BEIJING: The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii presents its first annual Moon Festival on Friday, September 25 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, September 26 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza located at 100 N. Beretania St. The event is free and open to the public.
Festivities include a colorful lantern display and parade, live entertainment, moon cake eating contest, lantern making contest, food and craft vendors, a visiting Chinese lantern master, Chinese lion dancing, local comedy show, door prizes and more.
The festival kicks off with a special Moon Cake, Tea & Dim Sum Tasting event on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at Empress Seafood Restaurant. Enjoy one-of-a-kind moon cakes from China, Taiwan and the United States. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at (808) 533-3181.
A lantern master from China offers a free lantern making class on Sept. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at See Dai Doo Society Hall (1300 Pali Highway). The class is open to children age 10 and up, and limited to 50 students. To register, call (808) 533-3181.
There will be a Moon Cake Eating Contest on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. (men’s contest) and 10:30 a.m. (women’s contest). The grand prize is a one-year supply of Pepsi, second place is a six month supply of Pepsi, and third place receives a three month supply of Pepsi. Limited to 10 contestants per event. Participants must be at least 18 years old. To enter, call (808) 533-3181 by Sept. 18.
Children are invited to bring their homemade lanterns for judging at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 or Saturday, Sept. 26. Prizes will be awarded to the Best Lantern (first, second and third place on both nights).
The Chinese have celebrated the Moon Festival for more than 1,000 years. It is the second largest holiday celebrated after the Lunar Chinese New Year.
