Okinawan Festival returns to Hawaii Convention Center

HONOLULU (KHON2) — For 41 years, the culture of Okinawa has been shared through the Okinawan Festival in many locations, growing every year to become bigger and better leading up to the 42nd year of the Okinawan Festival this weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center.

So, to find out more about what is taking place at this grand celebration, we are here with the President of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, Brandon Nakasone.

What is the theme this year and what are people going to be expecting this weekend?

“Our theme is the same that it is every year, “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha” and our association’s mission is to promote, perpetuate and preserve the Okinawan culture in Hawaii and the festival is a way to showcase our culture to the community and our visitors,” says Nakasone.

This being forty-two years, how has this grown in terms of the event and what has this festival become to the community?

“Well, forty something years ago, the festival started as a small thing at McCoy Pavilion,” says Nakasone.

“Then we moved to Thomas Square, Kapiolani Park in 1990, and then 2018 we moved to the Hawaii Convention Center.”

What is going to be new this year?

“So, one of the things that is new is we have Gusuku Bingata all the way from Okinawa and bingata is a traditional stencil dying art,” says Nakasone.

“That is part of our culture and they have come from Okinawa to share that art. Unfortunately, spots are already filled up but there is a waiting list you could possibly sign up for. We also have a huge beer garden this year that is being hosted by Hawaii Convention Center and they are serving awamori cocktails, a traditional Okinawan spirit in cocktail form and of course Okinawan beer, Orion beer.”

And we are also standing in front of this new genealogy center. What is this all about?

“Yes, so this is our Okinawan Genealogical Society of Hawaii and this year, they built this beautiful torii gate here. It represents the culture of Okinawa,” says Nakasone.

What are some of the returning staples to this festival?

“Andagi is everyone’s favorite and of course, we have traditional food like pig’s feet soup, champuru, and of course, the oki dog and dont forget the anda dog as well, its the hotdog dipped in andagi batter,” says Nakasone.

Hopefully you can come down to the Hawaii Convention Center this weekend.

Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

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For all the information on this year’s Okinawan Festival, click here.