Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i launches 2007 with festival fun on Jan. 14

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i launches 2007 with festival fun on Jan. 14
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Type: Festival
Date: Sunday - 1/14/2007
Time: 1pm
Location:
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i
JCCH & Mo'ili'ili Field
Cost: Free Admission

Come celebrate the Year of the Boar with the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i (JCCH) as it ushers in 2007 with its biggest celebration, the New Year's 'Ohana Festival, on Sunday, January 14, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The JCCH and Mo¯'ili'ili Field will transform into a showcase of international cuisine and entertainment; cultural art displays and demonstrations; a craft fair; "things dis-n-dat" sale and book sale. Keiki activities include kimono dressing, make-n-take activities, games, jumpers and storytelling. All festival activities reflect the JCCH's motto and theme of this year's festival: Honoring our heritage. Embracing our diversity. Sharing our future.

Cost: Admission is free. Scrip for food and other activities (games, jumpers and keiki crafts) can be purchased.

Free Parking: A complimentary shuttle service will run from the University of Hawai'i at Ma¯noa's Dole Street parking structure and JCCH throughout the day. Parking is free at the UH Parking Structure, Dole Street (Lower Campus).

For more information, call the JCCH at (808) 945-7633, or email info@jcch.com.

"New Year's in Hawai'i is a special time when family and friends gather and celebrate with unique cultural customs," said Rich Hosoda, chairman of the festival. "At the New Year's 'Ohana Festival, the JCCH would like to share some of our Japanese traditions with the community, while also showcasing the other diverse cultures and customs that make up our island state. It's a great way for the entire community to come together and celebrate 2007!"

The New Year's 'Ohana Festival is made possible in large part through a generous grant by the Hawaii Tourism Authority - City and County of Honolulu County Product Enrichment Program.

The JCCH will usher in 2007 with the following fanfare:
"Honoring our heritage."

CULTURAL DISPLAYS & DEMONSTRATIONS:
During the fest, visitors can learn about various aspects of Japanese culture in Hawai'i at stations such as:

The Classic Bonsai Club will display Japanese miniature potted plants, and people can also bring their own plants for advice;
Oahu Anime Explorer and the Kawaii Kon will showcase popular anime (Japanese animation) in the JCCH Gallery Theater;
Nihon Shuji's professional calligraphers will demonstrate the art of Japanese calligraphy or shodo¯ and write good wishes or other sayings in kanji (Japanese characters) on shikishi (calligraphy board).
The Hawaii Go Club will present this Japanese board game of skill, much like a complex version of checkers.
Other hands-on activities include ikebana (flower arranging), origami (paper folding) with the Japanese Women's Society of Honolulu, chigirie (paper tearing art) with Lily Nakao, kumihimo (cord making via braiding) with Carol Nagano.
Omamori, or good-luck talisman, ofuda (charms) and kumade (New Year's rake) can also be purchased from the Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha -- Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmagu and Daijingu Temple of Hawaii.
Master storyteller Jeff Gere and actress Janice Terukina, will share fun stories.
Festival-goers can also purchase books from Bamboo Ridge Press.

BOOK SALE:
Book lovers can browse through dozens of new and used bunkobon (Japanese pocket-sized books), other books in Japanese and English language and magazines. JCCH members will receive a 20-percent discount off the books (membership card must be shown). For those who want to become a member that day, a JCCH membership booth will be set up to give immediate benefits.

THINGS DIS-N-DAT SALE:
This sale in the JCCH Community Gallery boasts an array of Japanese and other miscellaneous items, such as Japanese scrolls, dish sets and antique collectibles. JCCH members will receive a 50-percent discount off all items (membership card must be shown). For those who want to become a member that day, a JCCH membership booth will be set up to give immediate benefits.

