Waimea is ready to welcome thousands as the cherry trees begin to blossom

The 32nd Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival features a full lineup of multi-cultural performing arts, hands-on demonstrations, crafters and food booths sprawling from Parker Ranch Historic Homes to Church Row Park on Saturday, Feb. 1.

The festival marks the blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami, which translates to “cherry blossom viewing party.” After a seasonal winter chill, the trees typically bloom in early February.

Every year, the Cherry Blossom Festival is presented by the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation and community members who plan the activities at various venues stretching through the town’s center. The free handout with the festival activity lineup will be available at all venues to guide festival goers among activities

Roberts Hawaiʻi will have free shuttle service between locations at the Parker Ranch Historic Homes, Parker Ranch Center, Church Row Park and Pukalani Stables. Parking is available at Parker Ranch Center, the soccer field across Church Row Park, Kamuela Hardwoods and along Pukalani Street.

In addition, a free 2025 Souvenir Program will also be distributed to showcase the many organizations that put on the festival. Both of these publications will be available online through a QR code published on posters throughout the festival and on the festival’s Facebook page.   

The 32nd Festival honors the late Ruth Dick, a long-time festival participant as a member of the Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club. 

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday with scheduled events subject to change.

2025 Festival Activities and Lineup

Church Row Park—Highway 19

• Historical Cherry Tree Display
  • Waimea Lions’ Club will have a pictorial history of the cherry trees and will be selling festival t-shirts. This will also be the location for the festival’s official Lost and Found station
• Entertainment
  • 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Hālau Manaola, Chinese Lion Dance by Majesty, Ryukukoku Matsuri Daiko Taiko, Hawaiian Duo and Puna Taiko
• Bonsai
  • The Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club offers a display and sale of bonsai, ongoing demonstrations and a clinic to discuss and work on the art of bonsai

Kamuela Hongwanji—Church Row Park

• Food & Cherry Branch Sales
  • Mission members offer Asian food sales such as chichi mochi, andagi and types of bento. Cherry tree branches for sale, if available
• Cooking Demos
  • 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Hawai‘i chefs Peter Abarcar of Mauna Kea Resort, Kalani Garcia of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Allen Hess of FORC, Jayson Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott and Alan Wong
• Open House at Kamuela Hongwanji
  •  Rev. Masanari Yamagishi explains Shin Buddhism rituals
• Setsubun
  • Interactive bean throwing ritual to welcome spring and keiki activity presented by Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i

Parker Ranch Center—Highway 19

• Festival Entertainment Stage in back parking lot
  • 9 a.m. – Blessing opens festival with introduction of dignitaties
  • 9:20 a.m. – Dancing with North Hawaiʻi Bon Dancers with Kona Hongwanji Taiko and Team Majestic Lion Dancers
  • Followed by Jennie Kaneshiro & CJ Kama, Saddle Road Band, Johnny Ness and the Rock Ness Monsters and Taishoji Taiko
  • Entertainment until 3 p.m.
• Craft Fair
  • Over 75 crafters and info booths inside and out of the Center.
• Mochi Tsuki Pounding
  • 10 a.m. – Help pound mochi with members of the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple outside in the back parking lot while supplies last; mochi samples.
• Family Craft Activities 
• Selfie Photo Station

Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall)—Lindsey Road behind Parker Ranch Center

• Kravin’ Munchies Craft Fair and Quilt Display
• Vehicle Display
  • IK Dealer Group displays new vehicles from Kama‘aina Motors, Kama‘aina Nissan, Kona Nissan and Kona Auto Center behind the Center in the adjacent grassy lot 

Kamuela Hardwoods— Lindsey Road behind Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall)

• First Saturday Artisan’s Hui
• Woodworking workshop
• Showroom tour

Waimea Historic Corner—Intersection of Highways 19 and 190

• Firehouse Gallery Activities
  • Waimea Arts Council presents 32nd Annual Cherry Blossom Exhibition, “Big Island Blooms,” with originals and prints for sale
  • i2025 festival posters for $10 that will be signed by artist Janice Gail
  • Outdoor chalk drawing
• Waimea Preservation Association Cottage
  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Open house and fun on the 20-foot-square chess board
• Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library
  • Create your own haiku poem and illustrate it in watercolor with guidance from Waimea Arts Council artists, materials provided while supplies last

Parker School Theatre—Lindsey Road

• 2 p.m. – Asian Music and Dance

Parker Ranch Historic Homes – Hwy. 190

• Free Tours of Historic Homes
  • Visit Puʻuopelu and Mana Hale, two homes that chronicle the Parker familyʻs rich history involving monarchs, ranching and Broadway
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Urasenke Hilo Association Japanese Tea Ceremony
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Feather Lei Making Demos
• Apparel & Accessories Sales

Waimea Center – Hwy. 19

• KTA Super Stores Waimea
  • 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Food demonstrations and sampling
• Waimea Center’s Atrium
  • 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Taiko, koto, jazz, lion dance performances

Historic Spencer House – (Next to Waimea Center) Hwy. 19

• Japanese Collectibles
  • View a display of vintage kimono, obi and collection of kokeshi dolls
  • Learn about the 1840 Spencer House.

Keck Observatory Headquarters Lawn – Hwy. 19

• Telescope Viewing
• Craft Fair and Food Trucks

Kamuela Liquor Store – Hwy. 19

• 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Sake tasting

Pukalani Stables – Pukalani Road

• Kamuela Farmers Market
  • 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Cherry trees and blooming branches sales, over 70 food and product vendors
  • 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. – Cooking demonstrations
  • 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Performances by Dagan Berstein and Darlene Ahuna, Lion Dance, Bon Dance
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Face painting
• Holo Holo Ku at Parker Ranch next to Pukalani Stables
• Cherry Choo Choo train rides
  • $5 fee, young keiki only

The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Waimea. The festival is produced by the Hawaiʻi County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section and is a community-wide effort from a dedicated team of volunteers.

For more information, call 808-961-8706, or find festival updates on Facebook.