KAPA‘A — A steady stream of people flowed through the gates of the 15th Coconut Festival hosted by the Kapa‘a Business Association over the weekend at Kapa‘a Beach Park. Based on the theme of coconuts, people could enjoy a variety
KAPA‘A — A steady stream of people flowed through the gates of
the 15th Coconut Festival hosted by the Kapa‘a Business Association
over the weekend at Kapa‘a Beach Park.
Based on the theme of coconuts, people could enjoy a variety of
foodstuffs, crafts, games and activities, enhanced by other arenas
which appeared to have no coconuts connected to them.
“We have coconuts in our displays,” said Neill Sams of Orchid
Alley, one of the sponsors for the Orchid Tent which featured
plants and specimens from several different Kaua‘i orchid
growers.
The Orchid Tent, a popular gathering spot for festival
attendees, is a new addition to the festival.
One of the highlights there was Eric Schellack of Robertson’s
Flowers in Philadelphia providing floral demonstrations.
His appearance was possible because he will be representing
Kaua‘i at the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show scheduled
for March.
“The theme for the 2012 show is Hawai‘i, and Kaua‘i will have
nine booths at that show,” Sams said. “Eric is visiting us to get a
taste of the Kaua‘i culture so he can properly represent us at the
show.”
Inspired by the materials presented by several cooperating
organizations as well as by what he experienced during his drives
around the island, Schellack’s Kaua‘i-inspired “Kaua‘i Chicken”
drew comments of awe from residents as he utilized local flora and
foliage to create a rooster.
“The chickens were everywhere,” Schellack said between
demonstrations. “The materials are growing everywhere and it was
fairly easy to create the design.”
Next door, Dr. Robert Zelchovsky rolled his video gear as Chef
Guy Higa of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club worked
through a recipe and Ron Wiley managed the Coconut Pie Eating
Contest in a three-ring circus of activity.
Kaua‘i High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism students
were collecting donations at the entrance, helping at the Keiki
Activities tent and at the Coconut Central information area.
“We just go where they tell us,” said Lisa Iida who was helping
Saturday as a Girl Scout at the Lihu‘e Christian Church bazaar
before getting into her AOHT outfit for the Coconut Festival.
The AOHT group, headed by director Leah Aiwohi, is just one of
the more than 200 volunteers who make the event possible, according
to a Coconut Festival publication.
The festival, inspired 15 years ago by Bob Bartolo, a longtime
KBA member, and Ed McDowell, pays tribute to the coconut, a product
grown in the Wailua River area in hopes that the dried meat of the
coconut, or copra, would be a viable product.
The numerous coconut trees in that area as well as Waipouli give
the area its Royal Coconut Coast moniker.
Visit www.kbakauai.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached
at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
KAPA‘A — A steady stream of people flowed through the gates of the 15th Coconut Festival hosted by the Kapa‘a Business Association over the weekend at Kapa‘a Beach Park.
Based on the theme of coconuts, people could enjoy a variety of foodstuffs, crafts, games and activities, enhanced by other arenas which appeared to have no coconuts connected to them.
“We have coconuts in our displays,” said Neill Sams of Orchid Alley, one of the sponsors for the Orchid Tent which featured plants and specimens from several different Kaua‘i orchid growers.
The Orchid Tent, a popular gathering spot for festival attendees, is a new addition to the festival.
One of the highlights there was Eric Schellack of Robertson’s Flowers in Philadelphia providing floral demonstrations.
His appearance was possible because he will be representing Kaua‘i at the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show scheduled for March.
“The theme for the 2012 show is Hawai‘i, and Kaua‘i will have nine booths at that show,” Sams said. “Eric is visiting us to get a taste of the Kaua‘i culture so he can properly represent us at the show.”
Inspired by the materials presented by several cooperating organizations as well as by what he experienced during his drives around the island, Schellack’s Kaua‘i-inspired “Kaua‘i Chicken” drew comments of awe from residents as he utilized local flora and foliage to create a rooster.
“The chickens were everywhere,” Schellack said between demonstrations. “The materials are growing everywhere and it was fairly easy to create the design.”
Next door, Dr. Robert Zelchovsky rolled his video gear as Chef Guy Higa of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club worked through a recipe and Ron Wiley managed the Coconut Pie Eating Contest in a three-ring circus of activity.
Kaua‘i High School Academy of Hospitality and Tourism students were collecting donations at the entrance, helping at the Keiki Activities tent and at the Coconut Central information area.
“We just go where they tell us,” said Lisa Iida who was helping Saturday as a Girl Scout at the Lihu‘e Christian Church bazaar before getting into her AOHT outfit for the Coconut Festival.
The AOHT group, headed by director Leah Aiwohi, is just one of the more than 200 volunteers who make the event possible, according to a Coconut Festival publication.
The festival, inspired 15 years ago by Bob Bartolo, a longtime KBA member, and Ed McDowell, pays tribute to the coconut, a product grown in the Wailua River area in hopes that the dried meat of the coconut, or copra, would be a viable product.
The numerous coconut trees in that area as well as Waipouli give the area its Royal Coconut Coast moniker.
Visit www.kbakauai.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
