LIHU‘E — The Wizard of Oz could not top the county attorneys as Ian Jung was crowned the winner of the Adult/Employee class during the Halloween Spooktacular, Thursday night. The Wizard, doing an effective job of emcee-ing the event from
LIHU‘E — The Wizard of Oz could not top the county attorneys as Ian Jung was crowned the winner of the Adult/Employee class during the Halloween Spooktacular, Thursday night.
The Wizard, doing an effective job of emcee-ing the event from behind the Green Curtain, was joined by other members of the play, but had to settle for the first place of the Door Decorating Contest.
Themed “No Place Like Home,” the Kaua‘i Fire Department carried its door decorating beyond the archways by having characters from the Wizard of Oz mingling with the hundreds of children and adults at the event sponsored by the County Employees Council.
That theme was echoed by the county’s Parks and Recreation Department that used a computer to project a copy of the original film onto the wall outside the Yellow Brick Road as the Mo‘ikeha Building was transformed into a scene out of Transylvania as children and adults joined in a trick-or-treat parade to end the evening.
“This is just a great event,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., joined by his own ‘ohana. “It’s so good to see so many families having fun with each other.”
During the Spooktacular, county employees and their families could participate in a variety of events including the door decorating contest, pumpkin carving and a costume contest for various age groups.
Kainoa Renaud (KPD) topped the Most Creative in the costume contest for Ages 0-3, Joshua Gandia (Parks) was tops in the Ages 4-6 group, Harley Fujimoto (Public Works) had a creative witch’s hat to top the Ages 7-10 group and Jasmine Silva (Finance) topped the 11-Teen group.
Keahi Pilington (ADA) was the top Princess in the Ages 0-3 group, joined by Nevaeh Ibanez (Buildings) in the Ages 4-6 group and Aleah Yano (Water) in the Ages 7-10 division.
Carlan Jerico (Water) was the Super Hero of the Ages 0-3 division with Kimiko Pilkington (ADA) deemed Super in the Ages 4-6 group and Kaeo Rezentes (Finance) earning the nod in the Ages 7-10 group.
Austin Renaud (Solid Waste) was the Scariest in the Ages 4-6 group along with Jordan Simao (County Clerk) in the Ages 7-10 with Mie Miller (Housing) announced in the 11-Teen group.
Following the Fire Department, the “Hawaiian Village” by the Public Works-Buildings division earned second place in the door decorating contest followed by the “Furlough Friday — Skeleton Crew” earning third place.
Yoko Watabe (KPD) earned the Most Creative award for the Adult division of the Pumpkin Carving contest with Karlyee Malapit (Water) being Creative in the Teen division. Kawehi Tamashiro (Mayor’s office) topped the Creative division for Children.
The Information Technology Division got the nod for the Scariest pumpkin with Saunie Torricer (Real Property) earning the scariest for Teen and Marielle Yano (Water) getting the nod for the Child division.
People’s Choice award for the adult division went to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney while Shaina Yano (Water) got the nod in the Teen division. Keenan Moses (Purchasing) was the people’s choice for the Child division.
Max Klutke, coordinator of the event, said the Spooktacular was the sixth event coordinated by the employees’ council.
“It’s a lot better than before when I did all the work for two hours of fun,” Klutke said. “Now, everyone gets involved and they all have fun at the same time.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.