YAS Fest Returns to Downtown Hilo's Kalākaua Park March 14

Kalākaua Park in downtown Hilo will host the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center’s Youth Art Series Festival, YAS Fest, on Saturday, March 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., bringing hands-on arts activities, live performances and informational booths for keiki and teens across the island. The event is free and family-friendly and is presented as a showcase of arts-education opportunities available to young people in Hawaiʻi County.

Headlining the performance slate is HAAStile, a teen rock band from Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts and Sciences directed by Trever Veilleux. Additional performers scheduled to appear include Big Wave Dance Academy, Aloha Teen Theatre, N2 Dance, Hawaii’s Volcano Circus, Prince Dance Institute and Kona Dance and Performing Arts, offering a mix of dance, theater and circus arts throughout the four-hour program.

Vendors and participating organizations listed by EHCC span school groups, makers and cultural nonprofits. Confirmed booths include Hilo High School Art Club, Hawaiʻi Handweavers’ Hui and Friends of the Palace Theatre, alongside Art by Dena, Key Crafts, Crafty Raccoon Art House, Mary Milelzcik - Arts Asylum, Ava Sofia Foundation, kope|hau, Roots & Shoots, Malialani Made LLC, Hawai'i Keiki Museum, Kalo & Cream and Z’s Art, with EHCC noting “... PLUS more to come!”

YAS Fest returns for a second year after an inaugural event in 2025. Kellie Miyazu, EHCC’s Youth Education Director, said, “Last year we had around 300 visitors to the first YAS Fest. There was a lot of nice feedback from visitors, and also from the organizations who were able to network with each other and the community. We’re expecting an even more successful festival this year.” Miyazu’s remarks underscore the festival’s dual goals of public outreach and inter-organizational networking.

Organizers say YAS Fest is made possible by support from County Council District 2 and Coldwell Banker Island Properties; EHCC also thanked KTA Super Stores, Kelsey Ito and Lō‘ihi Studios for additional support. Visitors are invited to stop by the EHCC patio across the street from Kalākaua Park to learn more about the center’s vision for the year and how community support keeps the gallery and keiki programs accessible.

Practical details for attendees: admission is free, the program runs 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and family-friendly activities are emphasized throughout the park. EHCC can be reached at 961-5711, is located at 141 Kalakaua Street, and maintains gallery and office hours Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday noon to 6:00 p.m. A photo from the 2025 festival shows a crowd gathered for a youth performance; credit for that image is Courtesy of EHCC and Andrew Richard Hara.

Expect a compact schedule of performances and tables from more than a dozen vendors; confirm final stage times and vendor lineups with EHCC at ehcc.org or by phone before heading to Kalākaua Park.