[Event Report] Aloha from Kawaii Kon 2015!

Every spring, Oahu's otaku populace flock to the Hawaii Convention Center for a three day celebration of anime, comics and gaming with Kawaii Kon: Hawaii's Premier Anime Convention. This year it was held during the weekend of March 27 through 29, and saw record-shattering attendance of more than 10,000 attendees! The attendance lines wrapped around the ground floor of the convention center as event volunteers tried to check off attendees with pre-registration, and walk-in registration. Waiting times spanned at least an hour for some attendees. But the wait was more than worth it with a star-studded guest list and an entire complex of fun activities and panels to see.

Guests included honored names from both sides of the pacific, seeing veteran voice talents like Rob Paulsen and Jess Harnell, best known for their work on loved childhood favorites like Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and countless others. With them was Randy Rogel, famed scriptwriter and songwriter of animated American classics like the Batman series and Animaniacs. Joining the western roster were anime dub voice actors Todd Haberkorn, known for his work on titles like Hetalia: Axis Powers and Fairy Tail, Cassandra Morris, who has series like K-On! and Puella Magi Madoka Magica to her credit, and Bryce Papenbrook, who can be heard in Attack on Titan, Sword Art Online, and Danganronpa among many more.

Kawaii Kon attendees also had the chance to meet illustrious names from Japan, including Toru Furuya, voice actor veteran of the business best known as Amuro Ray from Mobile Suit Gundam and Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon. Fans also met with Range Murata, an artist and character designer most famous for his work on Last Exile and Blue Submarine No. 6 as conceptual designer. Musical talent included Eir Aoi, who can be heard singing themes for Fate/Zero, Kill la Kill, and most recently Sword Art Online II. Joining her was AKIRA, a singer, songwriter, and model who can be heard in Black Butler: Book of Circus. Event rooms were kept busy with Q&A sessions, concerts, and guest signings throughout the weekend.

Kawaii Kon has grown much from its humble beginnings at the Ala Moana Hotel ballroom to filling the entire convention center building. With the expanded ground floor came the Artist Alley and Dealers’ Room, and otaku prepared their wallets for long-awaited purchases like figurines, doujinshi, and quirky items like anime bedsheets. On the other side of the vast first floor stood the Artist Alley, a place where young artists, crafters, and groups advertised themselves. This year saw another maze of talented artists that hail from the islands and beyond, sporting decorative booths with prints, badges, keychains, and more to sell.

Many of the local fan community stepped forth and showcased their passions in the form of fun and informative panels. Some this year included fan tributes to series like Kuroko’s Basketball, Hetalia, and Dramatical Murder, and workshops teaching drawing and basic sewing skills. There weren't any shortage of events for the cosplay enthusiast with major events like the Cosplay Showcase, in which cosplay groups practiced their performing chops on stage, and Moonlight Ball, a cosplay dancing event with a formal flavor.

With so much to see and do, it’s no wonder that Kawaii Kon has grown to its title of being the “Premier Anime Convention Conference” of Hawaii. It remains the leader of the many anime and nerdy events held in Hawaii each year. Interestingly enough, the organizers of Kawaii Kon are spreading its wings even further with the announcement of the upcoming Hoku Kon, a science fiction and comic convention coming soon this summer.

2015 is in the books, but as the otaku populace reflect on the many esteemed guests they met, the awesome shopping, and, more importantly, the fond memories they have made, they all can't help but look with eager eyes toward next year. Next year’s event already has the locals busy. After all, there are costumes to be built, art to be made, and panels to plan for. Until next year~!

This article is proudly presented to you by the TOM Ninja Corps
*Reported by Justine Elona*
*Photography by Tom Quach*

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