WAIMEA — Hundreds of people collected at the Waimea Product Fair under the shade of the old sugar mill to wrap up the 47th Waimea Town Celebration over the weekend.
The 47th was the answer to one of the trivia questions being posed by the ho‘olaule‘a emcee Kukui Lang — who knew that Kukui is the daughter of Pua Kaohelauli‘i of the Kaua‘i District Health Office?
The two-day ho‘olaule‘a that started Friday afternoon and continued through Saturday night wrapped up the weeklong Waimea Town Celebration that featured concerts, contests, special eating events, a paniolo rodeo and a collection of assorted sporting events, including a fun run, long distance outrigger canoe racing, volleyball, basketball and girls softball.
“I come special for this event so I can come with my sister, Carlina Vea who is 91 years old,” said Romang Tumbaga Peak of New York. “We’re going to have ice cream in the Super Duper 2 Ice Cream Eating Contest. It doesn’t matter if you don’t win because you get ice cream.”
Peak was a blue ribbon winner for one of the Lei Papale, or hat lei contest, that was displayed at park central adjacent to the entrance of the beer garden supported by the Koloa Rum Company.
“Carlina nevah make anything for this because she said no mo’ flowers,” Peak said. “I had to make everything for the blue ribbon lei.”
The Ayau family, known for its spectacular float, and floats, during the annual Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade, was manning a booth offering chicken cutlet and chicken katsu plate lunches.
“No can make floats, now,” said a member of the Ayau kitchen crew. “We took over Da Booze Shop so now, we’re busy cooking. But we’re not out, yet. One of the sons just got back here from Seattle, Washington, and said he was interested in making floats.”
Michael Yamane, a contestant in the Scotty’s Music ‘Ukelele Contest, said it’s been 21 years since he left for Fresno, California. He was home visiting family and decided he wanted to share his talent.
Thomas Nizo, the WTC lead organizer, said he was ready for a nap.
“We had a late night, Friday when the ho‘olaule‘a opened,” Nizo said. “And then, I did Na Heihei a Ola run from the new race start site at Pa‘ula‘ula. We ran along the ridge and down the bridge — I hope my photographer got a picture of all those people running across the bridge. I’m tired. A nap would be nice about now.”
The Waimea Town Celebration was supported by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through its Community Enrichment Program.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
