This year’s Honolulu Festival is an event of firsts. There is the first European group to participate in the festival, showcasing the Italian sport of flag throwing. There is an appearance by the Leones-Tigres Marching Band from Veracruz, Mexico — the first Mexican marching band in the Honolulu Festival Parade.

Marco Sangiorgi, who has been flag throwing since 1992, described Hawaii as “a beautiful place” and was excited to share his culture and perform in the islands for the first time.

“When you go out of Italy, people don’t know about (flag throwing),” Sangiorgi said. “It’s not simple. It’s easy to watch but not easy to (do).”

Sangiorgi was joined by several other flag throwers who traveled from Italy. The Faenza team, which has won Italian flag-throwing championships more than 30 times, drew more than 100 spectators intrigued by the loud drumming and intricate coordination in throwing and twirling flags individually and as a team. The group will also perform at 2:45 p.m. today at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

“We are the first group from Europe,” said Filippo Peroni, who has also traveled to Tasmania, New Zealand, Finland and other places around the world with the team. “It’s exciting.”

The 22nd Honolulu Festival, with the theme “Cultural Harmony, Journey to Peace,” kicked off Friday with performances, events, movie screenings and a fireworks show scheduled through today. Event officials had projected that the festival, which showcases cultures of the Pacific Rim through its ties with sponsor JTB Hawaii, would draw 5,000 visitors — a record number of tourists — to Hawaii this weekend. The three-day event also drew about 160 participating groups.

Free events are held at the convention center, which hosted craft fairs, workshops and movie screenings; Waikiki Beach Walk; and Ala Moana Center.

At the convention center Saturday, a symposium and panel discussion explored the history of Japanese in Hawaii and their role in reconciliation after World War II. “Japanese in Hawaii: From the plantation to Pearl Harbor to peace” drew about 100 people, many of whom crowded into the packed room to listen to representatives from the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Aloha Tofu and former Gov. George Ariyoshi.

“I feel that it’s important for people from both countries (America and Japan) to come together to understand each other,” said Ariyoshi, whose parents were Japanese immigrants. “Understanding the past is a very important part of the future.”

Other popular events Saturday at the convention center included a film festival with free screenings of eight internationally acclaimed Japanese films, a craft fair and exhibition with more than 100 local and visiting vendors, a bon dance, and the Ennichi Carnival Corner, which offers hands-on activities for children inspired by the traditional Japanese Saint’s Day Festival.

The festival continues today with cultural events and exhibits, followed by the Waikiki Grand Parade at 4:30 p.m. on Kalakaua Avenue, featuring performers, floats and groups from the Pacific Rim and Hawaii. The Nagaoka Fireworks Show will start at 8:30 p.m. and is hosted by the city of Nagaoka, Honolulu’s sister city.

Ashley Nagaoka, the festival’s spokeswoman, said the events drew more than 8,500 people to the convention center on Friday and Saturday. She also pointed to the Italian group and the panel discussion as significant to this year’s festival.

“I think it just shows the popularity and influence of the festival that a group from Italy would come,” Nagaoka said. “We are celebrating these different cultures and the Pacific Rim. It’s also important to educate people.”

For more information and to see a schedule of events, visit honolulufestival.com.