FREE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL LISTS 2026 VENUES,  ANNOUNCES ANNUAL POSTER ARTWORK WINNER

FREE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL LISTS 2026 VENUES, 

ANNOUNCES ANNUAL POSTER ARTWORK WINNER

WAIMEA, HAWAI‘I ISLAND— A whimsical photo, “The Future is Bright” is the official artwork of the free 33rd Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival, which is Saturday, Feb. 7 sprawling through town from Parker Ranch Historic Homes to Church Row Park. The annual event offers a full lineup of multi-cultural performing arts and hands-on demonstrations, plus a multitude of crafters and food booths, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Look for the tall pink festival banners in town identifying venues.

To create the 2026 art, Waimea photographer Barbara Schaefer used an image she had previously constructed—a composite of snow-capped Mauna Kea with a foreground cherry blossom branch—and viewed it through her crystal ball. She explains, “I  focused my camera on the ball, allowing the background image to soften into a fond memory while foreseeing a bright, hopeful future for our community.” The art appears on the festival’s official poster and the cover of the 2026 souvenir booklet.

Festival activities are at various venues stretching through the town’s center—Roberts Hawaii offers free shuttle service between 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 (the restored Old Parker Ranch Slaughterhouse) and along Pukalani Street.

The free handout, “2026 Festival Activity Lineup,” will be available at all venues to guide festival goers among the multitude of activities. In addition, a free 2026 Souvenir Program will also be distributed to showcase the many organizations that put on the festival. Both of these publications will also be available online through a QR code published on posters throughout the festival and on the festival’s facebook page.

Presented by the county’s department of parks and recreation and community members, 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 are blooming in early February.

This year’s festival honors festival power couple Fred and Nancy Nonaka; Fred has been instrumental in caring for the cherry trees for decades while Nancy was active with Kamuela Hongwanji activities.

A quick rundown of festival activities at various locations follows (times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. unless specified otherwise). Schedule and times are subject to change; activities are free unless noted.

2026 Festival Activities and Lineup

Church Row Park—Hwy. 19

• Historical Cherry Tree Display: Waimea Lions’ Club offers a pictorial history of the cherry trees and serves as the festival’s official Lost and Found station. Festival t-shirt sales.
• Entertainment:Halau Manaola, Ryukukoku Matsuri Daiko Taiko, Chinese lion dance by Majesty, bon dance, Kealakehe Intermediate Polynesian Dance Group and Puna Taiko 9:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• 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 & Activities:Mission members offer food sales: chichi mochi, andagi and types of bento. Calligraphy and modified Shorin Ryu Style karate demo.
• Cooking Demos: Watch chefs from Hawai‘i Island resorts and restaurants 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Open House at Kamuela Hongwanji: Rev. Daido Baba explains Shin Buddhism rituals.
• Stamping: Interactive uchiwa (fan) and hachimaki (headband) stamping presented by Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i

Parker Ranch Center—Hwy. 19

• Festival Entertainment Stage: In the Centerʻs back parking lot. 9 a.m. blessing opens festival with introduction of dignitaries and 2026 honorees; entertainment until 3 p.m. Join-in dancing with North Hawai‘i Bon Dancers accompanied by Kona Hongwanji Taiko and Team Majestic Lion Dancers starting 9:30 a.m., followed by the Saddle Road Band, Damon Williams & RIZZYN Band, Always Free and Taishoji Taiko.
• Craft Fair: Over 75 crafters and info booths inside and out of the Center.
• Mochi Tsuki Pounding: Help pound mochi with members of the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple outside in the back parking lot starting 10 a.m. while supplies last; warm mochi samples.
• Family Craft Activities:In the Fireside Food Court Rear Dining Room, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Selfie Photo Station: #WaimeaCBF, #thinkpink #ParkerRanchCenter @ParkerRanchCenter
• Bon Dance Lessons: with Tsukikage Odorikai in the Gazebo fronting Uiha Hat Bar, 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Foodland Food Demo and Activities

Kahilu Theatre—Lindsey Rd. at rear of Parker Ranch Center

• Entertainment/Art: Annual Juried Contemporary Art Exhibit
• Live Asian Dance & Music: “Sakura Beauty and Spirit” 2-3 p.m.

Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall)—Lindsey Rd. 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 Rd. behind Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall)

• First Saturday Artisan’s Hui
• Showroom Tours of Different Island Woods
• Woodworking Workshop: Make a charcuterie board, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., $45 fee

Waimea Historic Corner—Hwys. 19/190 intersection

• Firehouse Gallery Activities: Waimea Arts Council presents 33rd Annual Cherry Blossom Exhibition, “Big Island Blooms,” with originals and prints for sale, including the 2026 festival posters for $10 that will be signed by photographer Barbara Schaefer.
• Waimea Preservation Association Cottage:open houseand fun on the 20-foot-square chess board 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library: Create a 3D hanging cherry blossom decoration with guidance from Waimea Arts Council artist. Materials provided (while supplies last).

Parker Ranch Historic Homes – Hwy. 190

• Free Tours of Historic Homes: Visit Pu‘uopelu and Mana Hale, two homes that chronicle the Parker familyʻs rich history involving monarchs, ranching and Broadway.
• Japanese Tea Ceremony:The Chado Urasenke Tankokai Hilo Association interactive tea ceremonies 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Feather Lei Making Demos:10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Parker Ranch Merchandise Sales

Waimea Center – Hwy. 19

• KTA Super Stores Waimea: Food demos, sampling 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Waimea Center’s Atrium:Entertainment 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m, taiko, koto, jazz, lion dance

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

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

Kamuela Liquor Store – Hwy. 19: Sake tasting, book signing, noon-3 p.m. Talk story with Cheryl Soon, author of “Remembering History and Honoring Culture-Statues, Monuments and Memorials on Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Maui and Moloka‘i.”

Pukalani Stables – Pukalani Road

• Kamuela Farmers Market:Browse over 65 food and product vendors, including sales of cherry trees and blooming branches 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.Entertainment from 9 a.m.: Darlene Ahuna, Dennis Garcia, lion dance, bon dance; face painting 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Paniolo Heritage Center:The Paniolo Preservation Society offers a self-guided tour of the history of Hawai‘i’s cowboys, visit ranch-themed gift shop.
• Holo Holo Ku at Parker Ranch next to Pukalani Stables

Cherry Choo Choo train rides for young keiki, $5 fee.

The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced by the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section. The festival is a community-wide effort by a dedicated team of volunteers, 808-961-8706. Find festival updates on Facebook at WaimeaCherryBlossomHeritageFestival, #WaimeaCBF, #thinkpink.