POIPU — The Poipu Beach Resort Association will host its annual New Year’s Eve Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 31 and is open to the public. “This is our fifth year. It’s probably been going on for about 15 years, but
POIPU — The Poipu Beach Resort Association will host its annual New Year’s Eve Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 31 and is open to the public.
“This is our fifth year. It’s probably been going on for about 15 years, but we as a resort association took it over for the past five years,” said Jody Kjeldsen, Poipu Beach Resort Association executive director. “Prior to us, it was put on by Sheraton Kauai.”
The event will consist of food trucks, a snack bar fundraiser hosted by Koloa Elementary School, a movie in the park (Disney Channel Original Movie “Descendants”) and will end with a fireworks show.
The movie and the fireworks are free.
“This is one of the few events for people to enjoy fireworks,” Kjeldsen said. “There’s no other event that offers a free display of fireworks coupled with a movie and or music.
“We just wanted to give back to the community by offering this event,” she added.
The County of Kauai, the Office of Economic Development, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority provide some grant funding to help cover costs.
Hotels and businesses along Kauai’s South Shore also donated to help keep the event free.
Set up will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The New Year’s Eve affair will begin 5 p.m. The movie will start at 7 p.m. and the fireworks display will kick off 8:45 p.m.
Kjeldsen said because the event is family-friendly, alcohol is not permitted.
Because of the loss of tombolo, or sand spit, the fireworks will be launched from the Keiki Lagoon instead of Nukumoi Point. J&M Displays will provide pyrotechnics and security.
“Because we have to launch from the Keiki Lagoon, it requires us to close a portion of Poipu Beach Park,” Kjeldsen said. “It will be closed all day. We have to put up the barriers the night before.”
From morning of Dec. 31 to the morning of Jan. 1, the portion of Poipu Beach Park closest to the Keiki Lagoons will be closed.
Additional parking will be available at Mano Kalanipo Park.
Information: Kjeldsen, 742-7444. info@poipubeach.org.
