Each December, for a number of years beginning in 1948, Kekaha Sugar Co. held employee best-yard contests for which it awarded cash to competitors, who took pride in their yards and would work year-round to ensure they were at the
Each December, for a number of years beginning in 1948, Kekaha Sugar Co. held employee best-yard contests for which it awarded cash to competitors, who took pride in their yards and would work year-round to ensure they were at the peak of perfection by contest time.
In 1957, the yard of Mr. and Mrs. Telesforo Asuncion and their son, Rosario, was chosen “best yard on the whole plantation” for the fourth consecutive year by a unanimous decision of four judges: Mrs. Ernest Bertram, Mrs. Howard Wagoner, Mr. Toshi Hirabayashi and the Rev. George Kiyabu.
The Asuncions’ beautiful yard, which encircled their Mana home, was awarded a grand prize of $30 and was complimented for its neatly trimmed borders, colorful flowers, plants and flawless lawn.
Mana, where the Asuncions lived, was for decades a thriving community located just off the Waimea side of Kaumualii Highway about midway between the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the west and Kamokala Ridge to the east. Its few remaining houses were torn down in the 1980s.
Another winner at Kekaha Sugar Co. in 1957 was Placido Tango, also of Mana, for which Tango won $30. A perennial contest winner, Tango had won a total of $180 for his prize-winning yards during his six years of competition.
First-place winners in Kekaha were Rizalino Parbo and Raymundo Viluan, who’d won “best yard on the whole plantation” in 1952.
Hermogenes Pantorilla, also of Kekaha, the biggest money-winner in the history of the best yard contest, failed to place in 1957. His yard received Honorable Mention.
Other award-winners were William Kimokeo, Yoshito Ando, Tom Moreno, Masao Chikahiro, Fedor Brandt Jr., Donato Miranda, Toshiaki Fukumoto, Adrean Tacub, Jack Bisano, Lawrence Martin, Donato Sakulit, Serverino Sagun, and Anastacio Debutiaco.
