Hot cars seem to go with fun in the sun and Hawaii is no exception. There is a surprising variety of classic cars, as well as new muscle cars, on these islands. The cars are often out on weekends, taking a Sunday tour around the neighborhood. This past weekend in Kailua, beautifully restored and maintained cars gathered with their owners for a Mustang Madness car show. Not all the cars were Mustangs, but there were quite a few in various stages of restoration. Two red 1966 Mustangs were displayed side-by-side, one restored to top condition as it was originally sold, the other modified for racing.
While I am always struck by the variety of cars that have floated their way to Hawaii, I am also reminded of an old LP record I had decades ago by the singing duo Jan and Dean. One side was all songs about surfing, the other side was all songs about cars. Two of their hits were "Surf City" and "Drag City," along with the better-known "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" and "Dead Man’s Curve" (a real portion of road near where Jan Berry was seriously injured just two years later).
The Beach Boys also sang of their love for cars. Their album "Little Deuce Coupe" came out in the summer of 1963. My father was a mechanic when I was young and I remember writing down the lyrics of one song ("409") to ask him what the words " four speed dual quad posi-traction 409" meant. He got out an auto manual and showed me the car parts that had so inspired teen aged boys that they wrote songs about them.
There is a huge auto show this coming weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu: "The First Hawaiian International Auto Show" is the title, although there was a similar car show last year around this time. Many of the cars will be new models displayed to encourage sales, no doubt. However, I will look for the local car clubs showing classic VWs, Mustangs and Shelbys, Porsches, Camaros, rare and antique autos and, yes, Lowriders, all the while with the Beach Boys song "Our Car Club" playing in my head.
Posted by Cindy Scheopner Follow me on Twitter @Scheopner
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
March 24th, 2010
If you are going to be taking a Hawaii vacation to Oahu on the weekend of March 13 and 14th you’re in for a real treat of a lifetime. The 16th Annual Honolulu Festival will be taking place in Waikiki and the best part is that it’s totally FREE. The festival will give you the opportunity to personally interact with many cultures from all over the Pacific rim. 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, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii. There will be a wide variety of entertainment with over 120 performers in four locations in the Waikiki area; Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Center, Waikiki Beach walk and Waikiki shopping Plaza.
The Honolulu Festival began in 2000 and it’s primary objective is to provide the event to the citizens of Hawaii and to visitors at no cost to the public. The festival provides a unique opportunity for visitors and residents of Hawaii from all over the world to experience the cultural practices and traditional art forms of Japan and other Pacific Rim countries. The foundation believes that these kinds of events contributed to perpetuating the cultures, customs and traditions of Asian Pacific islanders.
This year at the Hawaii Convention Center will feature an expanded array of cultural offerings highlighting arts, crafts, exhibits and foods. You’ll find the Anime Corner featuring "Kawaii Con" members from Hawaii and, by popular demand, the return of the "Maid Cafe", a fantasy game which puts maid’s and Butler’s at your disposal. The Anime Corner will also be highlighted by the appearance of Japanese TV star Momoi Halko. You’ll also probably want to check out the special movie showings; the critically acclaimed Japanese films "Hula Girls" and "Departures" will be shown Saturday, March 13. If food is your pleasure you definitely want to check out the friendship Gala which takes place on March 13 and will feature a dozen of Hawaii’s most celebrated restaurants.
Arguably one of the best parts of the entire festival is the grand Parade down Kalakaua Avenue. This spectacular event begins at 430 PM in Waikiki and runs along Kalakaua Avenue. The parade features music and magnificent floats especially the popular Daijayama, or fire-breathing dragon.
For more information call the Festival Hotline at 808-596-3327.
Scheduled Events:
Mar. 13 (Sat), 2010
Performances
Craft Fair
Ennichi Corner
Anime Corner
Maui Mikoshi
Performances
10:00am – 5:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, Waikiki Shopping Plaza
Craft Fair
10:00am – 5:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
Ennichi Corner
10:00am – 5:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
Anime Corner
10:00am – 5:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
Maui Mikoshi Unveiling Ceremony
11:00am -
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
The Maui mikoshi contest was developed exclusively for Maui high school students. Each year there is a competition among Maui high schools to design a mikoshi for the Honolulu Festival. Mikoshi are decorative floats that are unique to specific prefectures in Japan. They are carried by troops of celebrants during their festivals. The winning Maui mikoshi is unveiled and displayed at the Hawaii Convention Center over the Festival weekend. Students of the high school selected as the overall winner visit Honolulu during the weekend of the festival and march in the Grand Parade showcasing their award winning mikoshi.
Friendship Gala
Friendship Gala 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
Come and enjoy the delicious dishes of Hawaii’s famous restaurants. The Friendship Gala promotes friendship, understanding and international goodwill between the people of Hawaii and other Pacific Rim countries. Attendees are offered a unique insight into the cultures of the Pacific through dance, song and regional cuisine by some of Hawaii’s most famous chefs.
Mar. 14 (Sun), 2010
Performances
Craft Fair
Ennichi Corner
Anime Corner
Grand Parade
Performances
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, Waikiki Shopping Plaza
10:00am – 3:00pm
Craft Fair
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
10:00am – 3:00pm
Ennichi Corner
10:00am – 3:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
Anime Corner
10:00am – 3:00pm
Venue:Hawaii Convention Center
Grand Parade
4:30pm – 8:00pm
Venue:Kalakaua Avenue/Waikiki
Posted by Bruce Fisher, on twitter @alohabruce
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
March 2nd, 2010
In these troubled times, Hawaii’s visitor industry is desperately seeking ways to boost arrivals, hotel occupancy and traffic in attractions and restaurants.
Hawaii hotel rates are dropping, special offers are in effect, and almost all advertising that emanates in Hawaii is promoting the current low cost of a Hawaii vacation.
A welcome elixir occurred in March. It was the economic impact brought about by the15th Annual Honolulu Festival. The free weekend fest featured live musical and cultural performances as well as impressive art exhibits by artisans from Japan, Australia, Tahiti, The Philippines, The Republic of China (Taiwan), Korea, Hawaii and the rest of the United States.
It was enormously successful, generating more than 5,200 visitors who came to Hawaii specifically to take part in the weekend of festivities.
The Festival began March 13th with free cultural demonstrations for nearly 1,000 Oahu school students at the Hawaii Convention Center. It opened to the public with two full days of free cultural performances and exhibits at the Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Beach Walk, and Waikiki Shopping Plaza, along with a Grand Parade through Waikiki. The free public performances drew approximately 30,000 guests, of which nearly 17,000 came to the Hawaii Convention Center. Moreover, an estimated 40,000 spectators along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki watched the Grand Parade finale. On top of that, the Festival’s “Friendship Gala” fundraiser on March 14 generated more than $52,000 in support of Hawaii educational and cultural programs.
Most significant was the $10 million in visitor spending and nearly $1 million in total tax revenues for the state.
The Honolulu Festival was initiated in 1995 to help promote cultural understanding and harmony between the people of Hawaii and Asia-Pacific. Next year’s 16th Annual Honolulu Festival takes place March 12-14.
Actually, you’re likely to run into one festival or another whenever you vacation in the islands. They’re all good fun and most of them are free.
If you’re considering a vacation here pick an agent at Hawaii-Aloha.com, or call us at 1-800-843-8771. We’ll let you know what will be going on while you’re here.
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
April 23rd, 2009
