Westside spooks got a jump on Halloween

WAIMEA — The sun was still in the sky as youngsters got an early start on Halloween at the Boys & Girls Club, Waimea Clubhouse.

A bouncer featuring jumping, bouncing, made-up youngsters was a far cry from the normal crowd, but that indicated the fun that was in store at the second annual event that started early.

This year, leaders at the Boys & Girls Club, Waimea Clubhouse said they bussed in students from both the Kapa’a and Lihu’e locations.

That filled the Waimea Clubhouse with youngsters of all ages, who were engaged in creating memories on special tables wrapped with paper, and face painting featuring the talents of Jaime Reyes and Silvana Paredes, who worked wonders with the consumer packages of ghoulish makeup.

Mariza Hookano was one of the youngsters who was on hand from last year, and said that, following the afternoon activities, the group will take a break for dinner, and then, the Haunted House opens.

“It’s scary,” the Waimea Canyon School student said. “The whole underneath (of the Waimea Clubhouse) is haunted, and you gotta crawl.”

Dinner consisted of spaghetti and hot dogs, and among the array of games being offered was the traditional bobbing for apples that saw numerous youngsters realize that it’s a lot harder than it looks.

The evening array of games featured more food, as youngsters got an opportunity to eat doughnuts off a string after their harrowing-Haunted Playground experience.

The sounds of the Col. Bogey March (from the movie “Bridge on the River Kwai”) played by the Waimea High School marching band provided the perfect break between the afternoon and evening activities, as the Menehune paraded past the Waimea Clubhouse in their homecoming parade en route to the bonfire at Lucy Wright Park.

• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com