Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi

Non-profit organization · Kapiolani

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi

Non-profit organization · Kapiolani

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2454 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96826

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Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi by null

Highlights

Japanese cultural exhibits, martial arts, teahouse, gift shop & events  

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2454 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96826 Get directions

jcchawaii.org
@jcchawaii

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2454 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96826 Get directions

+1 808 945 7633
jcchawaii.org
@jcchawaii

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Last updated

Aug 13, 2025

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Located in Moiliili, this center delves into the Japanese-American experience in Hawaii, featuring exhibits on immigration, plantation life, and World War II internment.

Top Things to Do in Honolulu for an Authentic Cultural Experience
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Brennan O

Google
The museum was very informative. I think it is also free to enter on the craft fair dates. Check out their website for more information!

Ron Clonts

Google
Awesome museum, gift shop, and monthly outdoor craft fair. An excellent place to learn and support the preservation of an important culture on Oahu.

Sandra Matsumoto

Google
Came to the JCCH to attend a seminar, and they provided a bento for us from their new caterer, Bamboo Catering (no longer under Marian's catering). All I have to say is WOW, everything in it was delicious! High-end tasting fish, chicken, steak, garlic noodles and tsukemono! The JCCH Director, Nate Gyotoku, gave us a detailed tour of the facilities after the event; it was wonderful to see the pristine dojo, tea garden, beautiful tea house, historic exhibits, gift shop, the Heritage Center, etc.! Love seeing the preservation of cultural arts and history here! Excellent place to see a part of the Japanese American history in Hawaii via the Okage sama de exhibit and Honouliuli Center. You really can see and feel the joy and commitment the staff has to keeping the cultural spirit alive here. For any small or large events, I'd highly recommend JCCH's Ballroom or meeting room! Highly recommended!

Benjamin Warner

Google
Exhibits were amazing, and especially appreciated the video presentation towards the end of the gallery. Artisans and other local vendors were having a sale all around the outside of the building, so that was a plus!!!

Deb Berggren

Google
Important resources for Honouliuli internment national park resources. Fabulous gift shop for textiles, porcelain, literature. clean bathrooms,

Steve Nakagawa

Google
Great place to hold a large party. Staff did a nice job taking care of our 400+ sized group. Reasonable validated parking. Located across the street from Longs Drug, near University Ave.

Barb Harris

Google
What a well done museum! If you have interest in Japanese Hawaiian history, including internment, this is your place. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Jason

Google
Had a great time at the New Year's Festival held at the Japanese Cultural Center. Authentic traditions were explored and hands-on exhibits were displayed for optimal learning experience.

Judy K.

Yelp
We attended a presentation event in the ballroom and it was a really great experience. Very comfortable, clean and convenient! We also visited the gift shop downstairs and the amazing history displays! We purchased a few cute items and were pleasantly surprised that our parking was free with their validation. We enjoyed the entire experience at JCCH!
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Julienne P.

Yelp
We attended an event here and it was very nice. The event room was cool and comfortable. They provided iced water for us.
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Jackie K.

Yelp
Another JCCH fair today 04/13/24. Great vendors with a variety of wares and goods. Crafters, bakers, taiko drum groups, food trucks and more. Prices vary according to vendors. Antiques are sold here as well. The JCCH shop has great items old and new. Today the Boy's Day dolls are half off! Everyone I came into contact with today was courteous, friendly and full of Aloha. Picked up a few items and lunch of course.
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Lisa P.

Yelp
Attended a lecture at the Japanese Cultural Center. Has a spacious parking facility. Validated parking rate for the evening was $8 - sort of high but you have piece of mind that your car will be safe. There are many homeless near the Cultural Center. One pay machine has the credit card picture wrong - card strip is faced down- not facing up like in the machine pic. Large bathrooms, nice views of the city from the second floor. Great venue for a function.
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Nadine C.

