LIHU‘E – One of the oldest running events in the state gave about 800 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts to demonstrate the skills they learned during their Scouting experience as the gates opened to the 95th Annual Boy Scouts Aloha
LIHU‘E – One of the oldest running events in the state gave about 800 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts to demonstrate the skills they learned during their Scouting experience as the gates opened to the 95th Annual Boy Scouts Aloha Council Kaua‘i District Makahiki, Saturday.
Utilizing the lawn of Vidinha Stadium, the Scouts rally at 9 a.m. signaled the start of the festivities as Kaua‘i Scouting Executive Kaipo Kealalio, Jr. welcomed the scouts and their leaders to the event.
Tom Shigemoto of the Kaua‘i District noted that at 95 years for the Boy Scouts, and 75 years for the Cub Scouts, this is one of the longest running events.
Reece Faulkner of the Aloha Council office said that the Makahiki is one of the major events in the scouting calendar and welcomed parents, friends, and spectators to see what the scouts have learned.
Faulkner said that the event is called different things in different parts of the nation, but it is the biggest event in the scouting calendar. Around the state, Makahiki events were being hosted in Kona at the same time. The Aloha Council and the Pukahi (Hilo) events were held on Apr. 9, and the final event will be held on Apr. 23 when the Hamakua-Kohala event takes place at the Hawaiian Homes Hall.
There was the traditional rope bridge that magically attracts youngster who thrill at the crossing, and the traditional malasada booth with a twist.
This year, the heart of the delicacy was bread cut into squares and dipped into a special batter before being cooked. Over the years, the malasada has taken many forms, one troop at one time using frozen biscuit dough as the heart.
Pack 148, sponsored by the Lihu‘e Christian Church had a hands-on educational exhibit where youngsters could experience the thrill of hoisting heavy weights using a system of pulleys.
Some of the exhibits were more for the fun-of-it-all as Pack 83 leaders and scouts were huddled around a carpet remnant for a traditional game of marbles.
New to this year’s event was the attempt to revive the Order of the Arrow, a special scouting program.
Scoutmaster Cal Lagazo, decked out in the regalia of his native American tribe, performed an Indian dance as Lee Neindengard invited people to inspect some of the badges associated with the program as well a view a video about the Order.
Following his dance routine, Lagazo explained that his regalia was created when he himself was a Boy Scout. Vianne Tabata of the Kaua‘i District Office said that the Order has been idle for about 20 years.
Commercial vendors such as Cold-stone Creamery and Don Schmanski of Hole-E-Cow fame came to offer their goods with a portion of the proceeds going back to the Scouting program. Naganuma later noted that the response to the Hole-E-Cow resulted in Schamnski selling out of the popular Hawaiian style hot dog with the Mango Bango sauce.
This gesture of giving back to the program is reflected in the number of sponsors that are included in the purchase of the $7 admission ticket.
Many being offered by businesses whose owners and management were former scouts themselves.
