KILAUEA — Lee Gushiken was prepared for the community dinner Thursday at the Kauai Mini Golf in Kilauea. “I brought a counter,” Gushiken said. “Every year, we just eyeball the crowd. This year, we’re going to have a count.” Several
KILAUEA — Lee Gushiken was prepared for the community dinner Thursday at the Kauai Mini Golf in Kilauea.
“I brought a counter,” Gushiken said. “Every year, we just eyeball the crowd. This year, we’re going to have a count.”
Several hundred people took advantage of the Anaina Hou Community Park and Kauai Mini Golf offer of free dinner and mini golf Thursday afternoon.
“I always enjoy Bill and Joan Porter’s benevolence,” said Jack Smith, who was enjoying the unique Hawaiian presentations by entertainer Kanazawa. “This is definitely a good thing.”
Crystal Bilyeu, the Kauai Mini Golf general manager, said the event started four years ago as a community potluck, growing to where the line snaked beyond the cafe dining area and overflowing onto the mini golf course.
Sally Stuffman was attending the event for her first time.
“I just heard about it,” she said. “This is wonderful to open the mini golf to everyone, and this kind of potluck brings people together — especially at Christmas time. This is wonderful.”
Jordan Wyle, the Kauai Mini Golf CEO, was busy shuttling trays of kalua pork and imu-prepared turkey, among other duties, pausing only long enough to introduce Bino Castelo, the Kauai Mini Golf Botanical Manager, who provided the invocation which triggered the serving line into action.
“We’re going to have more events like this,” Wyle said. “As things happen in the Anaina Community Park, we’ll have more of these types of functions.”
Thursday’s meal included a main course of kalua pork, turkey and ham, along with a variety of holiday dishes prepared by staff and community volunteers.
