Kawaii Kon

Kawaii Kon
Venue Hawaii Convention Center
Location(s) Honolulu, Hawaii
Country United States
Inaugurated 2005
Attendance 8,500 in 2014 [1]
Website
http://www.kawaiikon.com/

Kawaii Kon is an anime convention geared towards Japanese animation and comics held in the Honolulu area.

Kawaii Kon was founded by Gamers Evolution Expo, LLC., a company started by Stan Dahlin, Marlon Stodghill and Scott Richardson. Dahlin is a Hawaii native himself, who was at the time based out of Atlanta, Georgia.[2] As for why they decided to bring an anime convention to Hawaii, taken from the website: "Being a transplanted local boy living far away from home for a better part of a decade or more, I'm very proud to be hosting this show in my home state. You ask why? A number of reasons but to simply state it.... I love anime!"[3]

Kawaii Kon was the first anime convention to be held in Hawaii.[4] Local support for the convention by fans in the event's first year resulted in a surprising attendance level that surpassed the staff's expectations.

Kawaii Kon currently has AMV and anime screenings; industry, fan, and guest panels; Hall Cosplay contests, Masquerade/Cosplay Competitions, Art Shows,Artist Alley Contests, Concerts, Dances, and Karaoke, along with Video and Role Playing games, autographs, and a Dealer's Room.[5]

History

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
April 22 – 24, 2005 Ala Moana Hotel
Honolulu, Hawaii		1,903 S. Kai Bovaird, Robert DeJesus, Kaveh Kardan, Monica Rial, Stephanie Sheh, and David Williams.[6]
April 14 – 16, 2006 Ala Moana Hotel
Honolulu, Hawaii		2,610 S. Kai Bovaird, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Yoko Ishida, Jin Kobayashi, Vic Mignogna, Monica Rial, Stan Sakai, Sean Schemmel, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, and David Williams.[7][8]
April 27 – 29, 2007 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		2,925 Christine Auten, Greg Ayres, Steve Blum, Luci Christian, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Brittney Karbowski, Vic Mignogna, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, David Williams, and Travis Willingham.[5][9]
April 18 – 20, 2008 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		3,739 Colleen Clinkenbeard, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, The Emeralds, Tiffany Grant, Mari Iijima, Vic Mignogna, Yuko Miyamura, Monica Rial, Rosearik Rikki Simons, David Williams, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons[10][11]
April 10 – 12, 2009 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		4,479 Shinji Aramaki, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Caitlin Glass, Illich Guardiola, Brina Palencia, Stan Sakai, David Williams, Vic Mignogna, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, The Emeralds[12]
April 16 – 18, 2010 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		 Alt/Air, Shinji Aramaki, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Hideo Ishikawa, Daisuke Kishio, Vic Mignogna, Masakazu Morita, Wendy Powell, and David Williams.[13]
April 29 – May 1, 2011 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		 Alt/Air, Eleven Staples, Jacob Grady, Wendee Lee, Scott McNeil, Doug Smith, Jonathan Tarbox, David Williams, and Kappei Yamaguchi.[14][15]
March 16 – 18, 2012 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		 Akino, Yoshitaka Amano, Yuu Asakawa, bless4, Johnny Yong Bosch, Eyeshine, Ryo Horikawa, Vic Mignogna, Kenichi Miya, Lisa Ortiz, Chris Sabat, and David Williams.[16][17]
March 15 – 17, 2013 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		 Johnny Yong Bosch, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Eyeshine, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Toshio Furukawa, Todd Haberkorn, Noizi Ito, Mint, Iruma Rioka, and Lisle Wilkerson.[18]
April 4 – 6, 2014 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		8,500 [1] Misako Aoki, Chalk Twins, Jim Cummings, Quinton Flynn, Ayumi Fujimura, Richard Horvitz, Yoko Ishida, Hironobu Kageyama, Tetsuya Kakihara, Vic Mignogna, Masako Nozawa, Nicki Rapp, Leah Rose, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, Janet Varney, and Lisle Wilkerson.[19]
March 27 – 29, 2015 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		 Eir Aoi, Toru Furuya, Todd Haberkorn, Jess Harnell, Cassandra Lee Morris, Range Murata, Bryce Papenbrook, Rob Paulsen, and Leah Rose.[20]

Pictures


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Memorable moments from Kawaii Kon 2014". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. April 8, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  2. ↑ Yadao, Jason S. (April 21, 2005). "Anime-niacs". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  3. ↑ "Kawaii Kon FAQ". Kawaii Kon. April 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  4. ↑ Paiva, Derek (April 22, 2005). "Ah, anime! Three-day convention opens today". Honolulu Advertiser.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Kawaii Kon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  6. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  7. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  8. ↑ Yadao, Jason S. (April 14, 2006). "For The Love of Anime". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  9. ↑ Yadao, Jason S. (April 27, 2007). "Serious About Cosplaying". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  10. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  11. ↑ Yadao, Jason S. (February 11, 2008). "Kawaii Kon finalizes 2008 guest roster (Cel Shaded column)". Honolulu Star-Bulletin 13 (42). Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  12. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  13. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  14. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  15. ↑ Yadao, Jason (January 27, 2011). "Cel Shaded: Kawaii Kon and HEXXP introduce more guests". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  16. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  17. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2012". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  18. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  19. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  20. ↑ "Kawaii Kon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-04-04.

External links

Coordinates: 21°17′25.44″N 157°50′8.52″W / 21.2904000°N 157.8357000°W