2024 - 31st Annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival (Japanese Food, Music, Live Taiko, Fashion, Crafts, Tours & More)NEW

Think pink for the 31st Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on February 3, 2024!

Headquartered at Church Row Park with a stage and program in the area behind Parker Ranch Center, this multi-venue event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and celebrate Waimea’s annual blooming of its historic cherry trees.

Spend the day enjoying Japanese and multi-cultural performing arts, plus hands-on demonstrations of bonsai, traditional tea ceremony, food preparation by local chefs and dozens craft vendors- and mochi pounding!

Roberts Hawai‘i will provide a free transportation shuttle between Church Row Park and Parker Ranch Center, though walking is encouraged.

The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced by the Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section in partnership with many Waimea businesses and community groups. It’s organized by a dedicated team of volunteers.

2024 Activities & Lineup
Times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. unless noted otherwise and info is subject to change. Roberts Hawai’i offers free transportation with stops at Church Row Park, Pukalani Stables, Parker Ranch Center and Parker Ranch Historic Homes.

Church Row Park-Hwy. 19
• Historical Cherry Tree Display: Waimea Lions’ Club offers a pictorial history of the cherry trees and serves as the festival’s official Lost and Found station. T-shirt sales.

• Entertainmant: Halau Manaola, Ryukukoku Matsuri Daiko Taiko, Puna Taiko and U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

• Bonsai: The Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club offers a display and sale of bonsai, ongoing demonstrations and a clinic to discuss and work on the art of bonsai.

Kamuela Hongwanji at Church Row Park

• Food & Cherry Branch Sales: Mission members offer Asian food sales: nishime bento, chichi mochi, andagi and chili/rice bowl. Cherry tree branches for sale if available.

• Cooking Demos: Hawai‘i Island resort and restaurant chefs offer cooking demos 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Pop-Up Store: Fashions by Hawai‘i designer Manaola Yap

• Open House: Rev. Masanari Yamagishi explains Shin Buddhism rituals.

• Keiki Activities: Presented by Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i

Parker Ranch Center-Hwy. 19

• Festival Entertainment Stage: In the Centerʻs back parking lot. 9 a.m. blessing opens festival with introduction of dignitaries; entertainment until 3 p.m. Join-in with North Hawai‘i Bon Dancers, Team Majestic Lion Dancers, Christy Lassiter & Friends, Just Us Band, Saddle Road Band, Johnny Ness and the Rockness Monsters, and Taishoji Taiko.

• Craft Fair: Over 75 crafters and info booths inside and out of the Center.

• Mochi Tsuki Pounding: Help pound mochi with members of the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple outside in the back parking lot starting 10 a.m.; samples.

• New Vehicle Display: IK Dealer Group displays new vehicles from Kama‘aina Motors, Kama‘aina Nissan, Kona Nissan and Kona Auto Center in the grassy lot next to Mana Christian ʻOhana.

Waimea Historic Corner-Hwys. 19/190 intersection

• Firehouse Gallery Activities: Waimea Arts Council presents “31st Annual Cherry Blossom Art Exhibition” with originals and prints for sale, including the new and past festival posters for $10. Hands-on cherry blossom art for all ages, materials provided, outside chalk drawing.

• Waimea Preservation Association Cottage: Open house and fun on the 20-foot-square chess board 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library: Create your own acrylic painting of a blooming cherry branch with guidance from Waimea Arts Council artist. Materials provided (while supplies last).

Parker Ranch Historic Homes - Hwy. 190

• Free Tours of Historic Homes: Visit Puuopelu and Mana Hale, two homes that chronicle the Parker familyʻs rich history involving monarchs, ranching and Broadway.

• Japanese Tea Ceremony: Urasenke Hilo Association performs traditional chanoyu 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Asian Dance and Music: “Sakura Beauty and Spirit” performed 2 p.m. by local musicians and members of the Shizuno Nasu Dance Institute of Japan.

Waimea Center - Hwy. 19

• KTA Super Stores Waimea: Food demonstrations 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Waimea Center’s Atrium: Entertainment 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Kohala Taiko Drummers, Honoka‘a Jazz Band, Sho-shin Kai Koto, lion dance.

Historic Spencer House - (Next to Waimea Center) Hwy. 19

• Japanese Collectibles: View a display of vintage kimono, obi and collection of kokeshi dolls, plus learn about the historic 1840 Spencer House.

Keck Observatory Headquarters Lawn - Hwy. 19

• Telescope Viewing: See our nearest star, the Sun! Festival craft fair.

Kamuela Liquor Store - Hwy. 19: Sake tasting noon-3 p.m.

Pukalani Stables - Pukalani Road

• Kamuela Farmers Market: Browse over 70 food and product vendors, including sales of cherry trees and blooming branches 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Face painting 10 a.m.-1 p.m., food demos 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., North Hawai‘i Bon Dancers 11:30 a.m.-noon, Darlene Ahuna noon-1 p.m.

Holo Holo Ku at Parker Ranch next to Pukalani Stables

Kohala Mountain Express keiki train rides for $5 fee.