KAPAA — Ezekiel Tuers made it to the top of the climbing wall for the first time Friday night at the St. Catherine School annual carnival.
The 7-year-old showed no fear as he reached up and rang the bell that signals someone has conquered the wall, but being up that high did make him nervous.
“It was fun and it was scary,” he said after helpers coached him down the wall.
The very next thing he did was get back in line with his brother so he could show him how it’s done.
A few feet away, Mary Ernsdorf videoed her 3-year-old daughter Sienna bouncing around in the trampoline swing while the first band of the night got ready to play their first set.
Flying saucers, pony rides and shave ice are in full swing at St. Catherine School for their annual carnival, which continues tonight and boasts games and crafts, plants and food booths, a petting zoo and mini golf.
Educational booths from different community organizations are also on display, providing resources for families. Even the St. Catherine students have gotten in on the action, selling shave ice and cotton candy at their own tent.
“We’ve been doing this for at least 42 years,” said Laura Lindsey, St. Catherine School director of development and one of the organizers. “The money goes to scholarships for the school.”
They never count the number of people who wander through the carnival, but make enough food to feed 5,000, Lindsey said.
And that food comes in the form of plates with kalua pig, rice lomi salmon, mac salad and stew. Also in the food tent are huli pork and teri beef, saimin and chili and rice. As the tent opened, families from all over the island gathered to let their kids enjoy the games and to catch up with each other.
“It’s really a community event,” Lindsey said. “Businesses, everyone comes out to support us. My favorite part of the carnival is to hear people catching up on their lives, talking story.”
The carnival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. tonight. Parking and entrance are free.
•••
Jessica Else, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
