Maui Matsuri started as a Japanese festival on Market Street in Wailuku Maui in May 1999.   It is the only Japanese festival on Maui and it is put together totally by a team of volunteers.

The Kanji characters Kodomo No Tame Ni translates to "For the Sake of the Children". A perpetual theme for this festival, the focus is to provide an environment for families to share and learn about the Japanese culture and pass down traditions. Ancestors came here for a better life not only for themselves but for their children and for generations to come. In this spirit, we end the festival with a traditional obon dance which encourages all ages, all religious denominations, and all ethnicities to come together to dance in honor of all ancestors.