Lantern Parade Kicks Off Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

Kona Hongwanji Taiko Drummers provide the beat for the Bon Dance following the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening at Hale Halawai. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Dancers and spectators of all ages and origins come together for the Bon Dance following the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening at Hale Halawai. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Dancers and spectators of all ages and origins come together for the Bon Dance following the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening at Hale Halawai. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Dancers and spectators of all ages and origins come together for the Bon Dance following the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening at Hale Halawai. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Hiromitsu Kagawa plays his guitar along the parade route at the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Konawaena High School girl's basketball team marches in the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Kahakai Elementary School students chant along the parade route at the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Kealakehe High School Momoji No Ha dancers perform in the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Kona Coffee Festival icon Norman Sakata and his wife Marilyn march in the Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

The Hatsukaichi Chamber of Commerce marches in the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Kona Daifukuji Taiko Drummers march in the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Kona Daifukuji Taiko Drummers march in the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

Grand Marshalls Lili, left, and Ka‘ea Lyons march with Halau Kaeaikahelelani in the Kona Coffee Festival Lantern Parade Friday evening on Alii Drive. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today)

KAILUA-KONA — The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Lantern Parade lit up Alii Drive with music and dance, culminating with a Bon Dance at Hale Halawai Friday evening. The parade celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, the Gannenmono and kicked off the 10-day festival.

Lantern Parade Kicks Off Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Featured Jobs