Video by David Corrigan, Voice of Stephanie Salazar

HILO, Hawaii: The year of the snake was celebrated with a bang in Hilo on Saturday.

Hundreds attended the annual Chinese New Year Festival which was held at the Mo`oheau Park & Bandstand bandstand this year.

Before the event got underway, lion dancers and firecrackers kicked things off with a traditional blessing, held outside the newly refurbished bus terminal… and inside, too… in the hopes of cleansing the location of any “evil spirits” for the year. Folks crowded around to offer lycee to the lion dancers as well.

Event organizer Alice Moon told us this year’s event almost didn’t happen.

Last year celebrated the year of the dragon… but Feb 10, 2013 marks the start of the year of the Black Water Snake. According to tradition, water snakes are influential and insightful. They manage others well, and tend to be good for organizations to use as staff. As are usually financially secure. Determined, look calm on the surface, and are intense and passionate.

Gung Hay Fa Choy, from all of us at Big Island Video News.