In 1949, Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce Vice President Akira "Sunshine" Fukunaga, returned to Hawaii from visiting the Nisei Week Japanese Festival in Los Angeles. He brought back with him the idea of starting a similar Japanese cultural celebration in Hawaii. It took four years of dedication and hard work by HJJCC members and other volunteers to put on the first Cherry Blossom Festival. Each HJJCC member generously invested $1,000 for a start-up fund.
Under the leadership of General Chairman Takaaki Nakata, the HJJCC introduced the first annual Japanese Ethnic Festival in Hawaii with a window display contest, kabuki drama, radio personality show, fashion show by Hariuchi Uchida, kabuki doll-making and ikebana exhibits, and demonstrations of Japanese cooking, painting and classical dance.
Highlighting the first Festival was the Queen Pageant. In the inaugural year, 72 young women participated in the Queen Pageant, culminating with the crowning of Violet Niimi as the 1st Cherry Blossom Festival Queen. The event ended with an ondo and fireworks show at the old Honolulu Stadium in Moiliili.