WAIMEA CHERRY BLOSSOM HERITAGE FESTIVAL

11/06/2009

SET FOR FIRST SATURDAY IN FEBRUARY

WAIMEA, BIG ISLAND of HAWAI‘I — Life is just a bowl of cherries at the annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on Saturday, Feb. 6. The scenic event showcases the blooming of Church Row Park’s historic cherry trees and the Japanese tradition of viewing them—hanami. The trees typically bloom the beginning of February and herald the arrival of spring with their pink blossoms—often against the backdrop of a snowy Mauna Kea summit.

During the 9 a.m.-3 p.m. festival, a host of activities sprawl eastward from the Parker Ranch Historic Homes on Mamalahoa Hwy. 190 to the Hawaiian Homestead Farmer’s Market on Hwy. 19—look for pink banners identifying site locations. Enjoy Japanese and multi-cultural performing arts, plus demonstrations of bonsai, origami, sumie, calligraphy, tea ceremony and mochi pounding and a host of craft fairs. The festival offers free shuttle transportation among venues. For info, 961-8706.

Contact: Festival Coordinator, Roxcie Waltjen,
Hawaii County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, (808) 961-8706