Spotlight

WHO/WHAT: The Hawaii United Okinawa Association and the Okinawa Prefectural Government’s Department of Education Folk ArtS Department presents “Geijutsu Performance.” Sixteen students from various parts of Okinawa will perform traditional Okinawan music and dance....

Henry Perrine Baldwin High School junior Emma Mika Endo, 16, was crowned the 67th Chrysanthemum Festival queen at the Kïhei Community Center on Dec. 7. Endo is the daughter of Randall and Patti Endo of Wailuku, Maui. Rounding out the Chrysanthemum Festival court were princesses:

“Building Healthy Sanghas: Embracing Generosity and Openness” will be the theme of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Buddhist Women’s Association shinnen enkai (New Year’s party) and general membership meeting on Sunday, Jan. 26, in the Sangha Hall. Rimban Shindo Nishiyama will conduct the service. Registration will start at 9:30 a.m. and the service and party....

WHO/WHAT: The United Japanese Society of Hawaii will hold its 61st annual shinnen enkai (New Year’s banquet). UJSH will recognize the recipients of the 2019 imperial decorations by the government of Japan — Dr. Robert...

WHO/WHAT: The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i celebrates the “Year of the Rat” with its annual New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival, the state’s largest festival celebrating Japanese New Year’s traditions. Enjoy delicious food and a...

WHO/WHAT: Bamboo Ridge Press presents a book launch of  “Kona Winds,” the debut novel by Japanese American author Scott Kikkawa. This noir murder mystery is set in Honolulu in 1953, when Hawai‘i was evolving...

Chaminade University’s Mystical Rose Oratory was the setting for the Christmas Concert for PEACE and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration on Dec. 7. The program by Tinkerbell, a handbells performing group from Japan, and Tsugaru Shamisen music, also from Japan, was organized by the BDK – Rev. (Yoshiaki) Fujitani Interfaith Program at Chaminade University and....

WHO/WHAT: The Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii presents its Community Mochi-tsuki (mochi-pounding) event. Cultural activities for the whole family include: mochi-making, origami, cooking demos, kokedama (decorative moss balls) making and sumi-e (brush art). WHEN/WHERE: Sunday,...

DAIJINGU TEMPLE OF HAWAII (61 Pu‘iwa Rd. in Nu‘uanu) Dec. 31, 10 p.m.: Ooharai (great purification ritual); Dec. 31, 11 p.m.: Jyoya Sai (Year-end blessing); Jan. 1, midnight-4 p.m.: New Year’s blessings: Jan. 1, 2...

Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu (1239 Olomea St. in the Kalihi-Palama area), 841-4755 Dec. 31, 11 p.m.: Year-end purification ritual; Jan. 1, midnight-4 p.m.: New Year’s blessings Both O-toso and kagami biraki sake will be served. Omamori available...