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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Taiko a treasured tradition at annual Pan-Pacific Festival
When Shuji Komagata, bishop of Soto Mission of Aiea, takes the stage to play Japanese taiko at the upcoming 42nd annual Pan-Pacific Festival, it will be in the spirit of drumming up continued support for celebrating cross-cultural connections in the region. Komagata, a fourth-generation minister in Hawaii, represents intertwined taiko legacies. He is co-leader of Hawaii Matsuri Taiko, the group founded by his late mother, Faye Komagata, in 1984. He is also co-founder and co-leader of Somei Taiko, the group he created with his wife, Jaymie, in 2005 to teach new generations of taiko players. Komagata, 50, has been playing taiko since he was 5. Hawaii Matsuri Taiko, now Hawaii Matsuri Taiko and Somei Taiko, has played in every Pan-Pacific Festival since the early 1990s. '(The festival ) was a way to bring people from Japan to support the local economy and also get a chance to share their culture with people in Hawaii, ' he said. 'Back when my mother, Faye Komagata, was the leader of the group, it was a great opportunity for us to play taiko, but what really became the catalyst for why we participated every year was to show people from Japan that, 'Hey, we're doing quite well here, and we have a very strong Japanese culture here.' The Japanese tourists are coming and they have a lot to share with us, and that's great, but we can share with them too.' The Pan-Pacific Festival began in 1980 when it was created as Matsuri in Hawaii as a vehicle for promoting Japanese culture—music, dance, food and crafts—in Hawaii and strengthening ties between Japan and the islands. As the scope of the festival grew to include other cultures the name was changed to Pan-Pacific Festival. This year's festival opens June 13 with a performance arts showcase on Ala Moana Center's Centerstage, with additional showcases June 14 and 15 both at Ala Moana and the International Market Place. Also scheduled for June 13, the Pan-Pacific Ho 'olaule 'a will take over a portion of Kalakaua Avenue from 7 to 10 p.m. The Pan-Pacific Hula Festival will take place all three days at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound. The festival concludes June 15 with the Pan-Pacific Parade on Kalakaua Avenue from 5 to 7 p.m. Organizers note the schedule is subject to change ; for updated information, check /. The popularity of taiko in Hawaii, even outside the Japanese American community, mirrors the adoption and adaptation of hula, Hawaiian music, rock music and other elements of American culture in Japan. Festival audiences will see Japanese hula schools performing on the hula mound June 14-15. Komagata said sharing his group's taiko traditions is part of the cross-cultural exchange. 'We want to share (taiko ) with people, how it has transformed into something that is not only just for Japanese Americans, or just Asian, but how it transcends those boundaries, ' he said. 'I think that's the core of why we find it very valuable for us to participate.' Away from the taiko stage, Komagata and his wife are active teachers of taiko traditions and the techniques necessary to do it safely. 'You can hurt yourself playing taiko, so you have to understand how the body moves and how to properly play with the proper technique, ' Komagata said. 'That's one of the very, very important things to me, but it also becomes one of the strengths of our group. Technically speaking, our group is very technically sound, so you produce nice music and good-looking performance, an entertaining performance, but also so it's done properly and safely.' He is also working with a community group that hopes to restore the World War II-era Honouliuli internment camp, now officially the Honouliuli National Historic Site, near Waipahu. The site is currently not open to the public. 'My great-grandfather came to Hawaii in the early 1930s with an intent to stay just a few years but ended up spending 49 years. He was interned at the Honouliuli camp during the war, and that experience, I think, only just recently has come more to life where efforts have been made to preserve the (site ), ' Komagata said. 'I've been honored to be a part of the group of people who are leading the charge to restore the park and get it the recognition it deserves.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Oʻahu sees 28th traffic death of 2025 as multiple collisions strike island
