KILAUEA — Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai took advantage of the Prince Kuhio holiday on Monday to offer a family fun spree and ho‘olaule‘a while raising funds to help its keiki.
“This was such a perfect time to do this,” said Kehaulani Kekua, kumu hula for Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai, a halau, or group, devoted not only to the practice of hula, but of Hawaiiana and the culture of ancient Hawai‘i. “School is out. Today is a celebration of Prince Kuhio’s birth and it’s a perfect opportunity for teaching.”
Proceeds from the day-long festivities are earmarked to help the halau keiki who will be going on a Neighbor Island cultural learning excursion in July, Kekua said.
In creating La ‘Ohana: Family Fun Spree and Ho‘olaule‘a, Kekua said the halau wanted to create an event that is affordable for keiki and families.
The admission fee of $5 included a round of golf at the Kaua‘i Mini Golf at Anaina Hou in Kilauea, normally a $10 and $18 fee, or any activity from a playlist of more than a dozen fun and educational stations.
A Hana Hou pass was also available for repeat performances, an offer readily taken up by the stream of guests through the Kaua‘i Mini Golf, the hana hou being prompted by young keiki who took advantage of the fine weather to have fun in the inflatable bounce house.
Lines formed at the food concession stand, one youngster more intrigued in the hand of banana that was strung from one of the rafters and already missing several of its ripened fruit.
Additional tables boasted sales of baked goods from halau ‘ohana, halau logowear, lei and other memorabilia.
Hawaiian arts and crafts, including make-and-take hands-on activities punctuated the offering of carnival-type activities, like the fish pond and entertainment.
Mary Lardizabal, the ‘ukulele band director from Kapa‘a Middle School, had just returned from its trip to the Heritage Music Festival and was taking advantage of the Lau Kapala and Kapala Kapa stations, the activity involving stamping design on tapa samples, which accompanied its creator’s home.
Other stations included hands-on instruction in different methods of lei making, petroglyph sand art, temporary tattoos and face painting.
John Kaohelauli‘i of Soul Mates in the Coconut Marketplace supervised a row of konani, or Hawaiian checkers, players deep in silent concentration.
Kaohelauli‘i had just last Thursday given away a konani set during the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce first quarter general membership meeting, during which he was featured in the new-member spotlight.
He said he has konani sets available for sale at his Soul Mates shop.
“Kaua‘i Mini Golf has been a topic of conversation about a year ago,” Kekua said. “But Anaina Hou has been such a breath of fresh air and an awesome community supporter from the very beginning. They have many exciting things on the horizon for the North Shore and want to continue to spread the positive love and aloha this place is all about.”
Visit www.kaieie.org for more information.
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Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
