PO‘IPU — Visitors seeking shelter from overnight rains found plenty to keep them occupied in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Kaua‘i Resort & Spa here yesterday. They were able to browse displays of a variety of crafters and vendors
PO‘IPU — Visitors seeking shelter from overnight rains found plenty to keep them occupied in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Kaua‘i Resort & Spa here yesterday.
They were able to browse displays of a variety of crafters and vendors lining the hotel’s promenade on day one of the resort’s 10th Annual Hawaiiana Festival.
The event, coordinated by Hyatt staffer Stella Burgess and the hotel’s ‘ohana committee, has been an annual affair featuring a variety of local crafters, including Leo Tangatailoa, who worked his woodcarving craft between questions from curious spectators.
Tangatailoa, nestled in the corner of the hotel lobby fronting the ‘Ilima Terrace, had no trouble attracting people, who stopped to see a developing tiki taking shape from a fresh log of haole koa.
In addition to the tiki, Tangatailoa had plaques and other pieces fashioned from milo and monkeypod.
Claire Morris-Dobie, the resort’s public-relations representative, said the highlight of this year’s festival is the all-day scheduling of a multi-media “Live Aloha” event featuring Brother Noland Conjugacion starting at 8 a.m. today.
Brother Noland will be performing in the Grand Ballroom, with performances at 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Morris-Dobie said the event has grown to include the Aloha Festivals, and will feature the Royal Court in the main lobby in special ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. today.
The extension of the Aloha Festivals connection continues as patrons wearing the Aloha Week Ribbon will receive a $3 discount at the Hawaiian buffet which will open at 10 a.m. and continue through 7 p.m. today.
The festival wraps up Saturday with more cultural demonstrations, crafters, a hike to nearby sand dunes, and musical entertainment leading to and centered around the Seaview Lobby.
The event is sponsored in part by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the County of Kaua‘i.
Staff Writer Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253), or mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
