Labor Day Weekend is one of the biggest holidays of the year to celebrate our "day off for the working people". Labor Day has been celebrated in the United States since the 1880's and falls on the first Monday of the of September and it is simply known as a "day of rest" and the end of summer.
On our island of Oahu we definitely have a few events scheduled for Labor Day past the annual family BBQ's, camping trips, hiking events, beach events and more. Hawaii is a diverse community with so many ethnicities such as Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders (there are only 80000 Native Hawaiians), Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino (Asians exceed 500,000 of our population), Samoan, Tahitian, Portugese, Caucasian, Hispanic (amongst many others) that it will definitely be a weekend of a variety of festivities for all!
The Okinawan Festival is one of the major events scheduled and celebrating its 25th Anniversary this weekend at Kapiolani Park starting from August 30 and through September 2, 2007 and there are 50,000 people expected to attend.
- August 30, 2007- Play on the life of life of Kyuzo Toyama (considered the father of Okinawan immigration to Hawaii) will be presented in Japanese and starts at 7 p.m. at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Tickets: $20; Call 676-5400.
- Parade on August 31,2007 starting at 5:30pm from Fort DeRussy and will have paranku drummers and a shiisa (lion-dog) that will lead Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA) into Kapiolani Park.
- September 1, 2007- Festivities resume at 9am and will be shut down around 5:30 pm to make way for the popular "Bon Dance" and followed at 8pm by the Okinawa's The Rinken Band.
- September 2, 2007- Continuation of festivities, food, entertainment, culture and craft activities for all ages.
The Battleship Missouri which is located at Ford Island (Pier Foxtrot-5) will host a free ceremony marking the 62nd Anniversary of the end of World War II.
- September 2, 2007 -Ceremony will be held on the ships fantail and will coincide at the time the representatives from 10 nations formally signed the "Instrument of Surrender" 61 years ago before on the USS Missouri and bringing the United States most devasting war history to an end. shuttle service to the Battleship Missouri Memorial will be available beginning 7:45 a.m. from the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park. Call 423-2263 for more information.
The Aloha Festival starts now and ends in October and boasts the of the time when Hawaii had the only reigning monarchy in the U.S. The Aloha Festivals shines with the culture and experience found nowhere else in the world. Ceremonious events, block parties and parades surround these events.
- September 2, 2007 - The Royal Court at traditional Hawaiian services at the historic and beautiful Kawaiaha'o Church. Kawaiaha'o Church was the first Christian Church built between 1836 and 1842. The Call (808) 589-1771
Celebrating the Life of Queen Liliuokalani, the last reining monarch was born on Sept. 2, 1838. She was the first to visit the leper colony on the island of Molokai in 1877 and brought gifts to the residents. She was a well know songwriter, organist and composer and best known for her composition of "Aloha Oe". Read more on the overthrow of her kingdom.
- September 2, 2007- Iolani Palace Grounds- A Birthday Celebration for Queen Liliuokalani - 10-4pm and you can call 224-8068 for additional information. Free.
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Mililani Hawaii Real Estate Blog 2007©
All Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia:
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