PO‘IPU — Thousands of people on Saturday filtered through the main entry area of the Sheraton Kaua‘i to kick off the week-long Koloa Plantation Days celebration. The Sheraton Kaua‘i Ho‘olaule‘a, billed as “Kaua‘i’s biggest block party,” welcomed the nine days
PO‘IPU — Thousands of people on Saturday filtered through the main entry area of the Sheraton Kaua‘i to kick off the week-long Koloa Plantation Days celebration.
The Sheraton Kaua‘i Ho‘olaule‘a, billed as “Kaua‘i’s biggest block party,” welcomed the nine days of events on the South Shore celebrating the plantation heritage of Koloa, site of the first commercial sugar plantation in Hawai‘i.
“This is the 25th anniversary of the Koloa Plantation Days and Phyllis Kunimura, president and founder of the event, wants it to be an educational experience,” said Melissa McFerrin, the event coordinator.
“Sweet Memories” will be the theme of the 2010 historic movie night at the Kukui‘ula Shopping Village, said Veronica Lovesy in a news release.
Tim Dela Vega will headline a sugar era exhibit with photographs in an area near Merriman’s restaurant at the mall and will be available for discussions prior to the start of the movie at 7:30 p.m.
Community members are invited to come and share memories of the plantation days.
Lauren Calhoun will be shooting in studio for her upcoming documentary on sugar and welcomes interview subjects willing to share their memories about sugar on Kaua‘i, McFerrin said. She will be available from 4 to 9 p.m.
Joining the ho‘olaule‘a in launching the 2010 version of Koloa Plantation Days, the Hapa Trail Walk departed St. Raphael’s Church and traveled along the major route connecting the Koloa and Po‘ipu areas.
Frank Guarin, manager of the Sheraton Kaua‘i, said this year the Sheraton concentrated on adding more vendors offering more variety to patrons of the ho‘olaule‘a, and also focused on offering Kaua‘i-grown entertainment which included the Kaua‘i Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko opening the festivities with a variety of taiko performances based in Okinawa culture.
The Blond Boys started the dancing in the street which reached a climax with the appearance of Solidarity and Shiloh Pa, said Dickie Chang, the event emcee.
The event was also streamed live and Guarin said today is the judging for the best photo of the ho‘olaule‘a submitted through the Sheraton Facebook link, and can earn its owner a free night’s stay at the Po‘ipu resort.
Culinary offerings from neighboring eateries replenished energy sapped by the street dancing and wala‘au sessions with acquaintances and neighbors.
The gourmet samplings were offered at reasonable prices from places like Merriman’s, Kaua‘i Pasta, Scotty’s BBQ, Sushi Bushido, Kalapaki Joe’s, Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill, Keioki’s Paradise, Shells, Naniwa, Plantation Gardens and the Westin Princeville.
Cody Zemlich, a sous chef with Kaua‘i Pasta, and Rowen Caberto of Plantation Gardens, anchoring the main restaurant, Saturday night, will face off for the first Kaua‘i Culinary Challenge, Wednesday, at the Shells Restaurant in the Sheraton Kaua‘i.
These two finalists were announced during the ho‘olaule‘a following weeks of elimination rounds featuring culinary talents from some of Kaua‘i’s top restaurants.
Zemlick and Caberto will face off using Kaneshiro pork, Kekaha shrimp, Hawaiian brown sugar and Kaua‘i pineapple from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Visit www.koloaplantationdays.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