Yelp
Celebration of Life venue in Honolulu, Hawaii... Even though my cousin's daughter passed away a few months ago, her wish was for us to celebrate her birthday here with a Halloween theme because October is her birthday month! On Robin's birthday, 10-14-23, we celebrated her short life on earth and knew she was present with us at the Japanese Cultural Center. Located on Beretania Street, the parking structure entrance was easily found. We got full validation from our hosts. We entered the spacious Generations Ballroom on the 5th floor. It was well air-conditioned, had a great sound system, and a large enough stage for the Taiko drum group's performance. (Robin was an active member of the Taiko team!) Besides the stage, the Ballroom had a long buffet line, a cheerful reception table, a photo display area, an open bar with friendly bartender, and a dessert/coffee/tea/water station. The set-up allowed for a nice flow for guests to move around freely. The lunch was provided by Bamboo Catering, the in-house food service company. We had a great variety of dishes such as Pancit (noodles), fresh fruit salad, chicken adobo, tossed green salad with Asian dressing, pork guisantes, taro rolls, and shrimp and vegetable tempura. Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. It was a wonderful birthday party for Robin... I'm sure she was very pleased with her Celebration of Life!
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Irene M.

Yelp
I've been to Japan before I've been here SMH I seriously don't know what took me so long I blame the lack of knowledge of what this fabulous place offers. I've been taken one if it's neighbor Moili'ili Community Center for Japanese Language Classes for years but never know what the JCCH has to offer. I've recent have the pleasure to come here with my schedule being free on Sundays to participate in the Trash & Treasure to the more recent New Year's Ohana Festival which was epic!! I do see why they all gather as they sure know how to hold an event, the building is stunning and don't forget to visit the gift shop holds so much local love as well as the museum area that describes the historic history the Japanese culture has a role here in the islands. I'm so ashamed but am grateful to have work schedule freed up time to take advantage and enjoy these events. Thank you!
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Julie U.

Yelp
I have not been back to the Craft Fairs at JCCH since they reopened but went in May and was happy to see their new format. Instead of having one large sale, now they have monthly sales and bring in outside vendors. I love old Japanese fabrics and was happy to see several vendors with Japanese textiles and vintage kimono. There are also others that sell Japanese antiques. The JCCH store is also open and if you buy something in the store, they may validate your parking ticket. Another bonus was that the kendo class was going on during the sale, so I could peek in and watch the kendo practice.
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Joni F.

Yelp
Perfect timing for a visit. The Girl's Day doll collection displayed, for a short period of time, and then placed back in storage. I enjoyed looking at the mostly "pre-loved" items in the gift shop. I bought a deck of Hanafuda cards and an inexpensive "preloved" item to hold my credit cards. I would definitely return. Especially since there isn't Shirokiya anymore. The items were in really good shape, some looked new. I also recommend a visit to the Honouliuli Education Center--if you are interested in learning about Honoluliuli Internment Camp. The staff was friendly and helpful and recommended visiting their site and/or emailing --ResourceCenter@jcch.com to delve deeper into a Hawaii's family's connection to internment.

B. O.

Yelp
The museum was very informative. I think it is also free to enter on the craft fair dates. Check out their website for more information!
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Serena M.

Yelp
Last week we went to an event at the Japanese Cultural Center. It's called Shichi Go San which was a kimono dressing. We didn't know about this event and probably would have never gone but our friend from Japan gave us a kimono for my daughter. She said that she is supposed to wear a kimono when she turns three. So we looked it up and saw that the Japanese Cultural Center was having this event. So the Shichi Go San festival happens on November 15 and celebrates children's years 3, 5, and 7. I found the info online about the event at Japanese Cultural Center and you needed to send in your payment in by mail. Then they sent an email back saying what time your appointment time was. I didn't think it was gonna be crowded but it was packed when we got there. We got numbers when we arrived and they called us when it was our turn. There were many stations in there. The first station was putting on the tabis (Japanese socks). Then she went to kimono station. We had our own kimono but all other people wore kimonos that they provided. I think Masako Formals provides those and they also were there dressing the children in their kimonos. The third station was putting up her hair. They quickly put a cute hair piece in her hair and put her hair in a bun. Then the next station was ordering and taking pictures. After that we waited to get blessed by the Shinto priest. We were there from 10 and we didn't leave until after 12. Daughter was getting kind of antsy and we sure showed her a lot of videos while waiting between stations but in the end it was well worth it. She looked so cute and the pictures were excellent. The next time she goes for Shichi Go San is when she is 7 years old. Hopefully by then she will be able not be so antsy by then.
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Gail U.

