One of the most popular events associated with the University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center, the Big Island Taiko Festival, will drum up excitement for the first time in four years.
Four homegrown taiko groups — Taishoji Taiko, Puna Hongwanji Taiko Club, Kona Daifukuji Taiko and Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko of Kohala — will bring the thunder at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.
Lee Barnette-Dombroski, the performing arts center’s manager, said bringing the taiko festival — which is both rhythmic and spectacular — back after the COVID-related hiatus was “a very easy decision.”
“It brings the community together and is always exciting, energetic and joyous,” Barnette-Dombroski said. “It’s one of those things that’s really visceral. You feel it in your body when they play, especially when there are a lot of drummers. We do an opening number that includes all four groups. And then each group has a set that they play. And we have a closing finale with all four groups.
“When you get 75 drummers up there, with the big odaiko included, it’s really exciting and you feel it. It’s like nothing else.”
Akemi Iwamoto, artistic director and instructor of Kona Daifukuji Taiko, called the resumption of the Big Island Taiko Festival “an incredibly special moment for our group.”
“For half of our members, this marks their last participation in this festival as they are graduating high school this year. It adds a bittersweet touch to the occasion, making it even more memorable,” Iwamoto said.
“The excitement within the group is palpable, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that everyone is buzzing with anticipation. For the graduating members, it’s a poignant farewell to an event that has been a significant part of their high school journey. On the flip side, for those participating for the first time, the enthusiasm is infectious, and the prospect of being part of such a vibrant festival is genuinely thrilling.”
Chad Nakagawa, artistic director of Taishoji Taiko, said his group is “very excited and nervous to be participating this year.”
“The BITF was kinda in limbo during and after COVID,” he said. “During that time, a lot of change has happened in our group. We’ve had members move away, and some of our senior members retired. Some of our group members started families during COVID, as well. We’ve also made additions to our group with new performance members. We’re a very different group from the last BITF, but we still got the same sounds and some different styles to fit our new group.”
Paul Sakamoto, director of Puna Taiko, said he’s “looking forward to seeing old friends, meeting new people and playing together on stage again.”
“We’ll be featuring nearly our entire youth performance group, so 21 of us will be on our roster,” Sakamoto said. “For our youth program, the idea of bringing so many different youngsters from different schools, backgrounds and ages, and building a sense of community and belonging, is what keeps Puna Taiko going.
“I feel that kids learn way more than just the musical and cultural aspect of it, but that we help to develop them in terms of leadership, communication and service.”
According to Nakagawa, community is “the real essence of taiko.” He compares taiko to pounding mochi.
“When you pound mochi, all these different grains of rice are pounded together to form one large piece of mochi,” he said. “In a taiko group, all these different groups of people from different ages, ethnicities and backgrounds come together to pound the taiko drum to form one sound. My taiko group is my family. I’ve known most of them for the majority of my life. We’ve all seen each other grow and take different paths in our lives but the one thing that brings us together is taiko.”
“For me, the essence of taiko goes far beyond the beats and rhythms,” added Iwamoto. “It encapsulates a profound sense of honor, love, light, and gratitude. … I perform and direct taiko because it allows me to channel these elements — honor, love, light and gratitude — into a cohesive and powerful expression.
“Taiko is not just music; it’s a language of the soul that communicates emotions and experiences beyond words. Through taiko, I can share the essence of these values, connecting with others in a profound and transformative way. It’s a way to contribute to the rich tapestry of human expression and cultural understanding.”
Advance sale tickets are $20 general admission; $15 for seniors 55 and up; and $10 for UH-Hilo and Hawaii Community College students with a valid ID, as well as children 17 and under. Door admission prices are $5 more. Tickets are available online at https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/BITF23.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
