POIPU — Koloa Plantation Days was several events into its 10-day run Saturday when Leilani Low of Halau Hula ‘O Leilani opened the celebration with oli and a short multi-cultural presentation during the sunset hoolaulea at the Poipu Athletic Club.
The hoolaulea was a gathering of music by Cruz Control and Makana and a collection of food trucks to enhance the offering of the Imu Bar and Restaurant, which will be the site of the Koloa Rum Plantation Heritage Dinner Tuesday starting at 5:30 p.m.
Melissa McFerrin-Warrack, the event coordinator for the annual celebration, said the event opened Friday with the hosting of the rodeo which continued through Sunday afternoon.
Saturday started with the Hapa Trail Walk prefaced by the St. Raphael’s Church Coffee Hour, a practice that grew from last year’s successful 175th anniversary celebration of the church. Keiki fishing at Waita Reservoir and the hoolaulea closed the day.
Sunday was greeted with the hosting of the Keiki Mini Golf Tournament at the Lawai Beach Resort where keiki golfers received goody bags containing school supplies for participating.
Emma McCartney of Kapaa aced the No. 14, then nailed two more holes in one — the No. 17 and No. 18 holes.
“This is a lot of fun,” said Toni McCartney, Emma’s mom. “We stayed here once, and we spent a lot of time at this mini golf. It’s really good — you get a nice view, the wind blows during the afternoon to keep you cool, and the course layout is nice and tight. It really is a lot of fun.”
While the field of more than 30 golfers struggled with the water hazard at the No. 11, Hannah Baer had the opposite problem as her first shot ricocheted off the back wall before soaring to nearby the No. 1. Her second shot cleared the hazard, but the force of the shot sent the ball clunking out of bounds.
Others tried different approaches to the water. Makana Kona walked to water’s edge, still splashing, and Aylwin Fife decided that rolling the ball by hand was better than using the special keiki-sized putters.
“Koloa Plantation Days is such a fun event for the family,” McCartney said. “Sometimes, when we live here, we get too caught up with going to the beach and can’t see what other types of fun events there are.”
Koloa Plantation Days continue with a craft fair at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on Tuesday, a tour of the McBryde Garden and Talk Story at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, the Heritage Dinner, and a Polynesian Revue and Fire Dancer at the Poipu Shopping Village.
The festivities wrap up Saturday with the historic parade and the park celebration at the Anne Knudsen Park.
Info: www.koloaplantationdays.com
