“Please join us as family, and you too can be a part of this important annual celebration,” said Moon.
Monday marks the start of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, in which celebrations traditionally are held for 15 days. This year’s observance ends Feb. 6. This is the most celebrated holiday of the year for billions of people of Chinese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese descent, celebrated with parades, large family gatherings and festivals. Ancestors are remembered and honored and families give thanks for their blessings.
The Hilo Chinese New Year Festival, now a decade old, will officially welcome the Year of the Dragon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in downtown Hilo’s Kalakaua Park. Folks of all ages are invited to participate.
“We follow the traditions of other Chinatown areas in expanding the celebrations beyond the traditional 15-day period,” said event producer Alice Moon.
Leading up to the festival, from Monday until Feb. 6, the Hilo event sponsor, Panda Express, will help raise funds for the festival via a flier program. Twenty percent of sales at the restaurant generated by those who present the official fundraising flier during that time will be donated to the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association to help stage the event. Another 20 percent of sales generated on the day of the festival will also be donated to the cause.
“We are truly blessed to have the support of Panda Express Hilo. We invite fans and friends of Hilo Chinese New Year Festival to try out some of their delicious food, but first visit our website at www.downtownhilo.com and download the flier to become one of our ‘grassroots sponsors,'” said Moon.
On the day of the event, the Big Island Shaolin Arts Lion Dancers will jump, roll and dance among the roaring firecrackers and weave around Kalakaua Park, blessing those offering up a monetary donation, usually enclosed in a small red packet called lai see or hung bao.
Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations by the Mo Min Kuen Monkey Kung Fu and Peter Tam Hoy’s Tai Chi students, and free keiki activities provided by the Hilo High School Leo Club.
A Keiki Chinese Fashion Show at 12:30 p.m. promises all entries will receive a special Chinese New Year award for participation. Sign up at the information booth in the park from 10 a.m. until noon.
The popular food sampling at noon will feature students and faculty of the Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts Program under the direction of Chef Allan Okuda.
Kalakaua Park will become a mini Chinatown, packed with Asian, Hawaiian and multi-cultural arts, crafts and product vendors. For those looking for more than a taste, an international food court gives people a chance to eat their favorite festival foods, including Panda Express Hilo’s popular bowls, Crivello’s Place malasadas and shave ice, Akmal’s Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and more.
“There are a good group of artists, crafters, Chinese and Asian product vendors with plenty of Lunar New Year items, toys, jewelry, handsewn clothing and tablecloths, fine art and, of course, the Year of the Dragon T-shirt designed by Na Makua Original Hawaiian Designs,” said Moon.
“The Year of the Dragon is associated with new beginnings and good fortune. Those with entrepreneurial spirit are particularly favored to see much success in the coming year. Generally, it’s predicted that any new venture may benefit from the outstanding luck often associated with the dragon. Therefore, it will be a very good year to get married, have children or start a new business,” said Moon.
For more information, call 935-8850, email askalice@downtownhilo.com or visit www.downtownhilo.com.
“Please join us as family, and you too can be a part of this important annual celebration,” said Moon.