the consequences of decades of misguided American intervention around the world. Trump promised to “end forever wars” and not engage in regime change. As usual, he says one thing and does another.”
U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)
With questions still surrounding the operation, Hawaii’s congressional leaders say transparency and oversight are critical moving forward. They stated that decisions of this extent should not be made without the involvement of Congress or the public.
HONOLULU — Mike Lambert heard fewer illegal fireworks exploding in his suburban Honolulu neighborhood in the months after a chain of blasts at a house party last New Year’s Eve led to the deaths of six people, including a 3-year-old boy.
As the director of Hawaii’s Department of Law Enforcement, Lambert wondered if the tragedy had sparked a shift in Hawaii residents’ penchant for igniting illegal fireworks. In some neighborhoods, it would be common to hear loud booms any time of day or night — for sporting events, celebrations or no apparent reason at all.
But this year, authorities are armed with stiffer laws created in the wake of the tragedy and will be giving out citations to offenders, Lambert warned.
“We have no delusions that you can have a tragedy New Year’s, you can sign a law in July and then not have anything go off the following year,” he said. Still, he expects that some people will decide not to set off fireworks, either because of last year’s deadly accident or the stepped-up enforcement and new laws.
“Before, you could shoot it off with impunity,” said state Rep. Scot Matayoshi, who authored two of the five anti-fireworks bills. “Everyone knew they weren’t going to bust you.”
Police can now issue $300 tickets to those who shoot off fireworks, while repeat offenders and people whose actions cause serious injury or death could get prison time for felony crimes.
Matayoshi said he began working on legislation the morning after the tragedy, which took place at a New Year’s Eve 2025 celebration when crates of illegal fireworks tipped over and ignited in the Aliamanu neighborhood, illuminating the sky in a terrifying set of explosions that left more than a dozen people with severe burns.
This photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement shows seized illegal fireworks stored in a bunker in Waipahu, Hawaii, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. Credit: AP/Uncredited
“It affected me a lot,” Matayoshi said. “I couldn’t imagine being the neighbor of someone who had basically bombs in their house going off and hurting and killing my kids.”
None of the the 12 people arrested have been charged with a crime. Honolulu police said they’re working with prosecutors in seeking charges.
A hopeful sign was an amnesty event last month where people turned in 500 pounds (227 kilograms) of illegal fireworks, Lambert said. His department has also increased searches at all ports, noting that illegal fireworks shipped to Hawaii often have ties to organized crime.
As of earlier this month, Honolulu police said officers had issued 10 fireworks citations. Matayoshi said the number is an improvement from zero in past years. He expects it to jump dramatically on New Year’s Eve.
Firecrackers to ring in the new year have long been popular in Hawaii, but about a decade ago, professional-grade aerials started becoming common.
“You’re seeing fireworks that were meant to be let off at like stadium and hotel events,” Lambert said. Those pyrotechnics have a 900-foot (274-meter) blast radius, but are exploding in tightly packed neighborhoods where homes are often just a few feet apart, he said.
Army veteran Simeon Rojas grew up on Oahu in the 1980s and ’90s and enjoyed setting off firecrackers and lighting sparklers on New Year’s Eve. He considers fireworks part of the local culture and tradition.
But when fireworks suddenly explode when he’s at home in Honolulu’s Kalihi Valley, “it does rock my heart,” he said. It also triggers his post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“It gives me flashbacks,” he said. “I stay with my wife and kids on New Year’s Eve, so I feel safe.”
Many livestream cameras monitor the Kulauea Volcano in Hawaii and earlier this week, two men were caught on one of those cameras getting too close to the eruption. ‘A’Ali’i Dukelow has more on the incident that’s prompting a plea for people to follow the rules when visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Web Editor : Kaitlyn Dang
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