Playing in the Prince’s playground

POIPU — Lovey Britton of the Koloa Landing, a Wyndham Grand Resort, said the area being occupied by the resort in Poipu was the playground where Prince Kuhio grew up.

“He played in this area,” Britton said. “We used to do fundraising luau for the canoe clubs celebrating Prince Kuhio in the Prince Kuhio Park before the houses came in.”

Britton said the Prince Kuhio Celebration Luau featuring Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Weldon Kekauoha was a fundraiser for the Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School whose students, staff and parent volunteers did a lot of the work for the event.

“This is the first time for Kawaikini,” Britton said. “This is the first time for Koloa Landing to host an event like this. We hope it works out because the owners like events where they can learn about community.”