LIHUE — Kay Koike was looking forward to the annual breakfast. “I’ve been waiting for two days for this, and I came in from Kekaha, too,” Koike said, while filling out random drawing tickets. Koike was one of several hundred
LIHUE — Kay Koike was looking forward to the annual breakfast.
“I’ve been waiting for two days for this, and I came in from Kekaha, too,” Koike said, while filling out random drawing tickets.
Koike was one of several hundred people who overflowed the Lihue United Church Parish Hall, Monday for the 36th annual Labor Day Breakfast.
“We don’t really have a count, right now,” said Lyn Collisom, the breakfast co-chair with June Cooper. “In the past, we’ve served about 500 people, and judging by the number of cars, we’ve gone past that number — and the motorcycle club hasn’t arrived, yet.”
People flowed through the breakfast line serving up scrambled eggs, sausage, assorted fresh fruits, and pastries, many of them homemade.
“We’ve gone through at least 100 dozen eggs,” said David Collisum, working one of the sausage grills. “We had to go out and get some more.”
Entertainment was a staple next to the good food.
“We have John Means who has a fabulous voice sitting at our table,” Cooper said. “He sang earlier, but will go back up, later.”
Monty Downs offered a medley of western songs, this time trading his harmonica for a guitar, and Jenny Nezbeda, 8, also provided a medley of tunes, demonstrating her stage prowess which earned her the role of Miss Gulch in the recent Wizard of Oz production by the Hawaii Children’s Theater. The Kalaheo Seniors rounded out the day, Donald Quon donning various stage props to enhance the group’s performance.
“I saw the sign and had to come,” said Godwin Valdez of Pua Loke. “I was going to get breakfast to go, but when I saw the kids washing cars, I said, ‘My car needs washing so I might as well have them wash it while I enjoy my breakfast.’ It’s a donation to the church.”
In addition to the breakfast, diners could contribute to random prize drawings, the car wash, and other fundraising efforts which benefited the Kauai Association United Church of Christ Youth Ministries.
Each year, the Labor Day Breakfast benefits a local nonprofit organization.
Last year’s proceeds went to help the Loaves and Fishes pantry at the St. Michael’s and All Angels Church.
“We’ve been doing this breakfast for 36 years,” Lyn Collisom said. “Everyone knows this is the best breakfast in town.”
Rev. Wesley Elmore, pastor of the Lihue United Church, said there are 125 members in the church which offers both English language and Tongan ministries.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
