FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2011
HONOLULU – Organizers of the 2011 Honolulu Festival announced that the Nagaoka Fireworks Show planned for Sunday, March 13, has been canceled out of respect to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on Thursday, March 10.
The decision to cancel was made following discussions between Festival organizers and officials from Nagaoka City, Japan, where the fireworks show originates from and is one of the cities that suffered damage on Thursday.
“We believe the decision to cancel the fireworks display is the proper one to make considering the wishes of Nagaoka City and the tragedy that occurred Thursday,” said Keiichi Tsujino, president of the Honolulu Festival Foundation. “Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families in Japan.”
This would have been the first year of the fireworks show at the Honolulu Festival and it was planned to be the concluding event of the weekend cultural celebration.
The remainder of the Honolulu Festival’s busy weekend schedule of performances and activities showcasing the culture and people of the Pacific Rim will proceed as planned. Highlights include arts and cultural displays, and dance and music performances at five locations in and around Waikiki, March 12-13, before finishing with the Waikiki Grand Parade on Kalakaua Avenue this Sunday, starting at 4:30 p.m.
Admission to all the cultural performances is free and open to everyone. The 2011 Honolulu Festival is being staged under the banner of “Pacific Harmony” and the theme, “We are all neighbors, around the world.”
For more information about the Honolulu Festival’s schedule of events, visit online at www.honolulufestival.com.
Media Contact:
McNeil Wilson Communications Patrick Dugan (808) 741-2712 / patrick.dugan@mwc-anthology.com Noreen Kam (808) 741-2843 / noreen.kam@mwc-anthology.com
http://www.honolulufestival.com/eng/pdf/fireworks_show_canceled.pdf