Josh Pajella liked the spaghetti with meatballs and Jonel Kaohelauli‘i’s favorite was the little pink wonder woman. As it turned out, Kaohelauli‘i’s favorite went on to take third place in the Best Original Costume category of the mall’s costume contest
Josh Pajella liked the spaghetti with meatballs and Jonel Kaohelauli‘i’s favorite was the little pink wonder woman.
As it turned out, Kaohelauli‘i’s favorite went on to take third place in the Best Original Costume category of the mall’s costume contest that was just one phase of its annual Halloween celebration.
“We had more than 80 children come out to take part in the costume contest,” Kaohelauli‘i said. “That’s really good, considering it’s a school night.”
Her favorite costumed character, Lyana Stine, was just one in a growing crowd that swelled in the food court area for the contest that set the stage for the “parade” around the mall, where participating merchants had treats for the seemingly endless line of ghosts, ghouls, and superheroes.
Top honors in the Best Original Costume category went to Gage Farley who was dressed as a cockroach, flitting about the food court area, but always returning to the remodelled McDonald’s where he finally was able to enjoy dinner.
But Farley didn’t stop at getting the Best Original Costume. He went on to top a newly-installed Judges Choice division where the contest judges could select from the field of winners for their favorites.
“He really likes bugs,” said Farley’s mom who followed him about the mall. “I got his costume from eBay, and it really fits because of his interest in bugs.”
Second place in the Judges Choice division went to Jayden Alfiler who teamed with brother Daniel to present a Winnie the Pooh and Honey Jug combo. That pair was named to the top two slots of the Cutest Costume division.
Elvis Imamura, who is no stranger to the Kukui Grove contest because he grew up as a regular participant, was all decked out.
At age 4, Imamura, dressed as an airline pilot, and escorted by his mom who was dressed as a stewardess, he filled in the third place slot for the Cutest Costume.
“I’m just the passenger,” laughed his dad Marc.
Black was the color for the Spookiest Costume, as Koby Blackstad, Donovan Miyasato, came as living mummies while Haylee Garcia-Raqul was a vampiress.
Kaohelauli‘i, who coordinates the marketing for the mall, was thrilled with the turnout, and just as happy that remodelling for both McDonald’s and Claire’s (accessories) were completed in time for the celebrants.
“We had a lot of little girls who just didn’t know what to do while Claire’s was doing its remodelling,” Kaohelauli‘i said. “Now, they’re all happy.”
In addition to prizes offered by the mall, Kaohelauli‘i said this year’s celebration was co-sponsored by American Savings Bank with candy coming from Star Market.
“Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics, under the leadership of Kerri Linthicum, helped coordinate and organize this year’s event,” Kaohelauli‘i said, noting that SKA swimmers were helping Pajella, who did a masterful job emcee-ing the event, in distributing the prize medals and goodie bags for the category winners.
Judges for the field included Bruddah Tysen of Island Radio, Carol Resinto of the Kukui Grove management team and Jennifer Krueger, an SKA parent.
Following the contest, the field of costumed characters and their parents hit the mall in search of treats.
