Press Releases

Dan and Friends Community Celebration

PRESS ADVISORY

Contact:  Linda Chu Takayama, 384-9030

Senator Dan Inouye and 16 Democratic Candidates gather for Taiko, Saimin Eating Contest and Bon Dance on Sunday.

On Sunday, August 22, U.S. Senator Dan Inouye will host a “Community Celebration,” joined by top Democratic candidates, including Mufi Hannemann, Neil Abercrombie, State Senator Colleen Hanabusa, U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono, Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell, State Senator Carol Fukunaga, State Senator Brian Taniguchi, State Representative Marcus Oshiro, State Representative Scott Saiki, and the six candidates for Lieutenant Governor. (State Senator Robert Bunda, State Senator Gary Hooser, State Senator State Senator Norman Sakamoto, State Representative Lyla Berg, State Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu and Brian Schatz).  Senator Daniel K. Akaka will also attend.

The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Washington Middle School, 1633 South King Street.  Admission is FREE, and FREE valet parking is provided.

Each of the candidates will be sponsoring an activity and most are participating in the taiko demonstration, the saimin eating contest and the bon dance off.

9:30 a.m. Opening taiko by Rep. Marcus Oshiro
Emcee is David Arakawa
11:00 a.m. Taiko demonstration with Rep. Marcus Oshiro and Lt. Gov. candidates
11:20 a.m. Remarks by Sen. Dan Inouye
11:30a.m. Saimin Eating Contest:  (8 candidates have signed up so far)
11:55 a.m. Sen. Inouye pulls winning entry in iPad drawing
12 noon. Bon dance lesson and dance off (all candidates)

Activities include inflatable bouncers, crafts, games for the kids, oriental therapies, crafts, local products, face painting, voter registration and the following candidate activities:

Inouye – Bento box art
Akaka – Hanafuda game
Abercrombie – Live koi
Hannemann – Calligraphy
Hanabusa – Ikebana
Hirono – (Sushi) bean bag toss game
Caldwell – Go fish game

Bunda – Fukuoka story boards
Hooser – Samurai paper hats & art
Karamatsu – fans
Sakamoto – Card making
Schatz – Hachi maki headbands
Fukunaga/Saiki/Taniguchi – Waffle hot dogs

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