Background -Expansion

In 1996, the festival expanded to include groups representing many cultures of the Pacific Rim. To recognize this wider focus, the event name was changed to Pan-Pacific Festival Matsuri in Hawaii.

This year marks the 8th anniversary of the cooperation agreement signed with the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission signed in 1998. In the past, the two groups held their events on different June weekends. Now, both festivals are on the same weekend in June.

Each group enters floats in the other parade, and entertainers from each group participate in several of the other performance programs.