5th Annual Hawaii's World Heritage Festival
Friday • August 15, 2008 • 3 p.m.- 10 p.m.
Mo`oheau Bandstand & Park, Downtown Hilo

Discover fascinating facts about the colorful threads of Hawaii's tapestry of people at the 5th Annual Hawaii's World Heritage Festival with non-stop performances, displays, demonstrations, and hands-on family activities.

This free community Festival takes place Friday August 15 from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. at downtown Hilo's historical Mooheau Bandstand and adjoining park with Hawaiian, Japanese, Okinawan, Chinese, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Scottish, African American, and many other cultures represented.

In it's fifth year, the festival has changed from a day time to an evening event to encourage more young adults to participate. From 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. live dance music will be performed by popular local bands, El Leo the Jarican Express, Hawaiian Roots Band, and Iyah Roots featuring Sahra Indio.

Traditionally held on the third Saturday in August, event planners moved the day to Friday (Admissions Day, a State holiday) so that the teams participating in the following day's Haari Boat Festival that Hui Okinawa is presenting can participate. Special performances will include students from the Meio University in Okinawa offering several Eisa dance numbers and the Nago City paddling team doing the Yosakoi Sooran Bushi.

In addition to performances, a World Bazaar and Marketplace features vendors selling craft work, ethnic art, local products and international foods. The Mooheau Bandstand will serve as a special exhibition area to offer festival goers a multi cultural learning experience for kids of all ages (including kids at heart!).

SEEKING PARTICIPANTS
Cultural Practitioners, Vendors, & Volunteers!

We are currently looking for cultural organizations, clubs, schools, churches and any other formal or informal organizations that are interested in joining Hawaii's World Heritage Festival to share their practices and traditions as well as to raise awareness and funds for their projects and programs. The deadline to sign up is August 1, 2008

To get involved or for more information call 933-9772 or email amoon@bigisland.com

HAWAII'S WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS