One of the traditions of the Chinese New Year is the presentation of lai see, or the traditional red envelope, usually containing money, as the gesture to welcome good fortune for the coming year.
Another is food, and another is celebration, the period between the start of the Lunar New Year extending for about two weeks with festivities, food and celebration.
Saturday, Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e reverberated with the sound of taiko as not one but three Chinese lions appeared to accept lai see from people and businesses throughout the mall.
The lions’ visit is supposed to bring good luck and fortune as it chases out evil spirits lurking about with the help of taiko being performed by Tsunami Taiko.
Shoppers, mindful of the pandemic protocol, did not need prompts to offer lai see, the Pau Hana Market crew with the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau adding branches of longan fruit to its lai see offering made not only to the Chinese lion but the dragon that followed. The crew also had pre-made packages of fruit for shoppers to enjoy during the appearance of the Chinese New Year icons.
There were no shortages of creatures to accept the lai see, many being offered without the benefit of the traditional red envelopes that were in short supply.
“We’re offering good-luck candy, citrus, rambutan and longan,” said Laurie Ho, president of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau. “We went to the Puhi Park before this to get the fruit from farmers who are vendors at the Grove Farm Market. This way, we’re helping on two sides.”
The morning closed with Michelle Rubio and Falling Down Romance picking up the beat of the retiring taiko to keep lunchtime shoppers entertained with performances on some unique instruments, including some from the Chinese culture.
Melissa McFerrin-Warrack of KGC said the weekend also serves to launch the slide to Valentine’s Day that falls next Monday.
“We’re kicking off Valentine’s Day keiki craft center and selfie stations next to the Jamba Juice,” McFerrin-Warrack said. “We’ll be open with Macee Martinez from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, and next weekend from Friday through Sunday. We also created a red selfie station across from the food court.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
