A Joyous Celebration at Wailuku Hongwanji Gakuen

On February 21, 2025, Wailuku Hongwanji Gakuen hosted its annual Gakugeikai ( Student Performance Festival, filling the Social Hall with vibrant energy. This much-anticipated event brought together students, families, and munity members to celebrate the students’ growth in Japanese language and culture through an engaging showcase of performances. 

The evening began with warm opening remarks from Gakuen Principal Murakami, who expressed appreciation for the students’ dedication and the ongoing support of families and teachers. From the youngest learners to the most advanced students, each performance reflected the enthusiasm and progress of the Gakuen students. 

Gakugeikai showcased the hard work and talents of students across all grade levels. The event opened with the youngest class performing a lively “Singing and Dancing” routine featuring Kirakiraboshi , the Japanese version of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and Churippu , a classic children’s song about tulips. Their joyful performance earned laughter and applause from the audience. 

Next, the 1st graders charmed the crowd with their rendition of Harapeko Aomushi ( ), the Japanese version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Their cheerful singing and expressive movements brought smiles to everyone watching. 

The 2nd graders impressed the audience with their performance, Singing and Learning, where they enthusiastically recited the (Japanese syllabary song), the months of the year ( ), and the days of the week ( ). They also practiced essential sentence structures by asking and answering, (“What is this? This is…”), while illustrating their answers with drawings. 

The 3rd graders captivated the audience with their engaging performance of Sanbiki no Yagi no Garagaradon ( , the Japanese version of the classic Norwegian folktale Three Billy-Goats Gruff. Through expressive dialogue and animated storytelling, the students brought the beloved tale to life, showcasing their growing confidence in Japanese. 

The Wing class demonstrated their understanding of Japanese grammar through their performance, Class Session. They practiced using the sentence structure, such as, (“This is Grandpa’s desk”), reinforcing how (no) is used to show possession and relationships between nouns. Their demonstration helped solidify these fundamental language skills in a fun and interactive way. 

The 4th graders were impressed with their singing and imagining performance, where they sang well-known seasonal songs that elementary students in Japan monly learn. In addition to singing, they showcased their artistic talents by creating drawings depicting the lyrics’ imagery, blending music and visual expression beautifully. 

The 5th to 7th graders concluded the event with First Karaoke, a skit where students acted out their first visit to a karaoke box. Their performance was followed by energetic renditions of Suzume no Tojimari (Suzume) and Night Dancer by Imase, bringing a lively and modern touch to the festival. 

Each performance demonstrated the students’ growth in language, creativity, and confidence, making for an evening filled with joy and appreciation. After the performances, families and friends gathered for an onolicious potluck, sharing delicious dishes, desserts, and refreshments. Mahalo to everyone who stayed to enjoy the food and camaraderie! Gakuen sincerely appreciates all the families who contributed food and drinks to make the gathering even more special. 

In addition to the performances, the Social Hall displayed an impressive collection of Kakizome ( , the traditional Japanese New Year’s practice of writing auspicious characters. This display highlighted the students’ appreciation for traditional Japanese arts and their dedication to refining their calligraphy skills. 

Following the success of Gakugeikai, the students and their ʻohana gathered once again on March 5, 2025, for a thrilling taiko drumming performance by Zenshin Daiko. The powerful beats and synchronized movements filled the outdoor space with energy and excitement, allowing the audience to truly feel the spirit of the taiko drums. 

Zenshin Daiko was established in March 1999 by Anthony Jones—26 years ago. You may know him as the owner of our beloved chocolatier, Maui Specialty Chocolates. In 1987, he discovered his passion for taiko drumming after attending a performance at Baldwin High School by the world famous taiko group, Kodo. Since then, he has continued to pursue his passion with unwavering dedication. Zenshin Daiko continues to progress, embracing its name—Zenshin in Japanese means “to move forward.” Today, the group performs at over 50 events annually, both locally and nationally, and also travels to Japan for training. 

These events were joyful reminders of how language, music, and culture can unite a munity, fostering growth, creativity, and a shared appreciation for tradition. Looking ahead, Gakuen is planning to host more Japanese cultural activities, so please stay tuned for up ing events. We would love to hear your ideas and suggestions! Please email Gakuen Principal Murakami (shinkai@wailukuhongwanji.org) or Eri Nomura (School Board of Directors). 

For inquiries about Zenshin Daiko classes, please contact Anthony Jones at zenshindaiko@gmail.