Maui Matsuri celebrates Japanese culture May 15

The 10^th Annual Maui Matsuri, scheduled for May 14-15, honors Japanese cultural traditions with its annual theme of “Kodomo No Tame Ni (for the sake of the children).” The festival features art, entertainment, contests, crafts and food.

Courtesy image.

Schedule of events:

• Friday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.:  A free Family Movie Night featuring “Only the Brave,” directed by Lane Nishikawa, will be held at the Pilina Building at the University of Hawaii – Maui College Student Center.  Nishikawa will be in attendance and will sign DVDs which will be available for sale.  An anime film will be shown following “Only the Brave.”
• Saturday May 15, 2-9 p.m.:  The Matsuri festivities continue on Saturday at the University of Hawaii – Maui College. The grassy knolls of the campus will be transformed into a bunkamura (Japanese village).  The demonstration and entertainment stages will showcase the best of Maui County’s Japanese and Okinawan talent as well as traditional martial arts and eating contests.  Contests include saimin and natto eating.  There is also the costume cosplay (costume play) contest.  An inaugural hanafuda tournament is scheduled as well.
• Saturday, May 15, 2:30 p.m.:  Frank DeLima performs
• Saturday, May 15, 3:30 & 5:30 p.m.:  appearance by Japanese superheroes Kikaida and friends.
• Saturday, May 15:  Keiki have a world of their own at the Kodomo Corner where they will be able to participate in hands-on free craft activities such as origami and gyotaku (Japanese fish printing).
• Saturday, May 15 7:30 p.m.:  The festival ends with a community obon dance starting from 7:30 pm.  The community is invited to wear a hapi coat or kimono and join in on the dancing.

Admission to the festival and parking is free.

Kay Fukumoto, Yuki Lei Sugimura, Tiffany Iida, and Lynn Araki-Regan said that, as co-chairs of the 10th Annual Maui Matsuri, their goal is to produce a Festival that grows more spectacular annually and exposes the mainstream population to the diverse Japanese cultural arts and traditions.  This year’s honorary chair is U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye.

Presented by the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui, the 10th Annual Maui Matsuri’s other sponsors include Hawaii Tourism Authority, County of Maui, IBEW Local Union 1186, Linn Nishikawa & Associates, Island Honda, Maui Taiko and University of Hawaii – Maui College.

For more information on the Maui Matsuri, call the Matsuri Hotline at 283-9999 or visit www.mauimatsuri.com.