Save the date — the third annual Kimchi Day Festival Hawaiʻi is coming up on Nov. 22. The annual celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Makiki District Park (1527 Keeaumoku St.).
The event, hosted by The United Korean Association of Hawaiʻi, is free to the public. Attendees can look forward to community activities, cultural demonstrations and kimchi food booths.
The first-ever Kimchi Day Festival took place in 2023. The following year, Gov. Josh Green signed House Bill 1950 into law, which made Kimchi Day in Hawaiʻi an official day that’s celebrated every Nov. 22.
Made from fermented vegetables, kimchi is one of the most beloved, time-honored dishes in Korea. It’s usually made from Napa cabbage, and is known for its tangy, spicy flavor.
Individuals wanting to purchase kimchi (4 pounds for $15; 8 pounds for $25) at the event can look forward to a variety, including original, green onion, cucumber, radish, bok choy and more.
The festival will highlight specific dishes from a variety of food vendors. Participating restaurants this year include Apron Boys, E Chicken, GEN Korean Barbecue, Jagalchi, Uni Sweets Bakery & Tea, and more.
A variety of interactive competitions will be featured throughout the day. New to this year’s festival is a won bok toss contest; the two-person team that successfully throws the won bok the furthest distance will be crowned the winner. The contest is open to the public; contestants must have a partner to participate. Preliminaries start at 11 a.m.; finals are at 12:35 p.m.
Participants are also welcome to compete in the best homemade kimchi contest. Pre-registration is required to participate; the winner will be selected by celebrity judges. Visit here for more information.
Those with hearty appetites can participate in a kimchi jun (savory kimchi pancakes) eating contest. A maximum of 10 contestants will compete to eat 2 pounds of kimchi jun. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. on a first come, first served basis at the event; the contest will begin at 1:40 p.m. on stage.
The festival will also include a kimchi-making class (pre-registration and fee will be required); two class sessions (16 spaces available per class; cost is $22 per person) will be available inside the kimchi tent. Class times are at 2 and 4 p.m.; sign up here.
The festival will also feature non-stop entertainment, including taekwondo, local performances and a variety of Korean talent contests, including K-POP dance and song contests.
For more information, visit kimchifestivalhi.com.
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
