Last weekend, I went to Hawaii to check out Kawaii-Kon 2009, Hawaii's biggest (and I think only?) anime, manga and gaming convention. Now I'm ready to show off some of my photos from that weekend in Waikiki.
Check out my just-posted and ever-growing gallery of photos from Kawaii-Kon 2009, including some creative cosplay, the scenery, the artists, the crowds and a lot of the special guests including Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo), Shinji Aramaki (anime director and mecha designer for Appleseed and Appleseed Ex Machina) and Vic Mignogna (voice actor, best known for his work on Fullmetal Alchemist) and J-Rock bands The Emeralds and Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re.
I attended all three days of the show, and while I didn't get to check out all of the events, I did find lots to do. From drawing demonstrations in the bustling artists alley to concerts, multi-player gaming tournaments, all-day anime showings and cosplay skits, and a modest but interesting array of vendors in the dealers room, Kawaii-Kon offered Hawaii fans lots of ways to enjoy the fun of an anime convention close to home.
My modest request for Kawaii-Kon 2010? Please invite new guests and invite more artists instead of voice actors. It's fine that there are guests who love to come to Hawaii over and over again, but it wouldn't hurt to mix it up a little and introduce new talent to joys of the Islands. And more guests from Japan? Yes, please!
The creative energy in artists alley and the strong support that fans showed for the artists who did come made me feel like there was hunger for more of that sort of activities. Giving aspiring Island artists exposure to professional artists can offer inspiration and useful information to teens and young adults who may not be able to afford to fly to the mainland to check out San Diego Comic-Con or other major comics events.
Otherwise, I was impressed by the energy of the crowds and the Kawaii-Kon's staff's eagerness to please and put on a professional, enjoyable show. In case you missed it, here's my scene report from Kawaii-Kon 2009, including some first impressions and highlights.
Did you go to Kawaii-Kon 2009? If so, what did you think? What were some of the highlights of this year's show and your wishlist for what you'd like to see next year? Add your comments below or in the forums!
Planning is in the works for Kawaii-Kon 2010, so mark your calendars for next April and maybe I'll see you there again next year!
UPDATE: Look! Even more Kawaii-Kon cosplay photos, courtesy of Nadine Kam from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Image credit: © Deb Aoki
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