Your Insider Guide to Okinawan Festival

 

 

Spend your Labor Day weekend munching andagi, slurping Okinawa soba and listening to sanshin music at the Okinawan Festival. Now in its 44th year, it’s one of the largest ethnic festivals in the state of Hawai‘i. This year, due to renovations at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, the event will be scaled back and modified.

 

Specifically, there will be no bon dance and no early admission opportunities. However, you will still be able to dive into the culture with favorite festival activities, including music and performing arts, cultural education, arts and crafts, genealogy research and children’s games. Plus, there will be a new izakaya-inspired pop-up, offering a larger variety of eats than in previous years.

 

The festival is put on by the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association (HUOA) and supports its many cultural programs, including classes, genealogy resources, the Hawai‘i-Okinawa Student Exchange Program, the Children’s Cultural Day Camp, community service projects and more.

 

Click to the info you want to explore:

• When & Where
• What to Eat & Buy
• What to Do
• Entertainment
• Tips

 

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SEE ALSO: O‘ahu Bon Dance Schedule 2026

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When & Where

The 44th Okinawan Festival is on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave. All booths, activities and exhibits will be located on the first floor in Exhibit Halls I, II and III.

 

How Much It Costs

We recommend purchasing tickets in advance, so you don’t have to wait in line to buy tickets when you arrive. They are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Two-day admission is $16 for adults and $8 for seniors. Keiki 12 and under are free.

 

BUY TICKETS

 

All booths and activities accept scrip for payment, except the beer garden operated by the Hawai‘i Convention Center where you’ll need to pay via credit card. Purchase scrip with cash or credit card. One scrip is worth $1, and each scrip sheet is worth $10. You may use scrip, cash or credit card at the Craft Gallery and HUOA Store.

 

Where to Park

Hawai‘i Convention Center

Extremely limited parking is available at the Hawai‘i Convention Center for $15 per entry (no overnight or in/out privileges) from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Enter the convention center’s parking structure from Kalākaua Ave. Heads-up: the lot fills up around 9 a.m.

 

Ala Moana Shopping Center

Paid parking is available in areas where “Premium” parking signs are posted. Scan the QR code on the sign and pay online.

 

Civic Center Municipal Parking

You can park for free at the Civic Center Municipal Parking at 346 Alapai St. (enter from Beretania St.) and take the shuttle to the convention center. The shuttle will pick up from the Alapai Transfer Station across the street from Civic Center Municipal Parking. The shuttle cost is $5 round trip (collected upon return). You can purchase shuttle tickets from the Information Booth at the convention center. The shuttle will run on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

PanAm Building

Enter the building from Makaloa Street. Park here for a flat rate of $6 for 8 hours and walk 5–10 minutes to the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Parking is open on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

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What to Eat & Buy

One of the most important parts of the Okinawan Festival is the food, right? Chow down on your usual favorites, plus some new additions: Oki Nachos and Okinawan Mazesoba. This year, the Champuru Plate, Chili & Rice, Yakitori Bento and Yakisoba will not be available. Here’s the scoop on the menu and prices:

 

Andagi – 3 Pieces for 5 Scrip
Andagi is an all-around festival favorite. Basic doughnut ingredients, such as sugar, flour, milk and eggs, are mixed into a batter and deep-fried.

 

Andadog – 1 for 5 Scrip
Hot dog on a stick dipped in andagi batter and deep-fried. The Okinawan version of a corndog.

 

Oki Dog – 10 Scrip
A hot dog and chili are wrapped in a soft tortilla with shredded shoyu pork and lettuce. An Okinawan Festival original!

 

Okinawa Soba – 15 Scrip
Okinawa soba served in hot soup and garnished with kamaboko (fishcake), shoyu pork, green onions and red ginger.

 

Okinawan Sweet Potato (Steamed) – 6 Scrip
Sold at a mobile cart inside the Exhibition Hall.

 

Pig’s Feet Soup (Saturday all day, Sunday morning only) – 20 Scrip
Pig’s feet are cooked in a soup stock and garnished with konbu (seaweed), daikon (turnip), togan (squash), mustard cabbage and served with hot rice.

