Happy Camper for Friday, November 13, 2020

Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

State Senate President Ron Kouchi visits with Mayor Derek Kawakami Wednesday during the blessing and dedication of a mural at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Tiffany Sagucio, left, and Leslie Uri, the 2019 Miss Kaua‘i Veteran, talk about college Wednesday during the blessing and dedication of a mural at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Christian Lardizabal keeps the family tradition of Eagle Scouts alive as he poses with his father Anson Lardizabal at the mural Christian created as his Eagle Scout project, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Ada Koene, right, comes to visit the Rancher’s Daughter, Charlene Andrade Balmores, at Balmores’ new “Tommy Bahama office” at the farmers’ market at The Shops at Kukui‘ula.
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island

Laycie Love (she’s tracing the work of Kaua‘i’s muralists) talks with Trysen Kaneshige Wednesday during the blessing and dedication of the mural created by Christian Lardizabal in the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.

Congratulations to Christian Lardizabal on the completion of the mural paying tribute to veterans and service personnel of the armed forces. The mural is Christian’s Eagle Scout project, and keeps alive the string of Eagle Scout honors for his family. His father, Anson Lardizabal, had his Eagle pin on during the ceremony, and Christian’s grandfather, Dr. Raymond “RG” Nemer, is also an Eagle Scout.

Christian’s other grandfather, the late Maurice Lardizabal, was able to share the pride of the mural because Christian brought pictures of the developing mural so grandpa could see the work from his hospital bed.

Kudos to all our government officials who offered their commendations to Christian and paid tribute to the veterans and the Kaua‘i Veterans Center and its founders (yes, Ed Kawamura Sr. was there, too). Kudos to Gen. Myron Dobashi and Gen. Mary Kay Hertog for gracing the event, and ensuring that the COVID-19 safety and health measures were being observed.

Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Tiffany Sagucio almost didn’t make it, and it’s a pleasure to see that Leslie Uri is continuing the legacy of Miss Kaua‘i Veteran (there was no Miss Kaua‘i Veteran selected this year because of the pandemic).

Over at the farmers’ market at The Shops at Kukui‘ula, things were pumping (the visitors are back) when Ada Koene came to visit her Rancher’s Daughter Charlene Andrade Balmores, who was one of the vendors selling everything quickly. The Eating House 1849 crew ran out of food within an hour of opening, The Right Slice was down to just two selections, and Terry Gordines was wiped out along with Mark Jones (his uncle has Elmer’s Farm, the vendor with the long lines at the Puhi Park Produce), who had just a solitary avocado and a handful of tomatoes left.

OK, if can, can. The Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission is hosting a rice roundup Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for people who would like to contribute rice (15-pound bag minimum) to benefit the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank (they’ve got a small-kine food distribution scheduled for the Kapa‘a Interfaith Association Thanksgiving event).

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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.

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