WAILEA VILLAGE – Akiko’s Buddhist Bed and Breakfast is preparing for the 18th Annual Wailea Village Mochi Pounding for New Year. The event, which celebrates the “old-fashioned” way of making traditional rice cakes, began with 23 people – mostly neighbors, organizers say – and now has grown to host between 600-700 people. A large crowd for the small Hamakua Coast village.

The event will be held on Sunday, December 27th, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fire building starts at 7 a.m. to steam the rice, and everyone will have the chance to take their turn at pounding the glutinous sticky rice for good luck, organizers say.

VIDEO: December 2008