 

Okinawan Mazesoba – 15 Scrip
Soba noodles topped with shredded shoyu pork, onsen egg, green onions and red onions. Served with pork dashi sauce and lemon.

 

Yakitori – 3 Scrip
Skewered chicken grilled to perfection with a touch of teriyaki sauce.

 

Oki Nachos – 20 Scrip
‘Ahi poke nachos with shredded shoyu pork and edamame.

 

 

Prince Waikīkī’s House of Sakura

Also new this year is a partnership with House of Sakura by Prince Waikīkī. This pop-up izakaya will accept both scrip and credit card payments. The elevated food menu includes:

 

Wafu Rib Eye Steak, Watercress Salad – 25 scrip
Seared Rib Eye Steak with Daikon and Garlic Chips, Watercress and Radish Salad with Goma Dressing

 

Rafute and Eggs – 15 scrip
Okinawan-Style Shoyu Pork with Soft Boiled Egg

 

Okinawan Poke Nachos – 20 scrip
‘Ahi Poke Nachos with Shredded Shoyu Pork and Edamame

 

Poke and Umibudo – 20 scrip
Shoyu ‘Ahi Poke with Kona Limu Umi Budo (Okinawan sea grapes)

 

Tamago Sando – 15 scrip
Japanese-Style Egg Salad Sandwich on Shokupan Bread

 

Chili Crunch Edamame – 12 scrip
Boiled Edamame with house-made Garlic Chili Crunch

 

A5 Torched Wagyu Beef Nigiri – 1 piece for 25 scrip or 3 pieces for 40 scrip
A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Sushi, Brushed with Tare and Torched

 

 

Country Store

At Machiya-Gwaa (Country Store), you’ll find new and unique local products to eat at the festival or take home with you. Here are some of the notable items:

• Fresh fruits and veggies from FreshPoint Hawai‘i
• Andamiso (porky miso), an Okinawan Festival exclusive
• Pink Lemonade with Butterfly Tea served in limited-edition 44th Annual Okinawan Festival reusable cups
• Jimami (peanut) Tofu and Yushi Dofu from Aloha Tofu Factory
• Gobo & Carrot and Sweet Onion Fishcake Bites from Okuhara Foods
• Goya Sanbaizuke by Creative Gifts by Doreen
• Asato Family sherbet
• Smoked Marlin Dip from Da Pupu Bros
• Maki Sushi from Ige’s Halawa and Masa’s
• Veggie Bento from Teruya’s Andagi

 

 

Heiwa Dori

Visit Heiwa Dori for an impressive array of food products brought in directly from Okinawa. Among the most popular are:

• Kombu (dried kelp)
• Goya-cha (bitter melon tea)
• Okinawa soba
• Andagi mix
• Shikwasa juice (Okinawan lemon-lime juice)
• Kokuto (Okinawan black sugar candy)

 

Plant enthusiasts can browse a wide selection of potted plants and flowers that will be available for purchase from five local nurseries and farms. At the Craft Gallery, shop more than 40 local crafters and artisans with products such as unique clothing and jewelry, handmade crafts, keepsakes and gifts. Many crafters and artisans are Uchinanchu or Uchinanchu-at-heart and feature Okinawan-inspired products.

 

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What to Do

Entertainment from local performing arts groups will fill both days of the festival with Okinawan dance, karate, taiko and live music. This year’s special guest performers include local entertainer Karlie G (aka Karlie Goya); Naha Izumizaki Hatagashira Hozon Kai, a traditional performance group from Okinawa who will lift and balance a large pole with a flag and decorative lantern; and the students of ‘Ohana Arts, who will perform selections from Okinawan Princess, a new original musical in development based on the award-winning children’s book by Lee Tonouchi.

 

 

Gusuku Bingata from Okinawa is back in Hawai‘i to share the art of bingata, a traditional stenciled resist dyeing technique, through hands-on workshops. Participants can try the Bingata dyeing technique on a coaster and take it home as a keepsake. Online pre-registration is required and costs $25.

