LIHU‘E — Sen. Daniel Inouye said the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair is the gift of the farmers to the people in addition to the hard work they put in to help feed people. Inouye, who was on island for
LIHU‘E — Sen. Daniel Inouye said the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair is the gift of the farmers to the people in addition to the hard work they put in to help feed people.
Inouye, who was on island for several visits including the 100-year celebration of the Hanalei Bridge, had his message delivered by Janice Bond during the opening ceremonies of the fair.
“We want to recognize people while they are still here and we want them to know how proud we are of all the work they do,” said Roy Oyama, president of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau. “This year, we honor two farmers from the Westside, both of whom work hard in the kalo, or taro, fields.”
Kiyoshi Ueda and Mitsugi Yokotake were honored for their contributions to agriculture over several generations of their families.
Inouye noted how these men contributed not only to the agricultural community, but took time out to serve their country with the U.S. Army.
“They work hard,” Bond said in Inouye’s message. “They work hard in the fields. They work hard at the fair. The fair, the biggest event for the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau, is the gift they give to the people of Kaua‘i.”
The message of the honorees were reinforced by personal anecdotes from Rep. Dee Morikawa who thanked Ueda for his help with her family during a trip to Japan as well as for the work he did for the Waimea Hongwanji, now known as the West Kaua‘i Hongwanji Mission, Waimea Temple.
Sen. Ron Kouchi, growing up on the Westside, told Glenn, one of Mitsugi’s sons representing the honoree, “We would see them working in the taro fields and say, ‘We’re glad we’re not Yokotake boys.’”
That was during the time, Kouchi and his young friends would be bicycling, or walking along Kalo Road where the taro fields were located.
The hard work resulted in not only the production of taro, but in the good athletes the boys turned into, runners, volleyball players and more.
The Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair continues Saturday from noon until midnight and Sunday from noon until 11 p.m. The commercial and nonprofit booths and agricultural areas will close at 6 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $2 for keiki between 4 and 12 years old and free for keiki under 3 years old.
Visit www.thegardenisland.com and click on the farm fair tab, or visit www.kauaifarmfair.org for more information and event schedules.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
