PUHI – Before the doors opened at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a line of patrons snaked back from the entrance of the Carriage House at Kilohana, and overflowed onto the driveway as hundreds of people took advantage of the wine tasting
PUHI – Before the doors opened at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a line of patrons snaked back from the entrance of the Carriage House at Kilohana, and overflowed onto the driveway as hundreds of people took advantage of the wine tasting extravaganza to get a head start on Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Bob Bartolo, one of the Rotarians in charge of ticket collection at the door estimated that at least 850 tickets were sold. “We printed up a thousand tickets, and hopefully, we’ll sell them all,” he said while checking to make sure that patrons were age-checked.
Patrons who could “sample” the 29 wine offerings were marked by a wristband after checking in their tickets. People who preferred not to indulge in the wine offerings could participate in the “Designated driver program” which allowed everyone to have a good time at what the Rotary Club of Po‘ipu Beach labeled as “Kaua‘i’s Premiere Wine Tasting Event.”
A Silent Auction greeted patrons who received their wine glass (for sampling) with local artist Glenn Ichimura on hand to personally brush on a personalized sentiment for bidders who “won” one of his offerings.
Ichimura, who formerly worked as one of the managers at the Woolworth’s store before it closed, has advanced rapidly in the art world on the island, and one of his newest offerings, a koi series, was available for perusal at the Saturday night event.
Additionally, Don Taylor of Coldstone Creamery had a crew on hand to help dispense some of their treats after doing a turn at the Zonta Club’s “Eat Dessert First” event earlier in the week.
“They (the crew) are enjoying the break now, because in a few minutes this place is going to be packed,” Taylor said. “It’s how it went last year.”
Additionally, strains of music from the huge tent set up behind the Carriage House beckoned patrons as Aloha Breeze opened up the night’s entertainment slate that included classic guitarist Mark McGinnis.
Ringed around the entertainment stage were culinary offerings by Brennecke’s Beach Boiler, Duke’s and Keoki’s Paradise, Gaylord’s, Plantation Gardens, Hukilau Lanai, Joe’s on the Green, the Poipu Beach Broiler, Roy’s Poipu Bar & Grill, and the Marriott Waiohai Kiawe Grill.
Beverage offerings were provided by the Koloa Coffee Roasters and the Kaua‘i Springs Water Co.
And, as people continued to arrive in the evening mist, Rotarian Mike Curtis and Kim Mayfield, an Island School student volunteer, had the task of guiding motorists to available open spaces in the parking area set up on the lawn of Kilohana.
Garbed in a bright yellow raincoat topped with an aged straw cowboy hat, Curtis said, “We’ll do this as long as people keep coming!” as he rushed off to signal another arriving motorist.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@pulitzer.net