"Embracing our diversity."
MULTICULTURAL CUISINE:
Festival-goers can enjoy local and specialty foods prepared by seven O'ahu kenjin kai (Japanese prefecture clubs), such as:
� Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a unique prefecture dish that layers vegetables, yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) and meat between a crepe and fried egg that is sprinkled with aonori (dried seaweed), prepared by the Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai. Sekihan, a celebratory food consisting of sticky rice steamed with azuki beans (sweet red beans), which give a reddish color to the rice and kinpira gobo will also be served by the Miyagi Kenjin Kai and sushi with barbeque sticks by the Yamaguchi Kenjin Kai.

Other festival favorites, such as freshly pounded mochi with azuki (glutinous rice that is steamed and pounded into rice cakes and filled with red bean paste), will be prepared by the Tenrikyo Hawaii Dendocho during three mochitsuki (mochi-making) demonstrations on Mo¯'ili'ili Field. Festival-goers can sample the complimentary treats and even braver festival-goers can try the mochi-making technique of rolling and moistening the rice in a large usu (stone mortar) while a demonstrator systematically hits the rice with a heavy wooden kine (mallet).

Other fun foods on the festival menu include:

Those craving the famous KC-Drive Inn Waffle Dog can get their fix thanks to the Asato Family.
The ever-popular Okinawan andagi (doughnuts) by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association.

DIVERSE ENTERTAINMENT:
This year's entertainment takes place on two stages--one dedicated to Japanese and Okinawan performances in the JCCH Courtyard, and the other stage on Mo¯'ili'ili Field featuring a cultural kaleidoscope of performances, such as: Japanese folk dancing, Japanese sword and
fan dancing, koto and shamisen will be performed; as well as Okinawan dancing. Martial arts, such as karate by the Hawaii Karate Association and iaido (technique of using a Japanese sword) will also be demonstrated by the Institute of Zen Studies.

CRAFT FAIR:
This area offers festival-goers the opportunity to buy made-in-Hawai'i trinkets, one-of-a-kind clothing and fun items. Some of the crafters include: EGplants, Kyle Ino Designs, Laine, Mari and Me and Meredith Lee Designs.
"Sharing our future."

KEIKI ACTIVITIES:
This area features fun activities for the kids while also being educational. Keiki can play more than 10 games and create nine make-n-take crafts that reflect the spirit of the Year of the Boar or other aspects of Japanese culture.

Some of the crafts include the making of the nengajo¯ (Japanese New Year's card).This is the Japanese tradition of sending a New Year's greeting to friends and family. Each child will also have a chance to make and color a kansha daruma (kansha translates to appreciation in Japanese) to give to someone in appreciation of that person and to wish him or her good tidings.

KEIKI RIDES:
Fire Truck Hawaii will give fest-goers, young and young at heart, a unique ride on one of its antique fire trucks around Mo¯'ili'ili. Large jumpers will also be available for children to enjoy.

KIMONO DRESSING:
Due to this event's popularity, a kimono dressing and photography session will give children the chance to dress up in elegant kimono and zori and capture the day with a special portrait. Kimono dressing cost is $70 per person; $56 per person for JCCH members (20% discount). Photo packages are sold separately (packages range from $20 -$55 depending on amount and size of portraits). Reservations will be taken until Friday, Jan. 5. Thereafter, walk-ins welcomed on a first come, first served basis. For more information or to make dressing reservations, call the JCCH at (808) 945-7633, ext. 33, email info@jcch.com.

The New Year's 'Ohana Festival is made possible in large part through a generous grant by the Hawaii Tourism Authority - City and County of Honolulu County Product Enrichment Program, as well as sponsorship from the Atlas Insurance Agency, Central Pacific Bank and Island Insurance Ltd. For more information on the NYOF, call the JCCH at (808) 945-7633 or email info@jcch.com.
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, strives to strengthen our diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai'i. The Center features a Community and Historical Gallery, Resource Center, Kenshikan martial arts do¯jo¯, Seiko¯an Japanese teahouse and Gift Shop.

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item