2025 WAIMEA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL WELCOMES COMMUNITY TO 25 VENUES ACROSS THIS UPCOUNTRY COMMUNITY - ALL INVITED!
This year's 32nd Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival rom 9AM to 3PM, fSaturday, Feb. 1, 2025, will sprawl across the town - from Parker Ranch Historic Homes to Church Row to Kamuela Liquor Store to Parker Ranch Center and historic Pukalani Stables. The annual event offers a full lineup of multi-cultural performing arts and hands-on demonstrations, plus a multitude of crafters and food booths, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Look for the tall pink festival banners in town identifying venues.
Throughout the day, Roberts Hawaii offers free shuttle service 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 (the restored Old Parker Ranch Slaughterhouse) and along Pukalani Street.
The free handout, “2025 Festival Activity Lineup,” will be available at all venues to guide festival goers among activities. In addition, a free 2025 Souvenir Program will also be distributed to showcase the many organizations that put on the festival. Both of these publications will also be available online through a QR code published on posters throughout the festival and on the festival’s Facebook page.
Presented by the county’s department of parks and recreation and community members, the festival marks the blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami, which translates to “cherry blossom viewing party.” After a seasonal winter chill, the trees typically are blooming in early February.
This year’s festival honors the late Ruth Dick, a long-time festival participant as a member of the Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club.
2025 Festival Activities and Lineup:
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.