Get ready to eat, drink, kanpai!
Japanese Cultural Center’s 2026 Irasshai: Eat, Drink, Kanpai! event is set from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 3, in Mōʻiliʻili. This fourth annual fundraiser benefits the JCCH, where the event will take place.
Inspired by the energetic street festivals and foods of Japan, attendees can look forward to an evening of tasty dishes from local chefs, refreshing beverages, and live entertainment — all set along the backdrop of glowing lanterns.
The event is for individuals ages 21 years and older; tickets are still available. Individual tickets ($180 each) include access to all food and drink stations, live entertainment and activities at the event.
Here’s a sneak peek of the participating restaurants and vendors:
Aburiya Ibushi: Aburi whole chicken leg with original Jerk-style dry rub
Bamboo Catering: Sake Koji-braised short ribs with shiso kimchi furikake
Basalt Waikīkī: Soy milk panna cotta with seafood salad
C4 Table: Soy caramel bruleed beef, yuzu kosho, pickled hearts of Palm, wagyu beef fat shiso rice, ginger Sumida Watercress jus
Kaimukī Shokudo: Maguro zuke inari soba pockets (maguro zuke served in an inari pocked filled with soba, cucumbers, kaiware and carrots, tossed in house dressing and garnished with green onions)
Little Plum: Spicy miso eggplant with charred leeks, shichimi togarashi and sesame vinaigrette
Peace Café: Aloha ramen
Sachi Sweets: Kurogoma pudding, Mitarashi mochi, souffle cheesecake and strawberry sando cake
Splash Bar (Sheraton Pricess Kaiulani): Cold Wakana soba noodle salad with yuzu vinaigrette
Sumida Farm: Sumida Farm watercress pork kushiyaki
The Local General Store: Yakisoba with housemade Arabiki and housemade Spam, featuring Mountain View Farms pork
Yuji Hawaiʻi: Island fish salad sushi
Featured beverage vendors include Aloha Beer Co., Beer Lab Hawaiʻi, Ito En, Lanikai Brewing Co., Maui Cocktail Kits, and Waiakea.
The event’s featured entertainment includes performances by Taiko Center of the Pacific, Chinagu Eisa (a multi-generational Okinawan Eisa taiko group), singer/songwriter and acoustic guitarist Zach Shimizu, ukulele artist Corey Fujimoto and more. Naoki Hayashi of Gyotaku By Naoki will also be doing a live printmaking demonstration. The art piece will be one of the featured items in the event’s silent auction.
Visit JCCH’s website for more information.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
