Ala Moana Center Helps Local Residents
Usher in the Chinese New Year
Encourage prosperity at Ala Moana Center’s Chinese New Year Celebration.
HONOLULU – This year could be especially healthy, prosperous and lucky – but you’ll have to visit Ala Moana Center’s annual Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year) Celebration to help make it happen! The celebration welcomes shoppers of all backgrounds to come enjoy a series of Chinese cultural events on Saturday, February 24, from Noon – 2:45 p.m. The line-up of family-oriented activities includes martial arts and kung fu demonstrations, an appearance by the 2007 Narcissus Queen and Court, traditional firecrackers, and of course, lion dance performances.
One of the most celebrated aspects of traditional Chinese New Year events is typically the lion dance, which will be performed by six different local teams from within the community. Each team will perform a short kung fu demonstration at Centerstage, followed by the traditional dance of the lions “awakening” to the lighting of firecrackers, which is typically used as a way to ward off evil spirits. Twelve lions will then dance throughout Ala Moana Center along specified routes, visiting more than 140 participating merchants and collecting lai see (red envelopes) – a Chinese custom to encourage good luck and prosperity in the new year.
The event aims to bring the community together in celebrating one of Hawaii’s favorite local traditions. Chinese New Year is often recognized as one of the most important of all traditional Chinese holidays and is typically celebrated by residents of all ethnic backgrounds. Ala Moana Center is proud to share Hawaii’s diverse culture with its shoppers by sponsoring cultural events throughout the year that celebrate Hawaii’s unique heritage and customs.
All dates, times and performances are subject to change. For ongoing event updates and listings, visit http://www.alamoanacenter.com/centerevents.htm. For more information on Ala Moana Center, contact our Customer Service Center at 808-955-9517.
ABOUT ALA MOANA CENTER
Ala Moana Center is the world’s largest outdoor shopping center and Hawaii’s premier shopping, entertainment, and dining destination with 260 stores, including nearly 70 dining options. Ala Moana Center features a diverse collection of stores including locally owned boutiques and national retailers. Visit www.AlaMoanaCenter.com for more information.
Ala Moana Center is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Inc., the second largest U.S.-based publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). General Growth currently has ownership interest and management responsibility for a portfolio of 209 regional shopping malls in 44 states, as well as ownership in planned community developments and commercial office buildings. The company portfolio totals approximately 200 million square feet of retail space and includes more than 18,000 retailers nationwide. General Growth Properties, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP. For more information, please visit the company Web site at www.generalgrowth.com.
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