LIHU’E — An accident on Rice Street shortly after it closed Saturday delayed the start of the He Inoa No Kaumuali’i parade for about 20 minutes. Originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m., the response of the fire truck from
LIHU’E — An accident on Rice Street shortly after it closed Saturday delayed the start of the He Inoa No Kaumuali’i parade for about 20 minutes.
Originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m., the response of the fire truck from the Kaua’i Fire Department’s Lihu’e station and traffic officers from the Kaua’i Police Department delayed the start as the emergency response crew cleared vehicles and debris from the street.
He Inoa No Kaumuali’i translates to honoring King Kaumuali’i, said a leader from the parade committee. As such, representatives from the various Hawaiian civic groups were present, as was Kaua’i County Finance Department head Michael Tresler, who represented Kaua’i Mayor Bryan Baptiste. Baptiste is currently visiting the Philippines.
The Lihu’e Baseball League (LBL), under president Warren Koga, was holding its season-opening ceremonies at the Lihu’e County Park and joined the parade from the Hardy Street intersection. The LBL ceremonies closed just minutes before the parade arrived at the intersection.
There, they joined members of the Lihu’e Patriots Pee Wee Pop Warner Div. II national champions, who were also part of the parade.
Plantation Carriages housed a small German ensemble that provided a respite from the Hawaiiana atmosphere on behalf of the Lihu’e Lutheran Church, and Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani entered a float to promote its upcoming Kaua’i Polynesian Festival, scheduled for May.
Following the parade, people were treated to a ho’olaule’a on the grounds of the historic county building. The lawn was sectioned off to offer a variety of items from about two dozen crafters, as well as a tent filled with a variety of food.
Greg and Sonya Stoll of Kilauea brought out their new “Fried Ice Cream,” a combination of malasada with an ice cream center topped with a choice of syrups.
“It’s best when you eat it hot,” Greg Stoll said. But for people who weren’t there to enjoy the new offering, Stoll said he plans to have it when they host the food booth at the Po’ipu craft fair on Feb. 11.
“It just depends on who gets on the bus,” he laughed.
Kaumuali’i was the ruling monarch of Kaua’i during the time that King Kamehameha I swept through the Hawaiian Islands.
Kaua’i was the only island that was not conquered by Kamehameha’s forces, and eventually, Kaumuali’i peacefully surrendered Kaua’i to avoid bloodshed.
