Kudos to Lyah Kama-Drake, The Royal Order of Kamehameha (Chad Schimmelfennig was busy running water to Josh Fukino and Mark Rossis kui group!), the Kauai Museum, and Wallis and Shana Punua and their halau in hosting the King Kamehameha Day Celebration that was streamlined to include the significant procession and protocol at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club (mahalo to the Kauai Marriott crew for running all that extra water needed to beat the heat and its not even summer yet!).
Kudos to Lyah Kama-Drake, The Royal Order of Kamehameha (Chad Schimmelfennig was busy running water to Josh Fukino and Mark Rossi’s ku‘i group!), the Kauai Museum, and Wallis and Shana Punua and their halau in hosting the King Kamehameha Day Celebration that was streamlined to include the significant procession and protocol at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club (mahalo to the Kauai Marriott crew for running all that extra water needed to beat the heat — and it’s not even summer yet!).
Lt. Shawn Keoho of The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps (they had Krispy Kremes and half-off specials at the thrift store for National Donut Day!) for bringing her kupuna following to the celebration, where Ha‘aheo Mahinai (check out the ship that’s her namesake at the museum) had the honor of bearing the ho‘okupu for the island princesses (Ha‘aheo represented the Big Island, and Kumu Wallis was even able to get her to do a hana hou hula).
In the midst of all the celebration excitement, preparations for the next set of events already are in full swing (it’s no wonder everyone is so busy!) as Tommy Oi and Gail Shibuya (they’re co-chair for the Lihue Hongwanji bon dance that takes place June 21 and 22) had crews setting up the yagura and game booths and cleaning the temple.
Al Oppio and Liz Kern of Reno, Nevada (they’re sponsoring the prize trophies for the Father’s Day Car Show Saturday at Kukui Grove Center!), are already in town, and Al took advantage of Harvey Maeda’s offer to drive the 1931 Model A five-window coupe to an interview with the Kukui Grove social media person.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
