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Students dressed in cultural Japanese attire
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Students dressed in cultural Japanese attire
Kapiʻolani CC International Festival participants

Kapiʻolani Community College hosts their 29th Annual International Festival, March 20–23. The festival features guest speakers, music, dance, art, films, literature and poetry that showcase the diversity of cultures found in the world today. The International Festival is considered one the Kapiʻolani CC’s signature events,

All events are free and open to the public.

Akaka with steel guitar
Alan Akaka
Endo hitting taiko drums
Kenny Endo
woman dressed in black costume with ornamental headband
Kapiʻolani International Festival participant
two women dancers in costume
UH Mānoa Tahitian dancers

Event highlights

Musical lineup

  • Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winners; Alan Akaka, Kuʻuipo Kumukahi, Ian O’ Sullivan and guitarist Jay Koseki
  • Ukulele player Mika Kane
  • Kapiʻolani CC Synthesizer Ensemble, directed by Anne Craig-Lum

Guest speakers

Performances

  • Kenny Endo and the Taiko Center of the Pacific
  • Middle Eastern Dance Association of Hawaiʻi
  • Kapiʻolani CC student performances by the Bayanihan Sa (Filipino) Student Club, the Korean Club (K-Pop) and the Spanish Language classes (Sevillanas)

International films

  • Seven Something (Thai with English subtitles, 2012)—presents three stories on courage of love by award-winning Thai directors and told from a perspective of different ages of life.
  • First Love (Japanese with English subtitles, 2000)—presets a coming of age story of a 19-year-old college freshmen Satoka, who embarks on a journey of self discovery and change.
  • Heaven’s Bookstore: Light of Love (Japanese with English subtitles, 2004)—conveys a timeless story of having the courage to believe in love, even though one is in heaven and the other is still on earth.

Koa Gallery

  • Displays of the late artist Chuck Davis including fine art and humorously animated selections from his sketchbook
  • Vietnam photo exhibit by photojournalists Bob Jones and Denby Fawcett

Download the 29th Annual International Festival brochure (PDF) or go to the festival events listing for more on the events.

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