Yelp
Plentiful parking in the structure, clean restrooms a short walk away from your party. The food was decent meaning tasty enough but didn't warrant seconds. The cake was delicious looking and tasted ok. Service of banquet staff for clearing tables was fast and polite. Self serve fruit punch, ice tea, hot water, decaf and regular coffee plus huge pan of ice were monitored all evening. The only thing was the acoustics between the two rooms. I could hear hawaiian music from the other side and chatter, they could probably hear Itsumademo and songs from our talent show on their side. Luckily the two elevators were operating well so when two parties got out at the same time, it could accommodate getting people down to their cars. Good, safe, convenient location. We had no host cocktails. Photos are from two separate events.
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Jessica Y.

Yelp
A pillar in the Moiliili community, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) has been a long standing place of gathering, culture, and celebration. I've been coming here for ages. My earliest memory being visiting the Seikoan tea house with my grandmother and the New Year's Ohana festival across the street. More recently I've come here to visit their gift shop and Okagesamade exhibit--if you haven't been, you definitely should! This place is spewing with culture and history; my dad has even started to utilize the Tokioka Heritage Resource Center to trace back our family's lineage to the first descendants that came from Japan.
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Kiyomi S.

Yelp
Nice gift shop. Treasure trove of Japanese vintage items such as dishes, tea sets, Kimono/obi, and decorative items. They are nicely organized and displayed for sale. I brought in to donate Japanese vintage dishes and such that used to belong to my mother in Japan. I felt good about donating them here as I know they will be properly handled and appreciated.
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Nanea L.

Yelp
Parking is hard here, but you can try and park across the street at Longs Drugs or street parking. The gift shop is so cool and has a lot of neat plates and stuff from Japan or made by the kupuna. They have a lot of events and I believe you can even rent out the venue, not sure what the price is. Not sure what the prices are for entry because I came from work. The staff are super nice and the docents are very knowledable but predominately go off of their own knowledge not sure if they get trained? Although, they did say they are just volunteers. I would come here again.
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Allen N.

Yelp
All of the events that I have attended at the Japanese Culture Center have been just great. A lot of parking and not a lot of walking as everything is centrally located within the building. This helps a lot for seniors with limited mobility. They have validated parking which helps to reduce exit time when leaving an event.
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Dawn Y.

Yelp
My mom and I visited JCC for the first time this week and walked through the Okage Sama De and Hono'uli'uli exhibit and gift shop. As a sansei and yonsei, it is remarkable that we had never been, but I joined recently and got free admission for mom. This is a history of immigration, so it is relevant not only to Japanese Americans like us. It is a story that has relevance for every American past and present, born or naturalized. The exhibits are well done, professionally curated and the short films were interesting, even though we only watched the Hono'uli'uli one. The timeline of the immigration and labor history of the Japanese Hawaiian who became Japanese Americans is something everyone in Hawai'i should learn about it school, just as they learn about the Hawaiian history and their contribution to modern Hawai'i as it is today. The gift shop is a combo of thrift shop and omiyage gift shop, and I liked the selection of books you can buy--new and used.
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Jada C.

Yelp
One of the best educational centers around. The Japanese Cultural Center lives up to its name. Walking around you can see how the timeline changes throughout the century. I found this center to be thoughtful, pondering, deep. Intelligently designed, the center uses the educational material as props. When you walk around the center you feel like you become a part of history - their history. While reading the wall abstracts, it takes you back to their struggle (and often painful past) of being immigrants in Hawaii. This center preserves an important part of Hawaiian culture. Let's not forget about it. The Japanese Culture Center offers interactive classes. When we went there, we saw the students in the Kendo Exhibition class. The students ranged from ages of toddler to teenagers. They ought to be proud of themselves. I recently discovered that the volunteers worked there are docents. They were ready to share a part of their culture with me. I truly like that. Come to the Japanese Cultural Center. Bring your family, friends, and even dates here. Take part in a rich and profound tradition.
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Shana Q.

Yelp
This place is perfect for celebrations or business venues. I had attended 2 seminar graduations here and the rooms where perfect sizes. While on our 2nd trip we noticed a masquerade ball that looks to be a perfect size to fit 160-200 guests comfortably with round table seating. Perfect indoor venue with central A/C. Location is not all bad either. Lots of covered parking. I totally would book this area for an upcoming event!
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Casandra K.

