Christmas is not new, and was a part of life during the days of sugar and pineapple reigning as leading agricultural products in Hawaiian agriculture.
Christmas, Mrs. Amy Christmas, to be more precise, of Hawaiian Palm Baskets, lined the walkways of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa leading to Seaview Terrace during the Koloa Plantation Days Craft Fair Tuesday.
“I married into a family with a good name,” said Amy, who was celebrating her first major outing since the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. “You know what I did during the pandemic? I started a blog featuring all of the plants I use in creating the baskets.”
This learning led to a new look in the baskets that are elaborately decorated with ornamentation created from other plants.
“The associates at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i are really good,” Christmas said. “They give me palm material every time I come. Sometimes, as many as three or four that I have to lug to my car.”
On the other side of the Po‘ipu resort, Santa (in Paradise), also known as Phil Worwa, was not aware of a Mrs. Christmas participating in the craft fair.
Kaeton Iguchi was spending the last few days of summer with mom Jeanna Iguchi of Lightshadow Crystals, before entering Waimea Canyon Middle School when classes resume Aug. 1, and Liliana Estep of Shells of A Lifetime made a little girl’s day with the gift of a tiger cowry she found while diving off Shipwreck Beach.
Several of the vendors at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i craft fair will continue to celebrate at the Saturday Koloa Plantation Days Parade and Park Celebration at Anne S. Knudsen Park in Koloa.
Kalena Pacheco of Waipua Gardens will be bringing her supply of “forever plants,” as will Esteep, whose canoe club celebrated a victory during the island finals regatta in Hanalei.
“I’ll be IN the parade,” Santa said. “I’m having my truck in there. I’m hoping to be the last unit, but I guess I’ll just have to go where they put me.”
Earlier, the Koloa Plantation Days launched its 10-day run of events with the Paniolo Heritage Rodeo, the Historic Hapa Trail Walk, tours of the Kaneiolouma at the Manokalanipo Royal Observatory, the Plantation Museum that will remain open through the remainder of Koloa Plantation Days, and storytelling by master storyteller Kathy “Tita” Collins of Maui, who startled diners at The Dolphin at The Shops at Kukui‘ula with her old-style storytelling techniques.
The Koloa Plantation Days parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the park celebration to follow.
Information and dates on the remaining calendar of events for Koloa Plantation Days can be found at koloaplantationdays.com.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
