Okinawan delights

The Okinawan Festival features traditional foods, entertainment and cultural activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow at Kapiolani Park.

This year’s celebration commemorates the 110th anniversary of Okinawan immigration and the 20th anniversary of the Hawaii Okinawa Center.

Pigs feet soup, yakisoba, andagi and the andadog — a hot dog on a stick dipped into andagi batter — are among the grinds available at the festival. Hawaii Central Credit Union today hosts a texting contest with a $1,000 grand prize. The festival bon dance will also be held tonight from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

A craft gallery and children’s games are among the highlights tomorrow. Okinawan Festival commemorative pins, which can be purchased for $7, provide discounts on T-shirts and food at the festival and at Tamashiro Market and Zippy’s. Shuttle service from Kapiolani Community College is available for $2.

Visit www.OkinawanFestival.com.

Daikon Festival counts blessings

The Honbushin International Center presents the annual Daikon Festival next Saturday. Dancing, keiki crafts, taiko drumming, cultural performances and a vegetable bazaar are among the event highlights. The festival offers thanks for the blessings of nature, which allow us to harvest fruits, vegetables and, of course, daikon.

The event takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. at the center located at 95-030 Waihonu St. in Mililani. Call 623-7693 or visit honbushin.us. Volunteers are also needed for the event.

Posters about peace can earn prizes

Young people can focus on creating a more peaceful future by entering the Peace Poster Contest, part of the Fourth Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace on Sept. 19 in Honokaa.

The contest is open to all youth, and winners will be announced at the festival in the County Sports Complex that day from noon to 3 p.m. First, second and third place prizes of $50, $35 and $25, respectively, will be awarded in each grade category, kindergarten to 3; 4 to 6; 7 to 9; and 10 to 12.

The "best in show" grand prize will be $100, including a one-night stay for the winner and parents at the Waianuhea Bed & Breakfast in Ahualoa.

Posters will be evaluated on how they relate the theme of "YOUth: Creating a Peaceful Future."

Detailed information and required forms are available at www.PeaceDayParade.org, and deadline submission is 6 p.m. Friday. Call 883-0669.

Album displays love for grandparents

Grandparents Day is Sept. 12. Teach your kids to show their appreciation with a special homemade gift. More holiday crafts are available at www.grandparents.com.

PORTABLE PHOTO ALBUM
Materials:
» One 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch piece of blue card stock
» Scissors
» Ruler
» White craft glue
» One 4 3/4-inch x 3 1/2-inch scalloped oval in blue card stock (available at most stationery stores)
» One sheet of 1-inch diameter round white labels
» Alphabet rubber stamps
» 1 yard 1/8-inch thick blue ribbon
» Two 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch white construction paper
» Adhesive glue dots
» Family photographs

Instructions:
1. Fold the card stock in half so that it is 5 1/2 inches long by 8 1/2 inches high.
2. Trim the folded card stock so that it is 5 1/2 inches long by 4 1/2 inches high.
3. Center the scalloped oval on the front of the folded card stock and glue it in place.
4. Using the alphabet stamps, spell out the name of the grandparent on the round labels, one letter per circle.
5. Arrange these lettered labels on the scalloped oval to spell the grandparents name.
6. Trim the white construction paper so that you have 2 pieces that are 10 1/4 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
7. Fold the construction paper in half so that you have 2 folded pieces that are 5 1/8 inches long and nest one inside the other.
8. Put the two nested pieces inside the folded card stock and tie a ribbon around the folded edges of the three pieces, creating a book with 4 pages.

9. Attach family pictures to the pages with adhesive glue dots and present them to your grateful grandparent!

Reprinted courtesy www.grandparents.com