Yelp
Every new year celebration we come here. Love The venders and performances. The bentos are really good. I love the okanomiyaki. This year the museum had a scavenger hunt. It was fun with good prizes. We found our family last name on the memorial wall. Lot of questions on how he is related to us. I wish there was a way to trace ancestry. There was also kimono dress up for the children. Every year there is plenty of fun activities. Mochi pounding and eating. It's always crowded and long lines for food. A preorder pick up system would help. Like ordering through the website, pay with credit card and picking up when you get there. That could help cut down the lines. Another thing that would be nice is an infant toddler area for nursing, play and diaper changing. It was too difficult to find a private place to change a diaper.
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Debbie R.

Yelp
JCC is the perfect venue for a large gathering. Been here several times for different events. Plenty of parking, comfortable spaces, clean restrooms. The gift shop in the bottom is very cool too - worth checking out!
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Paul C.

Yelp
***REVIEW FOR MANOA GRAND BALLROOM*** For the past 3 years I have been coming here to support my university, as they hold a reception for the high school seniors who have recently been accepted. Each year we have had over 175+ students and their parents come for a presentation as well as hold a question & answer session with hopes to see if the university is a good fit for that child. The Grand Ballroom, located on the 5th floor, is very spacious and bright. I found the facilities to be decent and it was very humid yesterday but the ballroom's air conditioning was spot on. I got there early so I was able to meet some staff but the room was all prepared with refreshments all put on. I was pleased to see several bins dedicated for recyclables. After speaking with the staff at the end when our event was done, it was disclosed she made the scones and they were INCREDIBLE, just like the nut-less banana bread. Location of this Center is very convenient as it is near the on and off-ramps of H-1. Overall, a great place to hold events. NOTE: Parking with validation here is a flat rate of $5. I was amazed by how many parents "squawked" when informed the cost to park here.
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Sharlene C.

Yelp
Attended a Financial Seminar at the Japanese Cultural Center. Parking was $8 and validated by the Host which is similar to IMP where a sticker is attached to the parking ticket then using your credit card pre-pay in a machine before leaving the Center. This allows an easy Exit as there is No parking attendant. The food was excellent especially the tender & moist teriyaki steak. Sliced steak covered in a light teriyaki sauce. Yummy! And the breaded soft & moist mahi mahi. The fruits were exceptionally sweet! The yummy guava cake hit my sweet tooth with steamy hot coffee. An informative meeting and a delicious dinner too!!
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Brennan T.

Yelp
For the longest time I didn't realize that the Japanese Cultural Center actually has a museum in it! And it's a really great museum! I've driven by the Japanese Cultural Center literally hundreds of times, and I finally stopped in with a friend in January. The JCC museum has a great overview of the history of the Japanese community in Hawai`i from the first sugar cane plantation workers to the World War II internment camp at Honouliuli to the importance of multiracial people in the Japanese community. I really appreciated the significance of Japanese values in historical context at play through various parts of history. The museum does have more of a feel of the Japanese community in an American context rather than a Hawaiian context, which makes sense in some ways since it's America that has had political and economic power in Hawaii for over 100 years. However, I wonder what looking at what an analysis of how the Japanese community affects and is affected by the Hawaiian community could look like as well.
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Kelvin C.

Yelp
Our organization's meeting was held in the evening. The buffet had a variety of salad options. The entrée included seafood, chicken and steak.
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Trish I.

Yelp
I had the privilege to accompany my daughter and her 3rd grade class as a chaperone to this place of business. Although we only stayed for a short 3 hours, it was filled with interesting japanese history along with some fun and games to keep these kids occupied. * Since we came on a field trip, this review is based on our experience during that time. Not sure how they operate with the general public. * We were split up into two groups. One group in the dojo, the other in the exhibition center. Upon entering the dojo, we were asked to take our shoes off and place them into cubby holes provided. We then bowed to show signs of respect before we walked in. I didnt catch the name of our guide, but he spoke to the kids about what the children of japan used to have fun with in the past. Things that were homemade, like bean bags and others like the kendama were of the few things they got to try. At the end, they got to make and take home something that resembled a kendama. Made using a piece of paper, toilet paper roll, and a penny that was attached to a string. The kids really enjoyed this, as they had the chance to have some fun. Next was the exhibition center. Kudos to the wonderful volunteer, Val Okihara, who enlightened the kids of the history of old japan. As we walked through the exhibit, she carefully explained the meaning of each display. She explained what the ever so present 'Maneki Neko' meant, mentioned what holidays were celebrated, what they wore, their journey to hawaii, and how a home and store looked like. She was very informative, and im sure the kids learned alot from her. Unfortunately, time constraints kept us from doing a bon dance before we were to have lunch. I would've loved to see and take part in this. Im pretty sure kids would also have enjoyed it also. We had lunch in their little courtyard, and had to quickly head back to our side of the island. Overall, I enjoyed my stay here. Not sure what the general public has the opportunity to see, but if it's like what I seen today, I would like to come back again! *side note: because of the homeless in the area, bathrooms are now locked (key needed) this is for the safety of the public and our keiki on field trips.
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Mark N.

Yelp
An overlooked center located in Moilili, across the street from Long's Drug Store, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii is place to visit to learn about the Japanese American experience. Visiting from the D.C. area where I visit the Smithsonian and when visiting Los Angeles, the Japanese American Museum in downtown, Little Tokyo, I was pleasantly surprised by the center. The center is small, but holds powerful exhibits, artifacts, and stories that match the level of the two other museums. When you enter the center, there is a small exhibit that tells the story of Honouliuli, Hawaii's internment camp established after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Local Japanese and some POWs were interned after the temporary sites at Sand Island were closed. Overgrown and reclaimed by nature, the land was located on private land and re-discovered in 2002. In 2015, it was designated a National Monument to restore and preserve the site. Work is still required so the site is not yet open to the public. The main exhibit is titled, "Okage sama de" roughly translated to thanks to you which house display and tells the story of the Japanese immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands. Little known was the discrimination towards the Okinawans that the exhibit described. Towards the end of the relatively small museum is a tribute to the late Ellison Onizuka, local boy, Eagle Scout, US Air Force officer, astronaut, who tragically died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff. It is a fitting tribute to the great American The center is more than the exhibits as it has conference and banquet rooms, as well as a utility room where practioners of traditional martial arts such as kendo and aikido were in sessions during my time at the center. For those that wish to learn about the Japanese-American experience in Hawaii, the Japanese Cultural Center is a definite place to visit in Hawaii.
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Lyn L.

Yelp
Attended a baby birthday party here...I must say the food was actually good...I've been to other functions here previously and have not liked the food...but something must have changed because it was pretty good this time. Other than that...it's a room...Whomever is throwing the event makes it....all good
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Darin O.

Yelp
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii Many great experiences of wonderful parties here. Few people know that this is both a functional culture center and a catering ballroom location. I have had different teach workshops, job fair type events and conferences in the 5th floor grand ballroom. I have enjoyed all of those events pretty much because the location and staff are so great at making people feel welcome- there are these side doors that they pop in and out of so that they distract guests with the least amount of intrusions. Wonderful. Catering. Yes some of the food is typical, normal, or things you can find at the food counter in a Foodland like dripping spare ribs in a deep watery soyo based sause in a large pan during a buffet style meal. But there is also the prime cuts of beef from a chef in a typical hat serving cuts of a roast to guests like in the best buffets in America- which is realllllllllllllllllllly Wonderful and Delish! There are the typical Japanese type events going on around like a dojo for karate style classes in the lower floors. The center itself also has educational materials that keep record of the history of different Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. They can be barrowed for teachers for lessons in classes- I don't know if normal guests can also barrow them - but they are intended for teaching materials- but you could ask if you wanted. Great location near UH Manoa. Easy to get to and they have their own parking. Great place to visit!
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Arthur S.

Yelp
Just went here today for the Ohana fest. Its amazing. I was able to see the struggle of the first japanese immagrants to the island. My friend John who had visited the Cultural center before led us to the back room where they had preserved several documents and exhibits of what it was like for the first Japanese immigrants that came to Hawaii in search for a better life. Many of the things which happened were very sad, and it is amazing to see how much has changed over the years. No pictures are allowed in the room with the historical exhibits. The rest of my experience at the cultural center was a bit brief. there were several art, and craft stands throughout the center which rooted from japanese culture and tradition. It was interesting to see how the Japanese religion of Shinto was practiced, since i am not familiar with many shinto practices around the island today. During the festival there was a kendo exhibition, a tea ceremony, and mochi pounding. We missed out on all three :/ There was also a number of food stands at the park across the street. Okonomiyaki was served that day. I just ate so i wasnt very hungry. I hope to return again next year so i can do all the things i missed out on this year.
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Shay F.

Yelp
I used to go here 5 to 6 days every week for karate practice! This was my second home! I don't frequent as much anymore, but now I'm a member! So I get all the benefits like 10% off Shirokiya all the time and other great deals. I also like their museum and museum shop! It's great to check it out to find great Japanese finds! Yelp 365 Challenge #175/365
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Helga W.

Yelp
Came here for free museum day, we were lucky it wasn't too crowded. I found a lot of the exhibits informative and it was fun looking at everything. They have a section on the internment camps, then life during the plantation era and then they finish off with Japanese influences in the modern day. The place also hosts a tea ceremony class and a dojo, we went when they were having a kendo practice and it was cool watching everything. Only downer was parking, quite expensive and no validation unless you buy something at gift shop. (If there was validation no signs that said so.)
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Kristine M.

Yelp
Came here recently on a field trip with my class. The exhibit on Japanese immigrants is fantastic! The docents are all volunteers, and they do a wonderful job of sharing information and weaving in their own life experiences. My students were amazed by the cultural artifacts and pictures. Being of Japanese ancestry myself, it was especially touching to see so many things that reminded me of my late grandmother. Loved learning the bon dance moves and dancing around the dojo. After getting back to school, we were still dancing around and doing the motions together! Definitely coming back here again. Even thinking about visiting other cultural centers of Hawaii. A really great experience that I was not expecting. Okage sama de!
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Chad Y.

Yelp
The Japanese Cultural Center is conveniently located in Moilili and near on/off ramps for the H1 freeway in both directions. The Center features a fantastic ballroom, tons of parking, and a museum on the first floor. The rates are very reasonable and the local style food is quite good. It doesn't wow you but at the same time it definitely does not disappoint and certainly makes you want to eat some more. The parking lot is really quite nice. No seriously. I never talk about parking lots but theirs is well-lit, aisles are wide and the stalls are large! WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THAT!? If you are thinking of hosting an event to cater to the local crowd, This is definitely a great place to consider.
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Donna L.

Yelp
We are using one of the rooms for a meditation class. The space is NICE! It's clean, in good condition, bright, airy, and well ventilated. The grounds are nice too and well kept. The cultural center is a nice little respite along the Beretania strip.
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Eric B.

Yelp
I come here for events, like Taste of Soju and Taste of Korea. Parking is a bit tight. I usually park along the street. Last time I went here, I parked in the structure. Not too bad. It was $5 for validation though. Parking along the street may be the way to go. There's stuff on the bottom floor. Japanese stuff. And a dojo. I see people practicing martial arts there on occasion. I think there's a Japanese museum too. The ballrooms are a fair size, but most of the events I've been too seem to overestimate the amount of people that will show. Then it turns into standing room only. Overall, the place is clean. And doesn't smell. That's good.
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Belle B.

Yelp
We went to the exhibit on the migration of Japanese people to the islands. I thought it was fascinating. It really helped me understand some of my family history that has become fuzzy over the years. I was excited to see relics from the 1800"s and could imagine what life might have been like for my great-grandparents and my great-great-grandparents. I really enjoyed reading about the history and what provoked some of the migration. I thought the real personal histories and photographs made the experience very real. It was a great afternoon and we really enjoyed the exhibit.
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Mr C.

Yelp
Presented for a traffic safety group and it was a very nice venue. This place is a nice gem and has good places to eat within walking distance.
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Alyssa S.

Yelp
Although it's hidden and tucked away in the middle of Oahus busy town. Japanese Cultural Center, is a cute little Gem, full of history and artifacts telling the story of the first Japanaese immigrants to settle in Hawaii, trying to thrive making a living and paving a way for future generations. A wonderful place to visit at least once to see what other cultures endured in the plantations and what was work life for them. Plantation workers had paved the way for work equality and wages that they righfully deserved during the booming sugar cane industry.
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Riana S.

Yelp
Came here on an assignment for a fashion show thingy. I've always noticed this place is really clean, inside and out. Amazing. The Manoa Grand ballroom was opened for the event, so vendors and dinner tables were spread out. Luckily there was still room to walk around and such. I didn't get to eat but I do remember I liked their coffee and I got to have a cup of that. The temperature was good in comparison to last time I was in here when it was freezing cold. The sound was pretty good unfortunately there wasn't a lot of room for the fashion show itself. I know it's inevitable that I'm going to come here in the future haha Yelp 365 Challenge #46/365
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Naomi L.

Yelp
Review for Manoa Grand Ballroom only: Grand ballroom is on the 5th floor of the building. We rented 1/2 of the ballroom for a party that hosted ~60+ people with alcohol + food. The other half was rented to a wedding reception. I felt a bit bad for them since we were basically having a costume party. Several of the wedding guests said our party looked like more fun :p We paid a corkage fee, which wasn't too bad and brought our own alcohol/mixers all from Costco. They provided the bartender. The food we went with was catered by them and was surprisingly very good (except for the slightly yucky chocolate cake). They also let us bring our own speakers in, which saved us a lot of money. Our DJ was a friend's ipod. Parking in the structure was only $5 with validation (provided by the JCC). Quite a few of us parked on the street, which was easy and free. Overall, the ballroom was great! It was easy to coordinate the event with them and they were accommodating to our requests. I had been to one event here prior and found it to have gone similarly well. Hint: reserve well in advance! Good venues in Hawaii fill up quickly.
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Mitzi A.

Yelp
Small gift shop...a bit crowded, but they were also rearranging displays too. Has good 442 DVDs, aloha shirts and Journey of Heroes books.
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Jer E.

Yelp
Expensive and the longest part of your day will be getting out of their freaking parking garage.
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Emi H.

Yelp
When I had a shopping event business we threw a lot of our large scale events here. The rates are fairly reasonable compared to hotels because there is no union labor involved. My customers really appreciated the fact that they didn't have to go into Waikiki and almost everyone knew where it was. Best thing is that they have their own parking structure so you don't have to worry about everyone finding parking or getting charged an arm and a leg. The Catering Manager, Frank, is really great to work with! I'd definitely recommend this venue for prom, reunion, anniversary party, baby luau.
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Heather S.

Yelp
I came here for the Japanese Immigrant Exhibition. Other than it being very informative, it was very interactive. It wasn't just a bunch of artifacts on display. The exhibit was literally like walking down memory lane. Love the decor of everything. There were quotes and sayings on the wall like wallpaper. There weren't just pictures of the schools and shops, there was an actual classroom with chairs, desks, and a blackboard and a market with vegetables (fake of course) and a life size display of the outsides of a barbershop, doctor's office, and church. The exhibit also ended with the Japanese culture in today's Hawaii.
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Karyle S.

Yelp
I don't get what's so cultural about this place. It's like just a smaller version of the convention center. I guess people reserve rooms and throw parties (albeit more upscale here than other places). Food is probably catered through whomever is contracted, but the menu was bleh. I was a guest so food was free so I can't really complain. But we're at a Japanese cultural center eating dinner with NO RICE? In Hawaii? Absurd. Parking was $5. Worth it I guess.

Neil B.

Yelp
Attended a formal function for Milton Friedman's birthday. About 125 people attended the approximately 3 hour dinner with local politicians introducing the two speakers from Oklahoma. This was in a portion of the ballroom. Buffet dinner was fine. During the hour or so speech/presentation by the guests, the party in the adjoining portion of the ballroom was loud and obnoxious. It seemed to be a bachelor party - by all the screaming, yelling at the top of their lungs, hooting and hollering coming thru the ballroom partition. The PA system was turned up so loud next door that each word from the MC was clear and audible to all of the guests in the dinner. Very poor planning and coordination of concurrent events by JCCH.
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Nikki N.

Yelp
I've come to this place at least 4 times now for several different events. I have seen Anjela Johnson perform, I've come for graduations, and childrens birthday parties. This is a great place to have parties. The parking situation is a little awkward and you do have to pay, however I do not mind. The ballrooms are nice, however very old hotel feeling with the plants and not so contemporary carpet. They also provide a bar and food. If I need a huge space to throw a party, this is someplace I would consider.
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Kamealoha A.

Yelp
It's a great place for birthdays, business events or events period. I've been here a few times and I love how clean the place is.
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D C.

Yelp
I'll keep this short ans sweet.....Had our first ever training here today in the lounge on the second floor!! It was LOVELY!! The breakfast and lunch were yummy....Think DELISH Kal-Bi and YUMMY Fried Chicken....Fruits were fresh and ripe.....and the staff was totally on point, and friendly. I can't think of a draw back......Our next training is on Sept 12.....and if my experience is the same....I will edit to 5 stars!!