Subscribe to Hawaii Business : HB Life

It’s that time of year again when thousands of visitors from Japan, Australia, Tahiti, the Philippines, Taiwan and Korea flock to Waikiki to showcase their culture in the annual Honolulu Festival. The free, three-day extravaganza is scheduled from Friday, March 14, to Saturday, March 16. Here’s a quick rundown of this year’s schedule:

Friday, March 14

• Official Ceremonies noon to 1:30 p.m., by invitation only
• Educational School Tour 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hawaii Convention Center. Cultural exhibits are on display for Hawaii students, ages elementary to high school

Saturday, March 15

• The Fifth US-Japan Cultural Exchange Seminar Program 10:30 a.m., Hawaii Convention Center. “The First Citizen: Joseph Heco and the Opening of U.S.-Japan Relations”
• Performances 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center and Waikiki Beach Walk. Cultural performances by local and international artists
• Craft Fair and Maui Mikoshi Unveiling Ceremony 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hawaii Convention Center. The winner of the Maui high school mikoshi contest will be unveiled
• Friendship Gala 7 to 9 p.m., Hawaii Convention Center, $85. A fund-raiser showcasing cultural performances and samplings by Hawaii’s famous chefs. For tickets, go to honolulufestival.com

Sunday, March 16

• Performances and Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hawaii Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center and Waikiki Beach Walk. Craft fair is only in the convention center
• Grand Parade 4:30 to 8 p.m., Kalakaua Avenue. Parade starts on Lewers Street, featuring high-school bands, international dance troupes and appearances by local pageant queens