 

 

At the Village of Culture booth, explore Okinawan cultural displays and hands-on activities, including Shimakutuba (indigenous languages of Okinawa) and kimono and paranku dressing with professional photography available for a fee. This year, festival-goers will have the opportunity to take an Okinawan dance class by Sensei Cheryl Penhart.

 

 

If you are Uchinanchu (or think you might be), learn how to trace your roots with the Okinawa Genealogical Society of Hawai‘i, which offers access to thousands of historical records and resources for discovering Okinawan ancestry. Keiki can play at the Children’s Games booth featuring a variety of Okinawan-themed, Japanese matsuri and classic carnival games to win prizes.

 

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Entertainment

Here is a tentative schedule.

 

Saturday, Sept. 5

10:15 a.m. Program Opening

10:20 a.m. Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai Hawai‘i Shibu (Music)

10:35 a.m. Ryukyu Koten Ongaku Nomura-Ryu Ongaku Kyokai Hawai‘i Shibu (Music)

10:55 a.m. Naha Izumizaki Hatagashira Hozon Kai (Performance)

11:10 a.m. Opening Procession

11:35 a.m. Paranku Club of Hawai‘i (Music – Drums)

11:50 a.m. Formal Opening Ceremony

12:25 p.m. Tamagusuku Ryu Kansen Atae No Kai Akiko Tome Ryubu Dojo (Dance)

12:55 p.m. Ryusei Honryu Ryuko Kai (Dance)

1:18 p.m. Shorin-Ryu Hawai‘i Seibukan (Martial Arts)

1:33 p.m. Hooge Ryu Hana Nuuzi No Kai Nakasone Dance Academy (Dance)

1:58 p.m. Yuttai Kwattai (Music – Modern)

2:23 p.m. Hawai‘i Okinawa Creative Arts (Dance)

2:48 p.m. Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawai‘i (Music – Drums)

3:13 p.m. Karlie G (Music)

3:38 p.m. Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai USA/Hawai‘i (Music)

4:23 p.m. Kachashi – Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai USA/Hawai‘i (Dance)

 

 

Sunday, Sept. 6

10:15 a.m. Program Opening

10:20 a.m. HUOA Ichi Go Ichi E Class (Music)

10:45 a.m. The Kilauea Okinawa Dance Club (Dance)

11:10 a.m. Dignitaries’ Greetings

11:20 a.m. Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai Frances Nakachi Ryubu Dojo (Dance)

11:45 a.m. ‘Ohana Arts, Okinawan Princess (performance)

12:05 p.m. Nidaime Teishin Kai Hawai‘i Shibu and HUOA Sanshin Class (Music)

12:30 p.m. Jimpu Kai U.S.A. Kin Ryosho Ryukyu Geino Kenkyusho Hawai‘i Shibu (Dance)

12:55 p.m. Urizun Minyo Group (Music)

1:20 p.m. Chinagu Eisa Hawai‘i (Music – Drums)

1:45 p.m. Shoshin Dance Company (Dance)

2:10 p.m. Hawai‘i Okinawa Shinden Shorin Ryu Karate Association (Martial Arts)

2:30 p.m. Azama Honryu Allison Tokuko Yanagi Ryukyu Dance Studio (Dance)

2:50 p.m. Nomura Ryu Dentou Ongaku Kyoukai Hawai‘i Shibu (Music)

3:20 p.m. Kachashi – Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai USA/Hawai‘i (Dance)

 

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Tips

• Leave your pets and hard-shell coolers at home as they won’t be allowed inside.
• All attendees must complete the Hawai‘i Convention Center’s required security screening before entering.
• Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be walking a lot and waiting in line.
• Note that towards the end of the event, the festival may stop selling scrip and booths may accept cash instead, so bring some on Sunday.
• While there will be no bon dance at this year’s festival, save the date for HUOA’s Autumn Matsuri on Saturday, Sept. 19.
• If you can’t get enough of andagi and soba, you’re in luck. The Okinawan Feastival kicks off on Sept. 7 and runs through Sept. 21. Local restaurants will offer traditional foods and special menus. Check out the list of participating locations and dishes here.

 

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Okinawan Festival, Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., Ala Moana, okinawanfestival.com, @okinawanfestival

 

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Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine.