Kikaida may be 61, but he's apparently still as fleet and elusive as ever. Just ask Gary Harada.

The Salt Lake resident was hoping to get a glimpse of the Japanese superhero — or at least Ban Daisuke, the sexagenarian actor who played him — at yesterday's New Year's 'Ohana Festival, but missed him by just a few minutes.

Of course, Harada and his family can be forgiven for being tardy given the sprawling myriad of entertainment offered at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i's annual celebration.

Harada, wife Tiffany, and son Parker, were busy riding a fire truck when the duke of the double-chop was doing his thing.

Instead, the Haradas made do by snapping a photo of 2-year-old Parker and his cousin, Jordan Ramos, 7, sticking their unamused faces through a Kikaida backdrop.

Little did he know, Parker actually got off easy years earlier.

"I wanted to name him Kikaida," Harada admitted.

Regardless, the Haradas, who earlier took in a somei taiko performance, got more than their share of entertainment yesterday.

"We wanted to expose (Parker) to the Japanese culture," Harada said. "Try to teach him early, y'know?"

In fact, Parker and thousands of other sun-baked visitors were exposed to a whole range of cultural activities, from bonsai trimming to Brazilian capoeira.

The festival started with a traditional Shinto blessing and a performance by the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble.

At the cultural center, visitors sifted through used books and records; bought omamori and other traditional New Year's charms and talismans; watched exhibitions of Japanese flower arranging, paper tearing and calligraphy; and sat for musical and dancing performances in the Teruya Courtyard.

Across the street at the park, families noshed on Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, Hawaiian roasted corn, andagi (and andagi hot dogs), sushi and other culinary delights served up by Japanese cultural clubs.

George Murasaki, 84, of Kai- muki served as a foot-traffic director for his Yamanashi Kyoyu Kai club, which sold mochi, garlic chicken, soba and other food.

"This is only our second year of participation, but it's real good," Murasaki said of the festival. "I showed some of the young kids some hand tricks."

A row of vendors offered an equally wide variety of Japanese and local-themed wares. At relatively reasonable cost, shoppers could choose among Joy Ishihara's sushi, musubi or saimin-bowl pillows; Daniel "Hawai'i's Best Deaf Artist" Wang's paintings; or an assortment of Boy's Day fish kites, comforters, jewelry, and T-shirts emblazoned with such profundities as "Gunfunnit!"

JN Production's Kikaida booth sold a steady flow of T-shirts, posters and DVDs. Even the $100 box collections of Kikaida 0-1 and Inazuman were in high demand.

Jessie Lim, 7, and her 4-year-old sister, Ella, braved a long line to each take a turn pounding mochi as their parents, Brian and Keri, looked on.

"We just came to enjoy this time of celebration and culture, and to be with family," Brian Lim said. "It's a great way to start the year."

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann was also on hand to present a $10,000 grant to JCCH — and to do a little eating.

"I'm looking for mochi," he said.