WAIMEA — An assortment of racing vehicles, hot rods, classic and vintage cars accomplished what organizers had hoped for this weekend in Waimea. Coinciding with the start of the two-day National Dragster Shootout by the Garden Isle Racing Association, the
WAIMEA — An assortment of racing vehicles, hot rods, classic and vintage cars accomplished what organizers had hoped for this weekend in Waimea.
Coinciding with the start of the two-day National Dragster Shootout by the Garden Isle Racing Association, the West Kaua‘i Main Street program hosted a car show Saturday.
“Some of these cars will leave a little early because they’ll be doing timed trials at the race,” said Patrick McClean, consultant for the West Kaua‘i Main Street program. “The intent of the show is to slow people down so they can get to know Waimea town a little better.”
The event also attracted attention from several hundred people who took in the Waimea Invitational cross country event, a prelude to the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season which starts Saturday at Kapa‘a High School.
People browsing through the assortment of cars were issued a ballot to vote on their favorite ride, but the bargain was another sheet listing specials from the participating vendors in the Main Street program.
“Not all the businesses are members of the program,” McClean said. “But the ones that are have some pretty good specials for people.”
McClain said the mission of the West Kaua‘i Main Street program is to stimulate the prosperity of Waimea from the bridge to Waimea Plantation Cottages. The economic stimulation comes while the program continues to sustain the town’s historic and multi-cultural resources.
He said the program is funded by the West Kaua‘i Business and Professional Association and therefore focuses on Waimea. Last Monday, the WKBPA hosted a political candidates forum at the Waimea Theater which filled the facility with people anxious to hear from residents running for mayor, Kaua‘i County Council, the state House of Representatives and the state Senate.
McClean said the program continues to seek innovative means of trying to keep the Waimea economy stimulated.
“During these hard times, it’s hard to see the same people keep putting in,” the consultant said. “They have a hard enough time trying to keep their own businesses alive, but they keep coming out to volunteer.”
Visit www.wkbpa.org for more information on the West Kaua‘i Main Street program.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
