LIHU‘E — More than 400 people took advantage of the hospitality of Lihu‘e United Church volunteers to enjoy breakfast Monday morning. The parish hall behind King Auto Center opened its doors to the community at 7 a.m. in the 32nd
LIHU‘E — More than 400 people took advantage of the hospitality of Lihu‘e United Church volunteers to enjoy breakfast Monday morning.
The parish hall behind King Auto Center opened its doors to the community at 7 a.m. in the 32nd annual Labor Day Breakfast with the proceeds from this year’s event benefiting the YWCA of Kaua‘i Women’s Shelter.
Each year the church designates a local charity to be the beneficiary of the traditional event that features home-created pastries, assorted fresh fruit, sausage, eggs and other breakfast favorites.
Anson Lardizabal was one of the early-risers, making the event with his daughter Tia, a student at King Kaumuali‘i School.
“We have to come and represent,” Lardizabal said, motioning his daughter to show the Sons of Hawai‘i seal emblazoned on the back of her jacket. “The other guys are on the Big Island for a big ride there, but we’re home so we’re representing.”
Larry Feinstein also rode his motorcycle to the event, taking advantage of the sunny skies and warm weather.
“I’m still waiting on the other riders to show,” he said. “They come to this event every year, and besides good food, it’s for a good cause.”
In addition to the breakfast faire, diners were offered a variety of entertainment from volunteers, including a performance by Jasmine Libert, Kimberly McDonough and Katherine Stennett, collectively known as the Kaua‘i String and Woodwinds Trio.
Libert and McDonough are students at Island School and Stennett attends Kaua‘i Community College. The trio worked with Tom Beck to present a variety of classical music to enhance the taste of the morning meal.
Lois Ricchardi of the Kaua‘i Chorale said the group will be hosting a free concert, Oct. 1, at the Main Hall at Island School starting around 7 p.m.
With just 30 minutes remaining for breakfast service, one of the greeters noted they had collected 325 adult tickets and 72 keiki tickets for both dine-in and take-out meals.
But that statement was interrupted by the rumble of motorcycles as the group Feinstein was waiting on arrived, pushing the number of diners to beyond the 400-mark.
Labor Day, celebrated the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, states the U.S. Department of Labor website. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the United States.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union to celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday.”
By 1894, 23 states joined New York and Oregon in adopting the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act marking the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