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Oʻahu's 28th traffic fatality of the year occurred on the morning of May 10 in ʻAiea, just after 5:15 a.m, while a four-car pileup occurred later in the morning and a serious incident occurred in the evening. According to the Honolulu Police Department, a 39-year-old male motorist was traveling westbound on the Moanalua Freeway, when he unsuccessfully attempted to merge lines and collided with a 40-year-old male motorist traveling in the same direction at a high rate of speed. Does eating raw local honey actually help with allergies? Due to the collision, the 40-year-old's vehicle was redirected into the metal guardrail, which then led to the motorist's ejection onto the roadway. He was taken to Pali Momi Medical Center in critical condition, where he later died. The 39-year-old motorist was arrested for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant as well as Negligent around 9 a.m., on the westbound H-1 Freeway, a 49-year-old woman driving with two passengers, 61 and 74, side-swiped a 52-year-old driver, according to HPD. Police say the woman struck a concrete barrier and ricocheted back into traffic hitting another vehicle. After the second collision, HPD says the woman then crashed into the concrete barrier again, then collided with a third vehicle. The woman was hospitalized in critical condition. Her two passengers were taken to the hospital in serious condition. A 43-year-old motorist and her 69-year-old passenger who were amongst the affected vehicles were also hospitalized, in good condition. A third collision occurred on the H-3 eastbound, when EMS says a single car overturned with a 43-year-old male, 39-year-old female and a 10-year-old boy in the vehicle. The two adults were hospitalized in serious condition and the keiki was hospitalized in stable condition. There is no word on what caused the H-3 collision. The first two collisions have ongoing investigations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Feedback sought for more on-leash dog park options on Oahu
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Big changes could be coming to public parks on Oahu. The City is asking for input as it considers expanding dog-friendly parks. Ruff Situation: Kailua residents call for compromise on dog park ban Only a fraction of Oahu's 308 City parks allow dogs, and even fewer have designated off-leash areas, but that will soon change as the Parks and Recreation Department launches a new initiative to make more parks accessible for pups on leashes. 'So we wanted to get input from the community about where it would be appropriate, but what do we need to have in place? What type of signage? What type of reminders? Having stations where people can pick up extra bags so we're sure that they can pick up their waste,' said DPR director Laura Thielen. Anyone can weigh in through hearings at their area neighborhood board. 'Ideally, they would let us know which park locations they would like to see on-leash privileges. And if there is one where they do not want to see it, they would list that as well too,' said DPR spokesman Nate Serota. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news That feedback will be collected in September, and the first parks could see rule changes as soon as October. Dog lovers celebrated the idea and also made sure there was a focus on keeping everyone safe. 'Nobody likes to go out and leave their family members at home. At the same time, making sure those family members act responsibly and we all act responsibly is something that's important,' said Sen. Chris Lee. A new law that will take effect in July 2025 defines what qualifies as a dangerous dog and includes felony charges if someone is maimed or killed — owners said they hope more designated spaces to take on-leash canines will discourage such encounters. 'But I think having a good representation of pets who are well behaved with good pet owners is going to help transform the way that community believes that pets should be included in public space,' said dog owner Hollie Patterson. A new off-leash option is also in the works. The Pearl City Neighborhood Board just passed a resolution that requests DPR approve the construction of a dog park in a portion of Blaisdell Park. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'Not only for Pearl City, but Aiea and Waipahu can come here, relax with their pets and if we build it right with all the obstacles for dogs and make it fun for the families,' Pearl City Neighborhood Board chair Larry Veray said, 'we can use it for dog shows!' Click here for more information about the proposed changes and an interactive map of dog-friendly parks on Oahu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Missing OCCC inmate captured in Kaimuki
HOOLULU (KHON2) — A 45-year-old inmate from the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC), who had been missing since Friday morning, March 21, is back in custody. Honolulu police searching for Aiea robbery suspects Jason S. Takaki was apprehended by state sheriff's deputies around 7:50 p.m. Monday in the Kaimukī area. Takaki had been granted a job-seeking pass on but failed to return by the required 2 p.m. including sheriff's deputies and the Honolulu Police Department, were notified of his absence. Serving time for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, forgery, and theft, Takaki was participating in the work furlough program, which allows inmates to work outside the facility while maintaining a low-risk classification. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news However, by not returning as expected, Takaki now faces a potential second-degree escape charge, a Class C felony that could result in up to five years in prison if convicted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
