The joys of picking out the perfect gourd this fall were aided by Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea, where the community organization hosted a free carving-pumpkin giveaway Friday evening and Saturday morning.
The joys of picking out the perfect gourd this fall were aided by Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea, where the community organization hosted a free carving-pumpkin giveaway Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Families had over 100 pumpkins to choose from at each giveaway, including one headed by Rebecca Stevens, who brought her daughter to celebrate her first pumpkin “picking” as a family.
“When I grew up, there was never anything like this,” said Stevens, who grew up on Kaua‘i. Halloween, she said, is a “family bonding experience,” and this year will include a group costume where husband Mike will dress up as a farmer, she will be a cow and their daughter will be dressed as a chicken.
The approximately 250 pumpkins for Friday and Saturday’s events were donated by the Kekaha Agriculture Association, Corteva Agroscience and Hartung Brothers, which have teamed up to provide pumpkins across the island.
Mom Rayna Evans attended the event with her 3-year-old son Griffin. She was relieved that her son, who has lived almost half of his life with pandemic restrictions, could experience a normal holiday activity.
“It’s really kind that they were able to give back and do this. It was not expected,” Evans said.
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Laurel Smith, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0424 or lsmith@thegardenisland.com.
