WAIMEA — It was a lot of work, but the effort was all worthwhile as the sound of a videographer slurping saimin accompanied live images of a group performing at the Waimea Town Celebration. “We didn’t want to play up
WAIMEA — It was a lot of work, but the effort was all worthwhile as the sound of a videographer slurping saimin accompanied live images of a group performing at the Waimea Town Celebration.
“We didn’t want to play up the live streaming video,” said Chris Faye, one of the long-time organizers of the celebration. “This year was supposed to be a test to see if it could be done.”
When the 32nd Annual Waimea Town Celebration opened its gates Friday afternoon for a two-day run, the video crews had already a week’s experience in live streaming video.
Joyce Evens, Waimea High School advisor for the school’s Big Blue Crew, said the four students involved in the production had already done video of the heritage week events at Waimea Theater.
These are the same students that were involved in taping the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation athletic games at the Clem Gomes Gym, Evens said.
“Thomas Nizo coordinated the live streaming video that was aired over the two days the fair ran,” Evens said. “Additionally, the students worked the film festival on Monday, the Starlights on Tuesday, the Hawaiian charter schools program Wednesday and even did the ‘ukulele workshop at the Waimea Plantation Cottages, Thursday.”
Evens said some of the heritage events have been archived on www.hawaiistream.com and people can see these by visiting the Web site.
Earlier in the month, Kaua‘i entertainer Larry Rivera was treated to live streaming video of his show at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort by the same outfit.
“When I first brought up the subject, the old guys weren’t too sure, but I told them everybody does live streaming video now and if you want the people to come, you need to do what is pulling in the people,” Nizo said. “It was a lot of work, but now anyone who has Internet can see the event live.”
The Waimea Town Celebration offers community groups an opportunity to showcase itself while fundraising for its respective programs.
In addition to a variety of athletic events, the celebration offers a wide variety of food booths hosted by different organizations, entertainment and a variety of fun contests.
“This is one of the school’s major fundraising efforts,” said Kurt Toma, a Waimea High School football coach.
One of the Waimea High School JROTC advisors agreed, noting the program’s cadets put up all the tents and did the set-up for the two-day celebration. They will return when the event is over and disassemble everything.
“We helped with the Waimea lighted Christmas parade and this event. Hopefully, we’ll get enough so our cadets can participate in upcoming off-island competition,” the advisor said.
The Waimea Town Celebration is hosted by the West Kaua‘i Business Association.
