Wednesday, January 1: 
Hatsumode 2019.  For the Japanese community, New Year’s is the most important of all cultural holidays when millions of people visit a shrine on New Year’s Day.  Embrace the spirit of the Japanese in Hawai`i and be blessed for the New Year, get your head bitten by a Japanese Shishi Lion for good luck, be invigorated by taiko drums and partake of ozoni mochi soup. An event that is culturally exciting and spiritually enriching.  Hawai`i Kotohira Jinsha-Hawai`i Dazaifu Tenmangu, 1239 Olomea St., Honolulu. Midnight to 5 p.m. Parking is available with free shuttle at Damien Memorial School, 1401 Houghtailing St., Honolulu. Shuttle runs continuously between midnight to 3:30 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (808) 841-4755 or visit www.e-shrine.org.