Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association embarked on a bold fund-raising idea when they hosted the first Spring Festival over the weekend at Isenberg-Park. Mel Rapozo apparently was at the forefront of the effort that saw Koloa Pop Warner’s Shawn Andrade enjoying
Lihu‘e Pop Warner Association embarked on a bold fund-raising idea when they hosted the first Spring Festival over the weekend at Isenberg-Park.
Mel Rapozo apparently was at the forefront of the effort that saw Koloa Pop Warner’s Shawn Andrade enjoying the evening with his family and Pop Warner commissioner Leon Gonsalves was also checking out the action as entertainment blared in the background.
Juggling between an ongoing softball game, the Pop Warner Association took advantage of the many pockets of empty spaces to provide amble parking with each lot having its own attendant to make sure cars were safe while its occupants enjoyed the celebration.
Trent Shimabukuro, one of the volunteers, noted that it was the resourcefulness of Jon Takamura that allowed the overlapping of entertainment that worked with the DARE program and could support the Spring Festival.
A food booth manned by Lihu‘e Pop Warner volunteers provided food for those who decided to make an evening of the event, and there was promise of more things to come.
Rapozo, between dashes from point to point, noted that on Saturday, there was more entertainment scheduled, a line of crafters coming onboard, and the promise of good weather.
Realizing that there were also a lot of other activities going on, Rapozo said this was the only window they had, hoping that people would have enough time and energy to help support the Pop Warner organization. Gonsalves noted, “We need to do one of these things at the island level.”
- Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
