The 74th Cherry Blossom Festival Ball features the Cherry Blossom Festival Queen contestants as they present what they’ve learned throughout the program. The evening includes a taiko performance, self-composed speeches during the Western phase, and a furisode kimono presentation during the Eastern phase. The program concludes with the coronation of the 74th Cherry Blossom Festival Queen and Court, and guests can also enjoy a silent auction.

A 21+ evening inspired by the lively atmosphere of Japanese street festivals. Guests can enjoy food tastings from local chefs, refreshing beverages, and a festive night celebrating Japanese culinary culture and community. Presented by Bank of Hawaiʻi, this event serves as a fundraiser supporting the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi.

A one-night Japanese pop-culture event featuring music, fashion, and performances from Japanese artists. The event is held as a sister event to the Honolulu Festival and aims to promote cultural exchange between Japan and Hawaiʻi. The event features live performances by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, FRUITS ZIPPER, and ATARASHII GAKKO!, bringing an exciting showcase of contemporary Japanese music and culture to the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell.

San Jose Taiko’s highly-acclaimed Swingposium employs the power of performance to teach about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Swingposium is an immersive production that combines taiko, jazz, swing dance, and theatre to tell a
hidden history of one way Japanese Americans maintained morale in World War II “internment camps” –
through swing dances with live big band music. The audience is surrounded with the sights and sounds
in a fictional mess hall serving as a dance hall behind barbed wire. Active participation pulls them
deeply into the emotional trajectory of the story: the fear and loss of being incarcerated without due
process, the struggle to maintain dignity and hope, and the perseverance of the human spirit.

Join the fun at the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s Meishi Koukan Networking Event, presented by the Small Business Advocacy Committee (SBAC) and Membership Development Committee (MDC). “Meishi koukan” (名刺交換) is the Japanese custom of formally exchanging business cards as a way to build respectful, professional connections.

Held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Beer Lab Puck’s Alley, this networking evening offers a unique opportunity to connect with professionals while enjoying drinks, food, and prizes.