PO‘IPU – About 60 students from the Kalaheo Summer Fun took advantage of their Excursion Day to take in the Hawaiian games that were being held at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Po‘ipu. The summer fun students joined up
PO‘IPU – About 60 students from the Kalaheo Summer Fun took advantage of their Excursion Day to take in the Hawaiian games that were being held at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Po‘ipu.
The summer fun students joined up with guests and other visitors who dropped in on the event that was part of the ongoing week-long Koloa Plantation Days celebration, one of the owners of the resort commenting on the wide-spread participation of guests, pointing out visitors from Oregon, California, Canada, and other parts of the country.
Ron Morin, the resort’s manager, said that each of the participants received a water bottle containing chilled water as well as a package of goodies just for signing in, and upon completion of the games, were eligible for drawings that included over 30 prizes that were donated by local organizations.
Young athletes realized that many of the traditional games have skills that are required in today’s sporting events, the Coconut Toss, or Kiloe Milu being similar to the football, or softball toss at track and field events, and the Ulu Maika being a more traditional form of bowling. The kukini, or foot race seemed to attract a large following as contestants raced down a straightaway, around a coconut tree, and back to the finish line to the cheering of individual supporters.
Morin said the games returned to Kiahuna following two years when it was moved to the Lawai Beach Resort, and after seeing how much response and enthusiasm was on hand at the Po‘ipu property, Morin is already anticipating next year’s event,
Morin said the event was organized by Bevin Parker-Evans, Kiahuna’s homeowner liaison, with full support from the Outrigger staff that manned each station as well as the central registration table that was set up to accommodate the resort’s guests who peeked in to see what the excitement was about.
The Koloa Plantation Days celebration will peak on Saturday with the traditional parade through Old Koloa Town followed by the ho‘olaule‘a at the Annie Knudsen Park.
Thursday events include the Putting Contests at the Po‘ipu Bay Resort Golf Club followed by the luau and show at the Hyatt Regency Kaua‘i.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
