The Maui News

The 21st annual Maui Matsuri will return to the University of Hawaii Maui College after four years, featuring cultural entertainment, saimin and natto eating contests and keiki activities.

This year’s celebration will kick off with Children’s Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, followed by the Japanese Festival from 3 to 9 p.m. May 27 at UH-Maui College. This year’s festival theme is “ichi go ichi e,” a Japanese philosophical concept about treasuring “the unique, unrepeatable nature of a moment or encounter, for it will never recur,” according to a news release from the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui.

The Children’s Day event will include multicultural performances from Maui Taiko, King Kekaulike High School Jazz Band, Maui Buyo Dance Academy, Halau Hula O Keola Alii O Ke Kai, Isle of Maui Pipe Band and Dance International Production. Mise Kimono will also present a kimono fashion show.

There will also be awards for scholarship recipients, an art contest and a special teacher dedication, as well as STEM demonstrations for Kalama Intermediate, Pukalani Elementary, Maui Waena Intermediate and Kamehameha’s high school.

Hands-on activities, kids’ crafts and Maui Matsuri shirts will also be available, and the event will close with a bon dance practice ahead of the community bon dance planned for the Japanese Festival.

The Japanese Festival will also feature cultural entertainment from Maui Okinawan Taiko, Maui Taiko, Zenshin Daiko, Nakayama Minyo Kai, Maui Dance Klub, Maui Minyo Kai, demonstrations by Mitsune Kendo Dojo and guest performers from Taiko Center of the Pacific, which includes a lion dance.

Contests will include saimin eating and natto eating competitions. Registrations are ongoing with the cosplay contest. There will also be prize drawings for the festival’s passport program and event survey.

As part of a festival tradition of recognizing an outstanding Japanese-owned business, the society will present the Business Award to the Nakashima family of Upcountry landmark Pukalani Superette.

There will also be food booths and trucks, craft vendors, exhibits and the return of the children’s craft area, called the “Komodo Corner.”

Both events are free, though parking for the May 27 event is $5 per vehicle.

“We look forward to celebrating Japanese culture with the community as we return to UH Maui College after four years,” said Kit Furukawa, president of Japanese Cultural Society of Maui. “We are so grateful to the sponsors and many hands that put this event together to keep traditions alive and help perpetuate the culture for our keiki. Let’s make beautiful memories together and please stay for the finale — a Community Obon Dance! Dust off your happi coats for the first obon dance of the season!”

For more information, visit mauimatsuri.com or follow @mauimatsuri for more information. To volunteer, call (808) 283-9999.