After a few years on hiatus, the Makiki Christian Church once again held its Festival of Thanksgiving 2023 on Saturday, October 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Festival featured crowd favorites like freshly made food, mochi pounded on site, games and activities for the children, a craft fair, food court of homemade treats, and a Treasure Ark of new and gently used clothing, household items, and other treasures, and more.

Attendees got to experience the fellowship of being together again in person with the community. The community was treated to a taste of Makiki Christian Church’s homemade Japanese foods, local favorites like sushi, udon with shrimp tempura, and freshly pounded mochi at the Festival of Thanksgiving.

The Honolulu Star Advertiser published this video from 2018, and the Festival of Thanksgiving continues to deliver traditional Japanese comfort food that has been made in the family for generations. Many of the church members, now in their 70s have been working the festival for decades.