The Okinawan Festival, a blend of food, music, culture and fun tonight through Sunday in Waikiki, has grown by leaps and bounds over the past quarter century. For its silver anniversary, a delegation of more than 500 performers and spectators will arrive from Okinawa.

"There's tremendous support from Okinawa, with the vice governor leading a charter flight here of more than 350 people," said Jane Serikaku, executive director of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. "In addition, another 200 or so will be coming on other flights."

The event is a fusion of Okinawan and Island culture, typified by the Leilani Hula Group, a contingent of 90 Okinawan dancers who have learned the art of hula, and who will share their talent at the festival.

The Churamana ensemble, specializing in a fusion of Okinawan and Hawaiian music, also will take the stage.

"The blend of cultures suits our theme this year, which is 'Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha,' " Serikaku said. Uchinanchu are people of Okinawan ancestry.

The aloha and the sharing will be depicted in many ways, including the grand parade (with 500 to 600 participants) this evening on Kalakaua Avenue to Kapi'olani Park, taiko drumming and Okinawan songs and dances scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

There's a guest performance by the Rinken Band on Saturday, and an array of foodstuff, including andagi (doughnuts) and pigs' feet soup, at booths manned by Okinawan club members.

As many as 50,000 people — possibly more — are expected to jam the Kapi'olani site to sample the art, food and culture of Okinawa.

"We started small," Serikaku said of the festival's humble beginning in 1982 at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park. "We outgrew that site and moved to Thomas Square in 1985, and in 1990, relocated to Kapi'olani Park. I don't think we want to relocate and get any bigger."

The Okinawan festival is unlike other ethnic events of this scope in which vendors are solicited from the community at large.

"All our booths are run by our 49 member clubs, who are part of the Hawaii United Okinawan Association," Serikaku said.

"These clubs are our support group, and they prepare the food and run the booths," she said. "So we'll have more than 10,000 volunteers over the next few days."

As HUOA's honcho, Serikaku — the first woman president of the organization — has made a concerted effort to keep the culture alive among Okinawans.

"We have programs that involve the youths, like sports programs in bowling, softball and volleyball; and the arts for what we call leadership groups, where young adults learn and experience the culture and history of Okinawa," Serikaku said.

"With the young leaders, we take trips to Okinawa; upon their return, they often take on leadership roles to support their culture.

"We can't afford to lose the traditions of the Okinawans, and we're always searching for ways to interest new members, reaching out into the community."

Besides partaking of food, those attending the festival can participate in what is being billed as Hawai'i's largest bon dance Saturday evening, when a parade of dancers from different clubs take turns in the performance circle.

Among them: the Young Okinawans of Hawai'i, 'Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi, Iwakuni Odori Aiko Kai, Yamada Dance Group and Hawai'i Eisa Shinyuu Kai.

The site of the bon dance will be near the Waikiki Shell.

And while the Kapi'olani Park bandstand used to be a performing site, the main stage is in the park closer to the Waikiki Shell.

25TH ANNUAL OKINAWAN FESTIVAL

Tonight-Sunday

Kapi'olani Park, Waikiki environs

Free

676-5400, www.okinawanfestival.com

Note: Free shuttles will be available to and from the Kapi'olani Community College parking lot and the festival site, during and after the celebration — 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

The schedule:

TODAY

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Okinawan Festival parade, from Niketown on Kalakaua Avenue to Kapi'olani Park

7:30 p.m. — Opening ceremony, Kapi'olani Park

8 p.m. — Aloha Concert, with Island artists including Sonny Ching and his Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu and Teresa Bright, Kapi'olani Park

9:30-11 p.m. — Aloha party, with meet-and-greet artists from Okinawa and Hawai'i, Kapi'olani Park

SATURDAY

9 a.m.-6 p.m. — Continuous entertainment, Okinawan food, cultural and craft activities, Kapi'olani Park

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Hawai'i's largest bon dance, Kapi'olani Park

8-9 p.m. — Rinken Band, Kapi'olani Park

SUNDAY

9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Continuous entertainment, Okinawan food, cultural and craft activities, Kapi'olani Park

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.