Smiling keiki danced to music and skipped around the grassy fields at Vidinha Stadium while swinging colorful baskets in search of sweet treats.
It was Kauai’s largest Easter egg hunt, sponsored by King’s Chapel Friday at three locations in Kapaa, Hanapepe and Lihue. Excitement filled the air as families were greeted by the Easter Bunny with candy, prizes and games.
Hunting for decorated eggs is a favorite tradition for the children, while many other Kauai residents attend church services and gather with family to celebrate the start of the season of renewal and growth.
Kaui Shintani, a member of King’s Chapel Eleele, takes part in the celebration to draw people to know God.
“It is important, because we are celebrating that Christ has risen for us,” said Kapaa resident Carol Llego, who normally spends the spring holiday with friends and family. “In the mornings we do church, and then in the afternoons we do our egg hunt and Easter activities. We do some games and just talk stories and have a big feast.”
Tiffany Sibayan of Wailua celebrates by going to her grandmother’s house every year. “We have a cookout and then we just find Easter eggs.”
Tawnya Schoenick of Lihue will be celebrating the holiday in a less traditional manner. “This Easter we have my son’s graduation, so we’re going to go celebrate his graduation from the Nalu Studies program at KCC.”
Lihue’s Melissa Rapozo has a dinner and a lunch with both sides of her family each year. “It’s just a tradition to get together with family. When we were little we all used to do Easter egg hunts at my grandma’s house, but we all grew up.”
Kaleb and Cyann Perreira, a young Lihue couple with three children, go to church, then a cookout with family and make Easter egg hunts for the kids.
“This is my kids’ favorite holiday,” Kaleb Perreira said.
Every Easter Jamie Kelekoma, a Lihue mom, celebrates with a potluck pupu-style feast drawing up to 20 family and friends.
“We just have a family beach day, get all the kids together, do a cookout and then we do a little Easter egg hunt for them with finding the golden egg.”
She always celebrated Easter as bringing the family together.
“We all like coloring eggs the night before, getting everything prepared,” Kelekoma said. “When that day comes it’s exciting for see the kids and the excitement on their faces.”
Samuel Brown, along with his wife Amy and 2-year-old son Mathis, will celebrate by coloring eggs the night before, then going to Mass and having a big breakfast. Since the couple moved to Kauai two years ago from New York and California, they will be far away from family during the holiday. But young Mathis eagerly anticipates the Easter Bunny’s arrival.
“We’re excited, this will be his first time getting involved with Easter,” Amy Brown said.
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John Steinhorst, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0445 or jsteinhorst@thegardenisland.com.
