PO‘IPU — Parades have built-in marketing as visitors making their way back to the Marriott’s Waiohai stopped to check the work in progress, Friday afternoon. Spread out over the expanse of the Po‘ipu resort, Troy Lazaro got the help of
PO‘IPU — Parades have built-in marketing as visitors making their way back to the Marriott’s Waiohai stopped to check the work in progress, Friday afternoon.
Spread out over the expanse of the Po‘ipu resort, Troy Lazaro got the help of his boss, Ruby Camarillo as they began the task of outfitting the skirt of their float which will form the mainstay of their entry into the Koloa Plantation Days parade, Saturday morning.
Using a wheelbarrow overflowing with water and containing a load of floral foam wrapped in chicken wire, Lazaro attached the wet blocks to the base of overlapping ti leaves that will camouflage the Kaua‘i Commercial flatbed that arrived in the Waiohai parking structure, Thursday evening for the project.
“Gotta keep everything alive,” Lazaro said as he mechanically picked a torch ginger from Camarillo, and without a pause to inspect, simply snipped it to the proper length before inserting it into the foam.
Gathered around the pair were more workers from the Waiohai who took advantage of lunch breaks to catch a glimpse of the developing float.
Chuck Brady of the resort’s Human Resources department was one of those, and Lazaro interrupted his work to discuss the boat that was taking shape in the resort’s carpentry department.
“Oh, and the honu, and other things go upstairs where they’re working. Has AC (air conditioning),” Lazaro said while leading the group off to check on the boat.
“Edgar Gum, the GM, and Merrill Yavinsky, the Project Manager, have already committed to driving the boat,” Brady said. “Well, they committed to driving something, they just don’t know what.”
Roddy Ganiron was busy fastening sheets of precut plywood and mahogany to the framework that formed the boat, and with Camarillo and Lazaro inspecting, used a tape rule to “compass” out circles where the wheels will contact the road.
Lazaro, whom everyone pointed to as the spearhead for the resort’s participation in the Koloa Plantation Days Celebration, modestly said that it was his boss Camarillo who was at the helm, to which she replied, “Nah. I’m just a tiny battery.”
Lazaro pointed out that all the different departments are involved in the creation of the parade float, with the boat taking shape in the carpentry department. Lazaro noted, “They can only work in the daylight hours since they’re right under those choice units,” pointing out the mauka resort rooms above the doorway.
Similar activity was taking place at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation, and Lazaro said he had a feeling the Embassy folks were doing something, too.
“We’re going to have a walking unit, too,” Brady announced. “We’re definitely going to create some ruckus out there.”
As the group returned to their chores, one employee noted, “We’ll be here as long as it takes.” The Koloa Plantation Days parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with special road closures going into effect around 9 a.m.
