New Year's 'Ohana Festival At JCCH

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Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item
New Year's 'Ohana Festival At JCCH
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Type: Festival
Date: Sunday - 1/13/2008
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location:
Japanese Cultural
JCCH and Mo¯'ili'ili Field
Phone: (808) 945-7633
Cost:

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i heralds 2008 with festival fun on Jan. 13

Come celebrate with the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i (JCCH) as it ushers in 2008 with its biggest celebration, the New Year's 'Ohana Festival, on Sunday, January 13, 2008, 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 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 free 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, email info@jcch.com or go to www.jcch.com.

"New Year's in Hawai'i is a special time when family and friends gather and celebrate with unique cultural customs," said Lenny Yajima Andrew, JCCH President/Executive Director. "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 2008!"

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 2008 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 Kawai 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).
Other hands-on activities include origami (paper folding), chigirie (paper tearing art) with Lily Nakao and 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 Daijingu Temple of Hawaii, Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha -- Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmagu and Izuma Taishakyo Mission of Hawai'i.
Master storyteller Jeff Gere and actress Janice Terukina will share fun stories.
Festival-goers can also purchase books from Bamboo Ridge Press and Mutual Publishing.

BOOK SALE:
Book lovers can browse through dozens of new and used publications in Japanese and English language. 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.

CHA DO¯GU¯ SALE:
Festival attendees can also check out a vast array of Japanese tea implements or cha do¯gu¯ of all kinds--chawan (tea bowls), mizu sashi (water containers), natsume (tea caddies), shifuku (tea bowl bags), fukusa (special cloths for wiping tea caddies) and habo¯ki (feather dusters)--that will be on display and for sale in the JCCH Community Gallery.
To show how some of these implements are used in a traditional ceremony, demonstrations of this art form will be presented throughout the day in the JCCH Seiko¯an Tea House on the fourth floor.

"Embracing our diversity."

MULTICULTURAL CUISINE:
Festival-goers can enjoy local and specialty foods prepared by 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.

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:

The famous KC-Drive Inn Waffle Dog by the Asato Family;
Hawaiian Roasted Corn

And for the first time, Osaka Tako Balls LLC will make takoyaki, a Japanese snack of light flour batter filled with octopus, green onion and ginger topped with a special sauce, bonito flakes and nori.
The ever-popular Okinawan andagi (doughnuts) by the Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko.

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. More than 20 cultural performances will be showcased, such as: Japanese folk and classical 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 Brazilian martial arts will also be demonstrated by Capoeira Hawaii. Local music by Junior Kekuewa Jr. and Sam Jam Spencer will also be performed and the Royal Hawaiian Band will make its festival debut.

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: CAS Crafts & Collectibles, Cottage Cats, Heckshader, Hubbard's Cupboard, It's About Time, I.M. Loved, Janimals, Kissy, Kozo Kreations, Kyle Ino Designs and Morris Nakamura, Laine, LN Designs, Midori Jewelry, One By One, Paint the Town, Side Order Pillows, Silver Spring, Snyder's Glass Fire, Sumofish Tshirt Co., T.J. Hawaii, and Wabi Sabi and Cane Haul Road.

"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 make-n-take various cultural activities that are said to bring good fortune and good luck in a New Year.

A Local Kine Good Luck Fortune Teller will be on hand, and keiki can make-n-take a Good Luck Bracelet and Mobile, a Shichifukujin (an eclectic group of seven deities who travel on a treasure ship and bestow good fortune to all) bookmark and Shimenawa ornament (decorative rope believed to ward away bad luck) and participate in a Lucky Origami Kaeru (frog) Race.

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 zo¯ri 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, December 28. 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, 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 Central Pacific Bank. For more information on the festival, 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 JCCH 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

Kaimuki, Hawaii
Event Calendar Item