TGI STAFF The 26th Annual Waimea Town Celebration continues today with continuous Island entertainment with a side dish of food, craft & game booths, a beer garden, contests and lots of sporting events. On the stage at the old Waimea
TGI STAFF
The 26th Annual Waimea Town Celebration continues today with continuous Island entertainment with a side dish of food, craft & game booths, a beer garden, contests and lots of sporting events.
On the stage at the old Waimea Sugar Mill, entertainment starts at 10 a.m. The lineup includes traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music from around the state along with a hula halau and taiko drummers. Free entertainment will be offered until 11:30 p.m. Headliners tonight are Ten Feet and Three Plus.
The Waimea Town Celebration is sponsored by the West Kaua’i Business & Professional Association and provides a fundraising opportunity for area sports organizations, clubs, schools and non-profit groups.
All events are free except for the rodeo held in Waimea.
Game and food booths bring in revenue for groups including the Hawaiian Civic Club, west Kaua’i schools, Rotary clubs and more. A silent auction to benefit the Waimea Theatre is being operated by the West Kaua’i Business & Professional Association.
A ukulele contest is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Expanded from last year, cultural and artisan demonstrations will be offered Saturday around the West Kaua’i Visitor Center building. Visitors will find many interesting things to learn about and do. Inside the visitor center, see the entrees in the 4th Annual Hat Lei Contest presented by First Hawaiian Bank on view from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 26th annual Captain Cook Caper Fun Run starts off at 7 a.m. this morning from three different start lines ending at Waimea Plantation Cottages, followed by the Outrigger Canoe Races along Waimea shoreline with a single person canoe race starting at 8 a.m., women’s race starting at 9 a.m. and the men’s at 10 a.m.
Most events take place within a four-block radius and have banners out marking the sites. Parking can be found on side streets off the main highway including the field across the street.
New this year is a full-on rodeo being held down the road at the old Waimea Dairy, hosted by the Kaua’i Keiki & High School Rodeo Association. To assist in their fundraising activities, a small general admission fee of $3 will be charged with a $2 fee for seniors. Kids 12 and under are free. The rodeo runs from 9 a.m. until about 4 p.m..
The Waimea Town Celebration, formally known as the Captain Cook Celebration, was begun with the 200th anniversary of the landing of Captain James Cook at Waimea in 1778.
Funding for the event is being provided by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority and Paradise Beverages along with community and business assistance.
Additional entertainment sponsors include Waimea Plantation Cottages, Lawa’i Beach Resorts, Alamo Rent a Car. Kikiaola Land Company loaned the mill site at the edge of town for this fun family event.
