By Nancy Daniels
A press conference announcing this year’s Honolulu Festival was held at Waikiki Beach Walk® this past week. Media representatives from our local newspapers and television stations were on hand to hear Keiichi Tsujino, President of the Honolulu Festival Foundation, announce this year’s dates and theme, and highlight some of the key aspects of this popular cultural festival.
Tatsuo Watanabe, Secretary, Honolulu Festival Foundation; David Carey; Mike McCartney, President & CEO, Hawaii Tourism Authority; Keiichi Tsujino, President, Honolulu Fetival Foundation; and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.
Joining Mr. Tsujino at the press conference was David Carey, President and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group; Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann; and Mike McCartney, President and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Set for March 13 and 14, the 16th Annual Honolulu Festival will feature a wide variety of entertaining cultural performances and fascinating exhibits by more than 120 performing groups over two days at four convenient locations, including Waikiki Beach Walk. Under the banner of “Pacific Harmony,” the Festival’s theme is “Discovery Through Tradition” and will be highlighted by cultural exhibits and performing groups representing Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Tahiti, Alaska, and Hawaii.
At a time when our visitor industry continues to struggle, the Honolulu Festival will provide a much-needed boost during what is typically an off-peak period for tourism. Last year, more than 5,200 visitors came to Hawaii specifically to take part in the 2009 festival, producing more than $10 million in visitor spending. This year’s festival is expected to have a similar impact.
The Honolulu Festival celebrates and perpetuates the strong cultural and ethnic ties between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. It is the Festival’s mission to perpetuate the traditions of these cultures to future generations. This celebration of music, art, and culture began in 1995 to help foster cultural and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and Asia-Pacific.
Outrigger Enterprises Group is pleased to continue its support of the Honolulu Festival, and we are privileged to have a portion of the Festival’s music and cultural activities located at Waikiki Beach Walk, where so many of our visitors — and residents too — can enjoy the fun and excitement of so many live performances.
For information and a full event calendar, please visit www.honolulufestival.com. You can also become a fan on Facebook and follow on Twitter at @honfestival.
