Editor’s note: On Dec. 3, the Kaua‘i Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary. Museum leaders have chosen 50 stories from exhibits, collections and archives of the museum to share with the public. One story will run daily through Dec. 3. LIHU‘E
Editor’s note: On Dec. 3, the Kaua‘i Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary. Museum leaders have chosen 50 stories from exhibits, collections and archives of the museum to share with the public. One story will run daily through Dec. 3.
LIHU‘E — Competition can be fun and rewarding.
Back in the 1950s and ‘60s, to create community pride, Hawai‘i’s sugar plantations sponsored yard contests.
Free or nearly free plantation water and a great climate made this an activity for young and old, individuals and family members and others beautified the camps as a source of community pride.
The prize money was significant and usually the plantations created categories to spread out the winnings.
Perpetual winners were set aside to allow others in the community to have a chance.
The retirees, called pensioners, had their own category, as they had more time to put into their gardens.
Creativity and ingenuity were definitely rewarded.
The houses themselves, some very old by that time, were not part of the contest, unless there was a prize-winning honohono orchid display cascading from the porch rafters or another creative floral display.
The judges were often church ministers, supervisors’ wives and others not able to participate in the competition.
The contest was held so that the cash prizes were awarded in time for Christmas.
