POIPU — Kaira Kupihea could not resist the opportunity to get her hands dirty Wednesday morning at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. Garbed in her prim office attire, Kupihea self-consciously turned down the offer to plant one of the several varieties
POIPU — Kaira Kupihea could not resist the opportunity to get her hands dirty Wednesday morning at the Sheraton Kauai Resort.
Garbed in her prim office attire, Kupihea self-consciously turned down the offer to plant one of the several varieties of taro during the blessing at the Poipu resort.
A moment later, she retracted her refusal and dove into the foliage, patting down the dirt to securely anchor her planted taro.
“What’s a little dirt?” she said. “Nothing a little soap and water cannot handle.”
Kupihea was among a group of Sheraton Kauai Resort associates and managers who gathered in the garden.
“This is appropriate because every year is a new beginning,” said Kahu Jade Battad of Ke Akua Mana Church who officiated at the short ceremony. “The planting of kalo is also significant because it is a vital part to the Hawaiian culture — every part of the plant is used.”
Chip Bahouth, Sheraton Kauai general manager, said the blessing is to celebrate the host culture and the family of associates who care for the guests who visit the resort.
“I started this 20 years ago, and celebrated it for 15 years on Maui,” Bahouth said. “We take this time to thank the host culture and God for what we have.”
Battad, who traces her connection to the Sheraton Kauai ohana as an emcee for its weekly luau, said if one walks through the door looking for trouble, they will find trouble.
Conversely, if they walk through the door looking for love, they will find it, challenging the associates to be grateful and appreciative of being part of the Sheraton Kauai ohana.
