At multicultural Honolulu fest, focus is on food, fun and fireworks

Fireworks, friendship and fun are on tap for the March 6-8 return of the Honolulu Festival.

Through music and dance performances, fireworks and a parade, the popular weekend festival celebrates the people and cultures of Hawaii and the nations of the Pacific Rim. All but one of the events is free.

The March 6 Friendship Gala, the kickoff event, is the only gathering for which admission is charged. Tickets cost $90 per person. Proceeds support educational and cultural programs in Hawaii. Entertainment and entrees such as fish from Morimoto Waikiki and duck from Roy’s are on the menu.

The March 7 activities, which run 10 a.m.–6 p.m., include a variety of entertainment options, such as a craft fair, specialty foods from various nations, culturally themed films and performances by percussionists playing traditional Japanese taiko drums.

The events will be at the Ala Moana Center, Hawaii Convention Center and Waikiki Beach Walk.

The cultural activities continue from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 8, followed by the Waikiki Grand Parade. Starting at 4:30 p.m., bands, floats and street performers will make their way down Kalakaua Avenue.

The festival climaxes with a fireworks show at along Waikiki Beach at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The pyrotechnics are presented by the City of Nagaoka, Japan, which is well known for its fireworks displays over the Shinano River each August.

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