PHOTOS: UH Hilo’s Chinese Spring Festival, Chun Jie Yu Kuai!

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The Annual Chinese Spring Festival celebration was held at UH Hilo on Jan. 23, the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Students and faculty line up for photos in front of display table.
UH Hilo’s Annual Chinese Spring Festival celebration was headed by Jiren Feng (third from left), associate professor of Chinese studies and program coordinator of the Chinese studies certificate program, and students who planned, set up, and hosted the activities. Jan. 23, 2023, Mookini Library lānai. (Courtesy photos, click to enlarge)

By Susan Enright.

Student tries on the lion costume.
Student tries on lion costume at the Annual Chinese Spring Festival, Jan. 23, 2023. (Courtesy photo)

The Annual Chinese Spring Festival celebration was held at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo on Jan. 23, 2023, the second day of the Lunar New Year. The event was held on Mookini Library’s lānai.

Guests enjoyed displays of beautiful Chinese handicrafts, and were offered hands-on activities in papercrafts, spring couplets, brush writing, and Chinese zodiac signs.

Students and faculty taught calligraphy, papercraft, lion dance (complete with full-size costume), Chinese birdie kicking, pitch pot, fan dance, and more.

The event was headed by Jiren Feng, associate professor of Chinese studies and program coordinator of the Chinese studies certificate program.

Students from Feng’s classes, the National Student Exchange program, and the First Year Experience program planned, set up, and hosted the activities.

Co-hosts of the event were the Center for Global Education and Exchange, and the First Year Experience program.

Happy Spring Festival!

Chun Jie Yu Kuai!

春节愉快

TABLES OF FUN

Students gather around Jiren Feng at a colorful table at the festival. On the table is a large lion head costume.
Associate Professor of Chinese Studies Jiren Feng talks to students about the Chinese studies certificate program and Spring Festival customs at the Annual Chinese Spring Festival, Jan 23, 2023, Mookini Library lānai. (Courtesy photos, click to enlarge)
Students writes a name on a paper rabbit.
Above, a table at the Annual Chinese Spring Festival where people could have their name written in Chinese, Jan 23, 2023, Mookini Library’s lānai. (Courtesy photo, click to enlarge)

LION DANCING

Large furry lion head costume on table with other tables in background on lanai.
Lion costume awaits people who want to have fun learning how to do traditional Lion Dance, thought to bring good luck and fortune for the new year. (Courtesy photos, click to enlarge)

SONG

Jiren on stage with mic.
Jiren Feng teaches a Chinese song to audience at the the Annual Chinese Festival on Jan. 23, 2023, UH Hilo’s Mookini Library lānai. (Courtesy photo, click to enlarge)

DANCE

Three women dancing Chinese Fan Dance while holding colorful fans.
Fan dance performance at the Annual Chinese Spring Festival, Jan 23, 2023, UH Hilo’s Mookini Library lānai. (Courtesy photos, click to enlarge)

GAMES

Two women playing with red shuttlecocks.
Students play shuttlecock or birdie kicking, a traditional Chinese game where players try to keep a weighted shuttlecock in the air by using their bodies but no hands. (Courtesy photos, click to enlarge)

Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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