WAIMEA — The sign fronting Hoffgaard Park in Waimea said it all: “West Kaua‘i welcomes Chamber members to Waimea!” Several hundred people from all parts of the island converged at Waimea Plantation Cottages for the second annual Kaua‘i Chamber of
WAIMEA — The sign fronting Hoffgaard Park in Waimea said it all: “West Kaua‘i welcomes Chamber members to Waimea!”
Several hundred people from all parts of the island converged at Waimea Plantation Cottages for the second annual Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce “Taste of Waimea,” celebrating the military in Hawai‘i.
Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce President Randall Francisco took his turn introducing the guests of honor, including Capt. Nicholas Mongillo, who will be replacing Capt. Aaron Cudnohufsky as commander of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana during a formal change-of-command ceremonies June 4.
Mongillo had his family on hand to enjoy the festivities, which featured a guest appearance by Amy Hanaiali‘i Gillion. She gave a preview of her concert benefiting the Kula Aupuni Ni‘ihau A Kahelelani Aloha charter school.
Gillion took her turn at the microphone with her rendering of the Hawai‘i anthem after Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. performed the national anthem with the color guard from PMRF presenting the colors to open the night.
Graduating seniors from the charter schools also expressed their gratitude to guests by performing the opening doxology and several pertinent oli following the opening remarks.
Among the host vendors, Lisa Johnson, owner of Super Duper 2, an ice cream parlor located next to the laundromat in Waimea town, was distributing samples of Kona Mud Pie and Pauwela Sunrise, two of the many flavors of Roselani Ice Cream the store specializes in.
“We have a simple menu,” Johnson said. “We do (Roselani) ice cream, shakes, floats and sundaes, and we’re open until 9 p.m.”
Johnson is no stranger to ice cream, having been the proprietor of an ice cream wagon that frequented ball parks and neighborhoods between Hanapepe and Kekaha for several years starting in 2004.
“There used to be an ice cream store where we’re at, and since I used to do ice cream from the snack wagon, this is the second time around,” Johnson said of the store that opened seven months ago.
Chef Rafael Camarillo of the Aston Kaua‘i Beach at Maka‘iwa in Waipouli made the trip to Waimea, joining other Aston culinary personnel in preparing the variety of pupu offerings including gourmet twists of local favorites like chicken adobo, short ribs beef stew, new age laulau and more.
Camarillo said he’ll be doing more during the Aston’s “Celebrating Hollywood on Kaua‘i” event coming up next weekend.
Francisco encouraged the attending guests to “network” among the businesses on hand at Waimea Plantation Cottages, many of whom do their enterprises from home.
The next event on the Chamber’s calendar is the free (for Chamber members) Social Media Part II: Hands-on Workshop, Wednesday at the Kaua‘i Community College Office of Continuing Education Elections Conference Room.
Registration for this event starts at 8:30 a.m. with the workshop running from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Carol Texeira said reservations are strongly encouraged for this workshop which is a follow-up to an enthusiastic response from a recent forum.
Call 245-7363 for more information.
