[]By DENNIS FUJIMOTO[]TGI Staff Photographer WAILUA – The Smith ‘ohana of Smith’s Tropical Paradise and Motor Boats got some help from Kapua Sugai, a fifth grader at Kapa’a Elementary School, as they took turns manning a table sheltered from brisk
[]By DENNIS FUJIMOTO[]TGI Staff Photographer
WAILUA – The Smith ‘ohana of Smith’s Tropical Paradise and Motor Boats got some
help from Kapua Sugai, a fifth grader at Kapa’a Elementary School, as they took
turns manning a table sheltered from brisk tradewinds by a canvas tent on
Sunday at the Smith’s Motor Boats parking lot across the Coco Palms
Hotel.
Moki (as in Mokihana) Smith was busy checking the inventory of items
that were neatly laid out on tables while clothing danced on a rack as it
caught the breeze that kept things cool.
The event was designed as a fund
raiser for the upcoming “Relay for Life” hosted by the American Cancer Society
scheduled for April 29 at the Kapa’a Beach Park.
“This is our first year,”
Kahanu Smith said.
“Kamika, our son, did it last year, and he convinced
us to enter a team for the event this year,” Moki explained.
Meanwhile,
Kapua took advantage of a lull in customer traffic to munch on some chips while
hungrily eyeing a pack of hot dogs and buns.
“It was busy when we first
opened,” Melissa Sugai, Kapua’s mom said. “That was about nine. There were a
lot of people, and a lot of visitors who bought things.”
“This is her
community service,” Melissa explained.
“Following this, she goes to
Nawiliwili to dance for the Independence’s arrival. That’s also part of her
community service.”
Kapua is one of Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani hula students
who is working towards accompanying their kumu Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza to Japan
in June, and these community service projects are an integral part of
fulfilling the trip requirements.
As a car drove up to the parking lot, the
snacks were quickly and discretely put away and Kapua turned her attention to
the cash box and taking care of a purchase by a visiting O’ahu couple, Fulvio
Fonda and Sandy Martin who quickly found 50-cent sandals a bargain.
Moki
explained that the event was multi-faceted as the ‘ohana had gathered to make
laulau and this was the pickup day.
Kahanu was responsible for that
aspect of the “garage sale,” and disappeared into a neighboring shed to gather
the hot morsels as a team member produced tickets for three laulau. The aroma
that wafted through the tent brought out Kapua’s snacks again.
Since
customers were coming to pick up laulau, this was an opportunity for a rummage
sale, and the inventory that was available came from five families, Melissa
explained. Another visiting couple eyed an autographed baseball that sat
proudly on a pedestal, its stately white coat protected by a plastic
bag.
Alongside the cash box, a supply of labels for luminaries waited for
customers as Moki explained that people could buy these luminaries that will be
placed on paper lanterns lit up for the “Relay of Life” event on April 29.
These luminaries are intented to remember someone who has succumbed in their
battle against cancer.
A trip for two from Honolulu to either Los Angeles
or San Francisco was yet another item that customers had a chance to win for a
nominal donation.
“Or, they may just come and give a donation,” Moki
chuckled at the variety of items that were available under the small tarped
tent.
The Smith’s team will have twenty people if they all show up, Moki
said. And, in addition to doing the walking relay, the group is already
anticipating a night filled with homegrown entertainment from the crew that
provides entertainment on the Fern Grotto tours.
“We’ll even have hula,”
Kahanu said.
For more information on the upcoming “Relay for Life” event,
people may contact the American Cancer Society, and if there is anyone who
missed the “garage sale,” there is discussion about the possibility of having
another event sometime in April.
Before the 29th, of course.
