(Photo by Vasilisa Nesterenko)

By Vasilisa Nesterenko | Staff Writer

Spring Break is like a nice swim in the ocean on a hot day: refreshing, recharging, and giving you the energy to keep going. But with all the distractions of everyday life, it can be easy to miss this perfect opportunity to refresh your mind and body. In this post, you’ll find some fun ways to spend your spring break with friends, or even on your own.

Asobi Expo Hawaʻi

Spring Break might be too short to visit Japan and experience the beauty and depth of the country, but it is long enough to get a sneak peek of Japanese pop culture at the Asobi Expo. It will take place on Monday, April 16 at the Waikīkī Shell.

The event is organized by ASOBISYSTEM, a company whose mission is to share kawaii, the Japanese culture of cuteness, with the world. This year marks the first time that Asobi Expo is being held overseas, which makes the event especially unique.

Famous Japanese artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, ATARASHII GAKKO!, and FRUITS ZIPPER will perform live. Even if you are not familiar with these names, Asobi Expo is a great opportunity to learn about Japanese culture, try new food, spend time outdoors, and simply enjoy a break from homework.

Tickets, starting at $90, can be purchased on the official website.

Honolulu Festival

The 30th annual Honolulu Festival, organized by the Honolulu Festival Foundation, will take place March 13-15. The goal of the festival is to promote cultural exchange between the people of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Rim region. Following this purpose, numerous events, from the Cake & Food Fest to the Japanese Film Festival, will be held across several venues in Honolulu, including Waikīkī and the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. At Kapiʻolani Park, the Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden will welcome runners as young as five years old to participate and share aloha with one another.

The Honolulu Festival will close with the famous Nagaoka Fireworks Show at Waikīkī Beach at 8:30 p.m. The powerful twenty-minute display will amaze you just as much as the fireworks on New Year’s Eve or Veterans Day. Details about the fireworks show and other events can be found on the festival website.

Kualoa Ranch

Living on the Windward side myself, I can’t help but encourage people who live in town to come here more often. Going on a Kualoa Ranch tour is a good excuse to do just that.

Kualoa Ranch offers a variety of tours that take visitors to filming locations of popular movies like Jurassic World, Kong, and Jumanji, while also introducing them to the island’s natural beauty. The starting price for the Kualoa Grown bus tour is $68, while some UTV tours start at $155. More information can be found on the website.

Even if a tour is outside your budget, you can still enjoy the mountain views and ocean at nearby Kualoa Regional Park. And if you hop on a couple of paddleboards, you might even have a small adventure paddling to nearby Chinaman’s Hat.