The mostly Japanese Honolulu Festival has blossomed into an international gathering in its 25th year --Looking Back to Create the Future: 25 Years of Aloha. The event extends over three days, ending yesterday with the now famed Nagaoka Fireworks Show.
So off I went to stay at the Waikiki Sheraton, for all I had to do was pay for the room without the hassle and cost of travel. I've been doing this now for five years and will probably return next year.
I got a beautiful view of Diamond Head. In the past, the fireworks would have been right out there. Unfortunately, they moved the barges a few hundred yards in the Honolulu direction.The parade this year was grander with more watchers. I have a favorite spot close by the Sheraton where I can lean over the newspaper stands and comfortably take photos.
The Royal Hawaiian Band, led by Clarke Bright, who a long time ago as a student at the University of Hawaii worked for me at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute:
He saw me and came to shake my hand. The usual parade attractions:
A lot of dragons:
Depending on tastes, this could well have been the showstopper, a samba troupe from Brazil:
This is a good way for me to end the parade:
But the fireworks were not until 8:30PM, so, next, the Leahi Club Lounge, where the food and drinks are free, with a spectacular view:
Fortified, back to my room for the fireworks. Waikiki Beach at night with a crowd awaiting the show:
However, my room was just being blocked by the next, so I held the tripod to get a better shot, which was, of course, not as steady, creating interesting effects:
The next morning, a free breakfast in the Leahi Lounge:
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