The Honolulu Festival, Honolulu’s premier annual cultural festival, through its longstanding theme, “Pacific Harmony,” reflects the Honolulu Festival Foundation’s (HFF) vision to share to an international audience the many cultures of the Pacific region, through an impressive showcase of arts, culture and entertainment. For its 23rd year, the HFF adopted the sub-theme "Cultural Harmony, Journey to Peace”.

The Philippine Consulate General, Philippine Airlines (PAL, Filipino Community (Filcom) Center, Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) and the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO), and with the support of the Dabawenyos Association of Hawaii and Bulacan Circle of Hawaii, collectively known as “Team Philippines”, will join the 3-day Festival at the following activities:

• 10 March 2017, Friday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Hawaii Convention Center: Philippine ethnic dances, “Fandango sa Ilaw”, “Curacha” and “Singkil”, representing the 3 largest island groups of the Philippines, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, respectively, will be performed by Hawaii-based Filipino dancers during the Friendship Gala. Tickets for the Gala are available at the Honolulu Festival website www.honolulufestival.com

• 11 March 2017, Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Hawaii Convention Center: Joining the Craft Fair/Exhibition, Team Philippines will set up booths where cultural merchandise from the Philippines and other promotional materials will be on display. The Philippine Consulate booth will feature ready-to-wear barong and Filipiniana attire made of piña (pineapple) fiber by Elvis Cagungun of Lumban, Laguna. Admission is free and open to the public.

• 12 March 2017, Sunday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Hawaii Convention Center: This will be the second day of the Craft Fair /Exhibition, but will conclude at 2:00 pm.

• 12 March 2017, Sunday, 4:40 pm to 8:00 pm, Waikiki: The Honolulu Festival will culminate in a Grand Parade along Kalakaua Avenue featuring performers, floats, groups and marching bands from Pacific Rim countries and Hawaii. Team Philippines and other members of the Filipino community will join the parade. The parade is free and open to public.

The Honolulu Festival is considered to be one of Hawaii’s biggest, grandest and most anticipated festivals. In addition to its cultural significance, Hawaii’s tourism economy benefits as well, with nearly 5,000 visitors coming to Hawaii just to participate in the Festival which comprise most of the 160 groups performing. Over the years, the festival has generated an estimated $200 million total in visitor spending.

For more information, please visit the Honolulu Festival website at www.honolulufestival.com. END.