A Message from Bishop Shuji and Jaymie Komagata

Aloha and welcome to the Hawaii Matsuri Taiko Festival.

We are honored to share this celebration of taiko with you and grateful for the opportunity to bring together performers, teachers, and friends from Hawaiʻi and Japan. Taiko is more than music—it is a powerful expression of culture, community, discipline, and joy. Through its rhythms, we build friendships, preserve traditions, and create connections that transcend language and distance.

One of the goals of this festival is to provide opportunities for guest artists from outside Hawaiʻi to share their talents with our community while also showcasing the vibrant taiko culture that continues to flourish here in the islands. We believe that the exchange of ideas, traditions, and experiences strengthens all of us and helps ensure a bright future for taiko.

Mahalo to our guest artists, performers, volunteers, partners, sponsors, families, and audience members for making this event possible. We hope today's performances inspire you, move you, and deepen your appreciation for the art of taiko.

Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again at future performances and events.

With gratitude,

Shuji and Jaymie Komagata
Festival Directors