WAIMEA — The historic Waimea Theater took on the look of Westeros, Saturday as guests started arriving for the Kaua‘i Cocktails &Cuisine themed after the Emmy-award winning Game of Thrones.
“I got my costume through Amazon,” said Gina Duarte who was one of the early arrivals and holder of the VIP ticket. “But the blade is real.”
Guests were treated to sample six award-winning Crown Royal whiskies, four infused cocktails complemented by the smoothness of Crown Royal and honey wine, the oldest alcoholic beverage in recorded history, created here on Kaua‘i by Nani Moon Mead in Kapa‘a.
“The cloves are grown here, too,” said Stephanie Krieger who worked to created a drink blending the Crown Royal with Nani Moon Mead. “Each one gets some citrus rind and a clove that’s grown in Kapa‘a.”
Beverage stations manned by local businesses were also planted on the theater’s main stage that was elaborately decorated by the staff at the Gather Federal Credit Union, Waimea Branch who got to see the grappling by three women for control of the Throne for the benefit of their selfie cameras.
Food came from a pair of food trucks — Hoku’s, and E and G — and included some exotic menu items, including Smoked Turkey Wing with Buns, Braised Turkey Neck with Buns, Combo Chicaron &Crispy Pig Ears, and more.
“This is Waimea pride,” said Curt Pantohan who joined his Thrones comrades in heavy fur.
The Kaua‘i Crown &Cuisine is the first event of the 2020 Waimea Town Celebration that runs throughout nine days and includes a variety of sporting events, a midday Music in the Park series, evening performances, including the Ambassador of Aloha &Music Concert honoring Brian Yamase as this year’s Ambassador.
Other events include a film festival, a cultural presentation honoring Kaua‘i last king, Kaumuali‘i whose birthplace is situated right outside Waimea town, and the two-day Heritage of Aloha Ho‘olaule‘a that kicks off Friday afternoon from 5:30 p.m. to midnight at the shadow of the former sugar mill.
A full schedule of events, many of them being free, can be found in the Waimea Town Celebration that was distributed in the Friday issue of TGI, or the waimeatowncelebration.com website.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
