Free Event

🌸 Join the Community for the 2025 Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival – 25 Venues to Explore in Upcountry Waimea! 🌸   Experience the 32nd Annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival – Saturday, February 1, 2025! From 9 AM to 3 PM, this beloved upcountry tradition will span across Waimea, with festivities taking place at Parker Ranch Historic Homes, Church Row, Kamuela Liquor Store, Parker Ranch Center, and historic Pukalani Stables. Enjoy a full lineup of multi-cultural performances, hands-on demonstrations, artisan crafts, and delicious food booths. Look for the tall pink festival banners marking event venues throughout town. 🚌 FREE Shuttle Service by Roberts Hawaii will be available between Parker Ranch Historic Homes, Parker Ranch Center, Church Row Park, and Pukalani Stables. 🚗 Parking is available at Parker Ranch Center, the soccer field across from Church Row Park, Kamuela Hardwoods (Old Parker Ranch Slaughterhouse), and along Pukalani Street. 📖 Festival Guides & Souvenirs: Pick up a free "2025 Festival Activity Lineup" at all venues to navigate the day’s events. A free 2025 Souvenir Program will also be available, highlighting the many organizations behind this cherished festival. Access both publications online via a QR code on festival posters and the official Facebook page. 🌸 A Celebration of Tradition Presented by the County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation and the local community, the festival honors the annual blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and the cherished Japanese tradition of hanami—a celebration of cherry blossom viewing. The trees typically bloom in early February following the seasonal winter chill. 🎗️ Honoring Ruth Dick This year’s festival is dedicated to the late Ruth Dick, a longtime festival participant and valued member of the Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club. Join us for a day of culture, community, and celebration in the heart of Waimea! 2025 Festival Activities and Lineup: Click Here for PDF Print Version Church Row Park—Hwy. 19 (note one-way traffic pattern): • 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. Festival t-shirt sales. • Entertainment: 9:15 a.m.-2 p.m., Halau Manaola, Chinese Lion dance by Majesty, Ryukukoku Matsuri Daiko Taiko, Hawaiian Duo, Puna Taiko • 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—Church Row: • Food & Cherry Branch Sales: Mission members offer Asian food sales: chichi mochi, andagi and types of bento. Cherry tree branches for sale if available. • Cooking Demos: Hawai‘i chefs offer cooking demonstrations 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Peter Abarcar of Mauna Kea Resort, Kalani Garcia of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Allen Hess of FORC, Jayson Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott, Alan Wong. • Open House at Kamuela Hongwanji: Rev. Masanari Yamagishi explains Shin Buddhism rituals. • Setsubun: Interactive bean throwing ritual to welcome spring and keiki activity 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 dignitaties; entertainment until 3 p.m. Join-in dancing with North Hawai‘i Bon Dancers accompanied by Kona Hongwanji Taiko and Team Majestic Lion Dancers starting 9:20 a.m., followed by Jennie Kaneshiro & CJ Kama, Saddle Road Band, Johnny Ness and the Rock Ness Monsters, 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. while supplies last; mochi samples. • Family Craft Activities: Inside Food Court in Blue Room • Selfie Photo Station: #WaimeaCBF, #thinkpink #parkerranchcenter Mana Christian ‘Ohana's Kahilu Town Hall - behind Parker Ranch Center and across from Kahilu Theatre: • Kravin’ Munchies Craft Fair and Quilt Display • Vehicle Display: IK Dealer Group displays new vehicles from Kama‘aina Motors, Kama‘aina Nissan, Kona Nissan and Kona Auto Center behind the Center in the adjacent grassy lot Kamuela Hardwoods - Behind Mana Christian ‘Ohana Kahilu Town Hall (restored Parker Ranch slaughterhouse): • First Saturday Artisan’s Hui, Woodworking workshop, showroom tour Waimea Historic Corner—Hwys. 19/190 intersection: • Firehouse Gallery: Waimea Arts Council presents 32nd Annual Cherry Blossom Exhibition, “Big Island Blooms,” with originals and prints for sale, including the 2025 festival posters for $10 that will be signed by artist Janice Gail. Outdoor 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 haiku poem and illustrate it in watercolor with guidance from Waimea Arts Council artist. Materials provided (while supplies last). Parker School Theatre—Lindsey Road: • Asian Music and Dance: 2 p.m. Parker Ranch Historic Homes – Hwy. 190: • Free Tours of Historic Homes: Visit Pu‘uopelu and Mana Hale, two homes that chronicle the Parker familyʻs legendary history involving monarchs, ranching and Broadway. • Japanese Tea Ceremony: The Urasenke Hilo Association interactive tea ceremonies 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Feather Lei Making Demos,10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Apparel & Accessories Sales, Parker Ranch, cherry-blossom Waimea Center – Hwy. 19: • KTA Super Stores Waimea: Food demos, sampling 9 a.m.-1 p.m. • Waimea Center’s Atrium: Entertainment 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m, taiko, koto, jazz, lion dance Historic Spencer House – (In Waimea Center next to McDonalds) Hwy. 19: • Japanese Collectibles: View a display of vintage kimono, obi and collection of kokeshi dolls, plus learn about the 1840 Spencer House. Keck Observatory Headquarters Lawn – Hwy. 19: • Telescope Viewing: See our nearest star, the Sun! • Craft Fair and Food Booths/Trucks Kamuela Liquor Store – Hwy. 19: Sake tasting noon-3 p.m. Historic Pukalani Stables – Corner of Pukalani and Ala 'Ohia Roads • 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. Cooking demos 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.; Entertainment 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Dagan Berstein, Darlene Ahuna, lion dance, bon dance; face painting 10 a.m.-1 p.m. • Holo Holo Ku at Parker Ranch next to Pukalani Stables Cherry Choo Choo train rides for young keiki, $5 fee.