HONOKA‘A HERITAGE CENTER INVITES THE PUBLIC TO FIRST-EVER HĀMĀKUA SUGAR DAYS FESTIVAL (OCT. 5-20, 2024) Festival will explore the rich history and lasting legacy of the sugar era
HONOKA‘A HERITAGE CENTER INVITES THE PUBLIC TO
FIRST-EVER HĀMĀKUA SUGAR DAYS FESTIVAL (OCT. 5-20, 2024)
Festival will explore the rich history and lasting legacy of the sugar era
HONOKA‘A – The 2024 Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival, is a community-driven heritage event that will honor the stories and people who built the economy and culture of the Hāmākua Coast. Timed to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 closure of the last local sugar plantation, the Festival will salute surviving plantation workers, highlight the contributions of each of the various ethnic groups that immigrated to work on the plantations, showcase sustainable agricultural initiatives with promise for the post-sugar era, and explore the roots of resilience in the local community as it confronted the economic and social impacts of the closure.
The Honoka‘a Heritage Center is working closely with local community groups to organize and host a diverse lineup of fun, family-friendly events across Honoka‘a Town over a two-week period (Oct. 5-20, 2024). The Festival is expected to attract at least 6,000 attendees, from around the island and state, as well as from overseas.
Festival highlights include:
Recognizing the Sugar Workers Luncheon – Sat., Oct. 5 (Invite only)
If you or a family member worked for Hamakua Sugar Company, please contact (808) 437-1947 for tickets to this free luncheon saluting the sugar workers.
Screenings of New Documentary Film, “Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar” (Free to attend)
Throughout the festival, attendees can view free screenings of the Honoka‘a Heritage Center’s new film based on its 2023 oral history project. Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar is a one-hour documentary that features compelling first-person stories of local sugar workers, their families, and community members, capturing the profound impact of the sugar plantation era on the Hāmākua Coast. Screenings at the Honoka‘a People’s Theatre on Oct. 11 (5 pm and 7pm), Oct. 12 (2 pm) and Oct. 13 (5pm and 7pm).
Softball Tournament – Sun., Oct. 6, 9 am (Free to attend)
An Intergenerational Softball Tournament at Honokaʻa County Park will bring back the friendly competition of the old “camp against camp” games. Refreshments available for purchase.
Family Friendly Fun at the Hāmākua County Fair – Sat., Oct. 12, all day (Free to attend)
The Hāmākua County Fair promises a day full of excitement for everyone:
10:00 a.m.: Parade through Honokaʻa Town
11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Live music on the main stage at the Honokaʻa Park Complex (Hālau Kuaunu, Ryan Hiraoka, Kingside, Pas & Sala, Hui Hoʻokani, the Honokaʻa Jazz Band, Kalapana Awa Band and more!)
All Day:
- Vendors throughout the Honoka‘a Park Complex, including local food and artisanal crafts.
- Keiki activities: Pumpkin patch, costume contest, races, STEM games, face painting, and bounce house.
- “Sugar Town” inside the county gym features vendors of all things sweet, student art show, sale of festival merchandise, lucky number drawings, demonstrations, and commemorative Pogs.
- Hāmākua Energy Agriculture and Sustainability Expo, with exhibitors offering information, demos, games, and giveaways focused on sustainable agriculture and ranching. Attendees can explore traditional and modern farming techniques and learn how to incorporate sustainable practices.
On Māmāne Street, visitors can enjoy the Mutt Contest and Poi Dog Pageant at the former Bank of Hawaii parking lot; and a Cultural Village at the Honokaʻa Heritage Center with cultural exhibits and demonstrations. The Plantation Worker Hub at the Honokaʻa Union Hall will be a place for workers and their families to gather, share stories, and even record oral histories.
Cultural Heritage Events – Oct. 14-17 & 20 (Free to attend)
Cultural Heritage Events will celebrate some of the diverse ethnic groups who immigrated to work on the plantation, put down roots, and contributed to the unique “local” culture that characterizes Hawai‘i today:
Japanese Night: Oct. 14, 5 p.m.– Presentation by Dr. Patsy Iwasaki about Katsu Goto, plus food, followed at 7 p.m. by the film “Picture Bride” at the Honokaʻa Peopleʻs Theatre.
Portuguese Night: Oct. 15, 5 p.m.-7 p.m.–Portuguese games, food, demos and exhibits at the Honoka‘a Heritage Center.
Puerto Rican Night: Oct. 16, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. – Dance to Katchi Katchi music at the People’s Theatre; meet master cuatro maker John Guzman; food and exhibits.
Filipino Night: Oct. 17, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Guest speaker on Filipino contributions to the labor movement, with refreshmants at the Honoka‘a Peopleʻs Theatre.
Hawaiian Night: – Postponed; date TBA
Plantation Night at Honokaʻa High School Football Game – Oct. 18, 6 p.m. ($4 Seniors $8 General admission)
Join us to root for the home team while honoring the Sugar Workers during the halftime show.
Golf Tournament – Oct. 20 (Paid player registration required, free to watch)
The festival will conclude with a Plantation Golf Tournament at the historic plantation-era Hāmākua Country Club.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The Honoka‘a Heritage Center is deeply grateful to the County of Hawai‘i for seed financial support and logistical assistance. We also wish to thank the many generous corporate sponsors whose donations have make the Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival possible. To date, the list (still in formation) includes: Sugar Legacy Sponsor: Hāmākua Energy; Sugar Mill Sponsors: Honokaʻa Hospital and Skilled Nursing, KTA Super Stores, CPB Foundation, Kualoa Ranch, and Turo; Sugar Harvester Sponsor: Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company; Sugar Cane Sponsors: HFS Federal Credit Union, Isemoto Contracting Co., Creative Arts Hawaii, Hawaii Affordable Properties, Honua Ola Bioenergy, Dodo Mortuary, Inc., Big Island Mechanical and Construction, Hawaii Johns, HPM Building Supply, Walmart, R. Sakata Insurance, and Bank of Hawaiʻi; and Sugar Planter Sponsors: Kuwaye Trucking, Donna’s Cookies, Kuhio Grille, Hawai‘i Community FCU, Kolea Hop Water, and I Luv Dumplings.
A growing number of community partners have provided generous in-kind support throughout the planning of the Festival. They include Hāmākua-Kohala Health, Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water, Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope, Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Hawai‘i Community College, and Honoka‘a Public House.
For more information, a full schedule of events, or to register as a volunteer, visit https://hamakuasugardays.org
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The Honoka‘a Heritage Center opened in June 2021 as a private, not-for-profit education and visitor center. Its mission is to collect, research, preserve, celebrate and share the unique history and heritage of the people and cultures of Honoka’a and surroundings. The Center maintains and builds upon the heritage collection first established in 2011 at the University of Hawaii’s North Hawai‘i satellite campus.
From its new location in a historic 1927-era building on Honoka’a’s walkable Māmane St., the Center serves the local community and visitors alike, offering educational exhibits, cultural programming, and access to an extensive community archive, including oral histories, historic photographs and other images, and a library of historical records. It sells local products in its mission-related gift shop, and also works with local businesses to provide information on area highlights and to promote Honoka‘a as a destination. In the three+ years since its opening, the Center has already welcomed more than 20,000 visitors, from all 50 U.S. states and 35 foreign countries.
