LIHU‘E — Halloween is Saturday, but several groups kicked off their Halloween festivals ahead of time in order to be compliant with COVID-19 safety measures.
“We’re spreading everything out for the week,” said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack, the marketing coordinator for Kukui Grove Center. “Basically, we’re doing a Virtual Costume Contest ‘Your Time, Your Way,’ with the KQNG Radio Group. We’re working to set up selfie stations where people wanting to enter the costume contest can have a backdrop with winners being announced daily and photos appearing on the Kukui Grove Center Facebook and Instagram pages.”
Costume categories include Keiki, 11 years and young, Youth, 12 to 17 years old, and Families.
Selfie stations started appearing over the weekend and will be up through Oct. 30 for uploads to the KQNG Radio Contest by visiting www.kukuigrovecenter.com.
Freaky Fridays, a fundraising effort for the Aloha Dance Studio with Tiffany Dick, took over the shopping center on Friday evenings from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a variety of Fall Festival and Halloween activity stations, including the fishpond and sales of seasonal themed items, and popcorn.
Additionally, the Kukui Grove Center is tossing in a “Shop and Dine” incentive for “parents while out shopping for the family.”
Diners to any of the Kukui Grove Restaurants, including Aloha Ramen, Deli &Bread, Genki Sushi, Ho’s Chinese Kitchen, Kaua‘i Bakery, Kim Chee No. 9, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Sone’s Deli, and Oki’s Best Box Lunch, spending $150 in any store in Kukui Grove, or more, can redeem their receipts for a $20 gift card to any of the restaurants. This is limited to one gift card per family during the period from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31.
Starting Oct 25, Wilcox Health is inviting people to post photos of families in their virtual Halloween Keiki Parade that will be judged by a panel established by the hospital. Photos can be posted on Instagram using #WilcoxHalloween2020 through Oct. 31.
Categories being judged include Most Creative Costume, Best Family Costume, Scariest Costume, Cutest Costume, Funniest Costume, and the Best incorporation of a face mask into a costume. Winners will receive a Wilcox Health goodie bag.
Wilcox Health will also be posting photos of its staff in their Halloween costumes on the Wilcox Facebook and Instagram social media sites starting Nov. 2 and continuing through Nov. 6 with the community being asked to vote on their favorite Wilcox employee costume. The Wilcox employee and department with the most votes win a Wilcox Health goodie bag.
The pumpkins went out last Wednesday during the Great Pumpkin Give-Away at The Shops at Kukui‘ula.
This allowed ample time for pumpkin carvers and painters to prepare for the Halloween Pumpkin Contest that will take place Wednesday with voting to coincide with the Farmers Market at The Shops from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Pumpkins decorated for the contest can be dropped off Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. at The Shops’ Palm Court area for an opportunity to win one of three The Shops at Kukui‘ula gift cards, and other surprise treats.
