Kaua‘i kupuna break out of their homes to gather and jam in the lobby of the Lihu‘e Plantation Building near the Aloha Craft Cafe.
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Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Kaua‘i County Councilmember KipuKai Kuali‘i, center, is roped into singing when he arrived at the Aloha Craft Cafe in the Lihu‘e Plantation Building for his lunch from Aloha Craft Cafe last week.
Dennis Fujimoto The Garden Island
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LIHU‘E — “You need to watch out,” said Kaua‘i County Councilmember KipuKai Kuali‘i Friday. “They’re going to make you sing.”
LIHU‘E — “You need to watch out,” said Kaua‘i County Councilmember KipuKai Kuali‘i Friday. “They’re going to make you sing.”
Kuali‘i had dropped in on about 15 kupuna who were singing, dancing in place, talking story and just enjoying the Friday morning in the lobby of the Lihu‘e Plantation building around the Aloha Craft Cafe.
“The police chief is supposed to come visit,” said Julie Souza. “But he must be running late. Kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin said she was planning on coming down, too.”
Shirley Simbre-Medeiros, a candidate for County Council, said these are just Kaua‘i kupuna.
“They’re not affiliated with any group when they do this,” Simbre-Medeiros said. “They just want to get out. These are the kupuna that used to greet the cruise ships, do field trips and a lot of other activities. They need to get out and do something.”
The kupuna are like other people who have been confined and isolated for the past two years because of the pandemic. Like a lot of other people, the kupuna miss the camaraderie of each other’s fellowship and the social interaction.
“I don’t know,” Simbre-Medeiros said as Aloha Craft Cafe shoppers turned to enjoy the party-like atmosphere while waiting on their orders. “The word goes out and everyone shows up.”
Kawika Kuali‘i, one of the Aloha Craft Cafe owners, said they simply tell the tenants in the building to come out and enjoy the aloha that is unique to kupuna.
