Monthly Archives: April 2021

Resuming celebratory events: Koinobori will fly April 24 to May 6

Posted on April 16, 2021 by usjapanesegardens

Koinobori — those colorful fish windsocks flown for Children’s Day to emphasize strength and good health — will fly again on the Waiakea Peninsula from Saturday, April 24 to Thursday morning, May 6.

tall, thin poles are cut by Hirano Store
sorting by size (photo by Angelica Covington
Craig Shimoda was among the assembly crew, attaching koinobori to bamboo poles (photo by Angelica Covington)
completed poles are attached to the bridge with zip ties (photo by Yoshihisa Matsushita)
Hawaiian fish were added in 2019. They were created by students at three charter schools, This year, mano kites or Na Wela Lau Lama, the `aumakua of the Keliipio family and guardians of Kuhio Bay, will join the display
Shark kite — Na Wela Lau Lama — from the Keliipio family
The bridge to Mokuola (photo by Jay Takaaze)

Businesses and restaurants all along Banyan Drive and Lihiwai Street also fly koinobori, continuing an ancient tradition. Locally, it used to be the grandparents who put up the annual display.

In 2020, when the parks closed and we all were in “stay home” mode, Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens loaned the collection of koinobori to the County Building.

2020 display; a smaller display will be put up in the County Building this year
(Sudo Bridge: from 100 Famous Views of Edo by Hiroshige 1857; Boston Museum of Fine Arts)

The koinobori symbolize courage and strength, qualities desired in everyone and especially in children at this festival time of year. Come see the display on your own time between April 24 and May 5. The display will be packed away for another year the morning of May 6.

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