WAIMEA – There’s a full slate of entertainment and featured events at the Waimea Town Celebration this weekend including the Captain Cook Caper (run), the long distance canoe races, and the Paniolo Challenge. The event offers patrons a plethora of
WAIMEA – There’s a full slate of entertainment and featured events at the Waimea Town Celebration this weekend including the Captain Cook Caper (run), the long distance canoe races, and the Paniolo Challenge. The event offers patrons a plethora of things to do on a trip to Waimea.
Additionally, patrons to the numerous booths can be assured that their patronage will help these groups raise funds to keep their programs running.
Some of the many Saturday activities include the Lappert’s Ice Cream Eating Contest and the Ukulele Contest.
At the Waimea Town Celebration on Friday Carlina Vea may not have won a prize ribbon at this year’s 3rd Annual Hat Lei Contest sponsored by the First Hawaiian Bank, but that didn’t stop the grandmother from uttering squeals of delight and pride as she discovered blue ribbon entries from three of her grandchildren as she made her way through the display set up in the Visitors Center of the Waimea Technology & Visitor Center.
“I made them work hard,” Vea commented as she discovered that her granddaughter Nikki Ann Vea had captured the blue ribbon in the Student K-2 Most Beautiful division.
“She kept saying her fingers were sore,” Vea continued, “But, I told them they had to finish.”
Eric Uribe, another of Vea’s grandchildren took first place in the Student Grade 9-12 Most Beautiful category, and Aaron Kai Vea earned the blue ribbon in the Student Grade 6-8 Most Original competition.
Steven Uribe, another of the Vea grandchildren, rounded out grandma’s pride as he captured second place in the Student Grade 9-12 Most Beautiful division as well as third place in the Student Grade 9-12 Most Original competition.
“These children as well as those from the Kahalekomo family work really hard,” Aletha Kaohi of the West Kaua’i Technology and Visitor Center commented. “The Kahalekomo children have a good teacher because their mother is a good lei maker.”
Alyssa Kahakekomo took the grand prize in the Student Grade 3-5 division with Kaulana Kahalekomo capturing second place in that same division’s Most Beautiful category. Kaulana also swept the Most Original category of that division.
Brandee Kahalekomo took the grand prize in the Student Grade 9-12 competition as well as taking the second place ribbon in that division’s Most Original category.
Chelise Kahalekomo rounded out that family’s winnings by taking the grand prize in the Student Grade 6-8 division as well as the second and third place ribbons in the Most Original category of that division.
Julia Sueoka took the grand prize in the Adult Divison with Nicolette Sahut taking the first prize in the Most Beautiful category over Nancy Fuertes-Fuller who walked off with the second and third place ribbons.
Sueoka also copped the first and third place ribbons in the Adults Most Original category with Georgia Fernandez taking second.
Trysen Kaneshige took the grand prize in the Student K-2 competition with Anuhea Anakalea taking second and third in that division’s Most Beautiful, and second and third in that division’s Most Original competition.
“It’s good to see these children enter the competition,” Kaohi said. “It’s one of the ways they can earn money.”
The lei competition set the stage for what is described as Kaua’i’s “longest running celebration” as kupuna set up lei tables and provided some live entertainment for workers setting up the numerous food, game, activity, and craft booths across the street in preparation for the formal opening ceremonies Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
Josh Shintani, the winner of last year’s ukulele contest is expected to make an appearance again this year after being “discovered” by Hollywood while playing his instrument in front of the Waimea Library. The movie featuring Shintani just happens to be playing at the Waimea Theater this weekend, Chris Fay, one of the event coordinators noted.
Gates open at 10 a.m. and entertainment and featured events run through midnight at the site of the old sugar mill just outside of Waimea town.
