Koloa Plantation Days is halfway over — have you checked out the island’s largest summer festival? If the answer is no, here is what you missed: A paniolo (cowboy) barbecue with live music, a petting zoo and pony rides; the 14th
Koloa Plantation Days is halfway over — have you checked out the island’s largest summer festival?
If the answer is no, here is what you missed: A paniolo (cowboy) barbecue with live music, a petting zoo and pony rides; the 14th annual Plantation Days rodeo; charity tennis tournament; historic Hapa Trail walk; keiki fishing; Polynesian and fire knife dancing; miniature golf tournament; sand dune hike; historic film and plantation exhibit; craft fair; talk story/history of Koloa before sugar; and live music.
A bit bummed you missed all that? That’s OK, because there’s still five days left — and it’s filled with family-friendly activities.
Today’s lineup includes a coastal hike to Mahaulepu; traditional Hawaiian games and a plantation cooking demonstration.
Later in the week, there will be more talk stories, historic walks, a keiki ukulele contest and a family fun run.
Of course, the festival’s highlight is the annual Parade and Park Celebration on Saturday.
The historic parade features Betsy Toulon as the Parade Grand Marshal — she first attended the parade in 1935. Fitting, since this year’s theme for Koloa Plantation Days is “Stories of Our Heritage.”
This year celebrates the 28th annual Koloa Plantation Days festival and the 178th year of commercial sugar on Kauai, according to festival organizer Melissa McFerrin.
More than just fun and games, the festival celebrates the different nationalities and cultures found on Kauai, and traces its roots back to the plantation era, where laborers came from the Philippines, Japan, Puerto Rico, Portugal, China and Korea.
Today’s present-day culture is comprised of a mix of traditions, music, crafts, games and dances that were brought to the island by sugar plantation workers. These traditions will be represented in Saturday’s parade, which starts at 10 a.m. (roads close at 9 a.m.).
Not to be forgotten is the park celebration after the parade at the Annie Knudsen Ball Park, which includes food booths, craft tents and keiki areas. At 11 a.m., the on stage entertainment begins, featuring Tsunami Taiko, comedy by Frank DeLima and Augie T, hula by Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, music by Led Kaapana and Mike Kaawa, plus the Kasibulan Filipino Folk Dance Company.
Best of all? Most of these events are free.
To see a full schedule of events, learn about the festival’s history, view historic photographs and to plan out your week, visit The Garden Island newspaper’s office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and pick up the Koloa Plantation Days 2013 guide, which was printed in the July 17 paper.
Our office is located at 3-3137 Kuhio Highway in Lihue, and you can reach us at 245-3681.
We hope to see you during the second half of Koloa Plantation Days — we’ll be there!
