CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE OX AT ALA MOANA CENTER
HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – Ala Moana Center invites shoppers to celebrate Chinese New Year and usher in the Year of the Ox. On Jan. 31 from noon-4 p.m., an exciting lineup of family-friendly events will honor Chinese New Year—considered one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays—and bring the community together to celebrate a favorite local tradition.
“Chinese New Year is an important part of Hawai‘i’s culture and our celebration provides fun, exciting and visual entertainment,” said Sharon James, regional vice president of marketing for General Growth Properties Hawai‘i. “Ala Moana Center is very proud of its multicultural offerings, and we always look forward to celebrating diverse holiday traditions with our shoppers.”
The main event will begin at Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage at noon with an appearance by 2009 Narcissus Queen Lisa Wai Hah Wong and her court, followed by kung fu demonstrations, traditional firecrackers, and lion dance performances – one of the most exciting aspects of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. Seven local troupes will perform 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 from 1-3 p.m., visiting participating merchants and collecting lai see (red envelopes), a Chinese custom to encourage good luck and prosperity in the New Year.
At 3:30 p.m., shoppers will have an opportunity to meet one of the lion dance troupes – the Hawaii Lion Dance Association – on the third level of the Nordstrom wing. Guests can get an up close and personal look at the lions, learn about the history of the dance, and take pictures with the lions.
In celebration of Chinese New Year, Chinatown Express, located at Ala Moana Center’s Makai Market Fod Court, will be selling roast duck for $8.88 on Jan. 31 while supplies last. Chinese consider the number eight to be the luckiest number of all.
Shanghai Tang, a popular Chinese fashion retailer, is hosting a Chinese New Year celebration and benefit on Jan. 29 from 6-8 p.m. that is free and open to the public. The store will unveil new merchandise and provide cocktails and pupus for guests at the event, which is designed to raise awareness for Feed the Hunger (FTH) Foundation. Shanghai Tang will donate 10 percent of sales generated from Jan. 25-31 to FTH, a new organization created to help empower poverty-stricken women in third-world countries.
