LIHU‘E — Having the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration coincide with the eve of the Presidential inauguration sent waves of excitement through the audience yesterday. “This is so exciting,” said Jacqueline Kozak, who postponed doing her errands to take
LIHU‘E — Having the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration coincide with the eve of the Presidential inauguration sent waves of excitement through the audience yesterday.
“This is so exciting,” said Jacqueline Kozak, who postponed doing her errands to take in the variety of messages and performances that highlighted the celebration in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Day Jr. at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center. “I was going to do errands, but I just can’t leave until this is over.”
Analeah Atkinson spearheaded the fourth annual MLK Day celebration in coordination with the Interfaith Council of Kaua‘i. Other sponsors of the event included the Kukui Grove Shopping Center, Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping and Growing Green nursery.
“Hawai‘i’s unique cultural diversity contributes to our residents’ natural ability to keep an open mind and an open heart,” said Gov. Linda Lingle in her Martin Luther King Day message.
Beth Tokioka, Executive Assistant to Mayor Bernard Carvalho, took time out to offer items for the county’s “Aloha Begins With Me” program, and was joined by Joanne Watanabe, who distributed “You Make a Difference” packets.
The cultural diversity was brought forth in all its glory as the audience that ebbed and flowed in the mall’s food court area swelled to overflowing as the Tongan choir from Kapa‘a took the stage and offered its presentation that took on an opera-like air.
Visiting African drummers Nii Anang and Obuobi prefaced the performance of “Aloha Africa” drumming for peace performance that had Kozak dancing on the sidewalks.
“That just grabs you,” Kozak said, “The amount of cultural variety we have makes this event so interesting.”
Throughout the day, shoppers paused to pen messages on a huge peace banner taped to one of the shopping center walls, study the messages fastened to lines resembling clotheslines, and listened to the messages and performances from groups around the island.
Jose Bulatao, of Kekaha, waited through most of the day to participate with the choir of the West Kaua‘i United Methodist Choir, and similarly, the Haack family patiently waited until their cue for the West Kaua‘i Youth Ensemble that provided the music for the keiki parade coordinated by the Aloha Peace Project.
