Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival to honor longtime volunteers Fred and Nancy Nonaka

The annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival will bloom Feb. 7 for a 33rd time with a full lineup of hands-on Japanese and multi-cultural activities and performances plus a lot more.

Festival “power couple” Fred and Nancy Nonaka have been a part of the celebration since its beginning — you probably didn’t see them unless you were looking for them on purpose though.

While each played a dominant role among festival organizers and volunteers, the Nonakas worked behind the scenes.

Fred Nonaka was a big advocate for planting the now famed cherry trees that are the reason for the festival and helped put them in the ground in Church Row Park. He has cared for the 75-some trees ever since — even now, the 89-year-old Living Treasure of Hawai‘i is still on pruning duty.

Nancy Nonaka was the spark behind the many cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities offered at Kamuela Hongwanji Mission — adjacent to Church Row Park — that have become more than a staple of the annual cherry blossom festival, they are now some of the most popular at the festival.

Their hard work and dedication — along with love for their community — during the past more then 3 decades will be celebrated during the 2026 festival, which will honor the Hawai‘i Island natives and longtime Waimea residents for their contributions and forever support.

He was a Hāmākua Coast boy from Umauma who went off to O‘ahu for college at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, earning an agriculture degree. She was a Puna girl who grew up in ‘Ola‘a before attending business college on O‘ahu.

The couple found their way back to the Big Island in the mid-1960s, and decided to make Waimea their home.

Fred Nonaka recalls that he was one of the local businessmen who first advocated for planting the cherry trees in 1972. The idea was to attract people to Waimea when there was talk about a bypass road skirting the town.

“We figured we needed something and came up with the idea to plant the cherry trees,” said Nonaka, who worked with the Waimea Lions Club in the effort. “The trees and the festival are important as they draw people here and are what Waimea is known for now. I’m glad the festival is still going.”

The Nonakas are devout Buddhists. Nancy Nonaka served as president of the Waimea Buddhist Women’s Association while Fred Nonaka is a past state president for the Hawai‘i Honpa Hongwanji, a position he had for 10 years.

Nancy Nonaka, who is now enjoying retirement, served for many years as liaison between the festival and Kamuela Hongwanji.

During her liaison tenure, Nonaka oversaw the mission’s VARIED FESTIVAL OFFERINGS in the on-site social hall, all of which have evolved through the years:

• Origami.
• Calligraphy.
• Sumi-e (black ink painting).
• Mukimono (decorative vegetable carving).
• Selling handmade crafts such as soda can lanterns, blooming cherry blossom branches, plus plants and Oriental antiques.

Kamuela Hongwanji has also offered an abundance of primarily Asian foods prepared by church members, including the favorite warm Okinawan andagi, which is deep fried in a large wok during the festival.

The multi-venue 33rd annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival — once again headquartered at Church Row Park — is planned for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 7, 2026, and celebrates the annual blooming of the park’s historic cherry trees.

In addition to activities at Kamuela Hongwanji, the festival offers:

• Hands-on mochi pounding.
• Sake tasting.
• Bon dancing.
• Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
• Broke da mouth food prepared by local organizations.
• Chef cooking demonstrations.
• Loads of craft vendors.
• Viewing of the blooming cherry trees.

You can enjoy bonsai, quilt, local art or Japanese collectible displays at 1 minute and turn around to be entertained by performances, which festivalgoers can find at multiple venues throughout the day.

Roberts Hawai‘i will provide free transportation shuttles between Church Row Park and other venues, though walking is encouraged. Venues are identified by pink festival banners.

Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced annually by Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Culture and Education Section.

The event is a communitywide effort, put on by a dedicated team of businesses and volunteers.

Call 808-961-8706 for additional information. You can also get updates at the festival Facebook page.

And remember to think a little pink at least — just to get into the cherry blossom mood — until the festival arrives.