LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Museum invites the public to explore a taste of Japanese culture from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, coinciding with its monthly ‘Ohana Day celebration. Kama‘aina and anyone wearing traditional Japanese attire will be admitted free
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Museum invites the public to explore a taste of Japanese culture from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, coinciding with its monthly ‘Ohana Day celebration.
Kama‘aina and anyone wearing traditional Japanese attire will be admitted free and a discounted rate will be offered to everyone else.
The aroma of chicken hekka — not just a Japanese recipe, but a favorite local dish steeped in the history of the plantation camp lifestyle — will be wafting over the museum when the doors open.
The Holomua Family and Community Education Club of Lihu‘e, many of whose members are of Japanese descent, will offer mochi, a Japanese rice cake, and assorted pickles for sale along with their annual fundraising quilt.
Other activities, including hands-on Japanese-type crafts, mini flower arranging, Hanafuda card games (remember when groups would wager matchsticks?), and plantation games will fill the museum’s newly renovated courtyard.
Kimono, musical instruments and artifacts from special events will be on display.
There will also be a mini exhibit about sumo on Kaua‘i featuring an authentic sumotori, or wrestler, belt from the days when sumo was a big event in Hawai‘i.
Kyle Chew will fill the air with his shakuhachi stylings starting at 11 a.m.
The shakuhachi is a traditional bamboo end-blown flute which requires great skill from the player to produce a wide range of sounds with limited finger holes.
Chew recently returned from a workshop in Japan and is eager to share new material from the tour.
Coming off a successful two-day performance at the Zenshuji Hanapepe Soto Zen temple bon dance, the Kaua‘i Sanshin Club will follow Chew with traditional and contemporary Okinawan songs at 12:30 p.m.
The art of playing the sanshin, a traditional three-stringed instrument, was almost lost and is currently being revived by the club, assisted by Sensei Grant Sandaa Murata.
The sanshin performance will set the stage for the mini bon dance which will start under the tent at 1 p.m.
Kaua‘i has one of the longest bon dance seasons in the state with performances hosted by Kaua‘i Buddhist Council at different temples in rotation.
Traditionally, the churches take a break during the Fourth of July weekend so people can enjoy the patriotic celebrations. And more recently, bon dances have been hosted by island hospitals and the Kaua‘i Museum for those who are not able to participate during the Kaua‘i Buddhist Council schedule.
The dances are part of the summer obon observances stemming from the Buddhist religion when people honor their ancestors with rituals and dance.
Hawai‘i’s version invites the public to join in by dancing in the ring and buying food, which makes it a major fundraiser for the hosting temple.
At Saturday’s event, there will be 16 dances featured which will take about an hour.
Call 245-6931 for more information. The Kaua‘i Museum is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
