If pre-carnival ticket sales are any indication, the St. Theresa School Carnival should be a big event on Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22, 2023, from 6 to 11 p.m. each night in Kekaha.
“We just reached $42,000 of the school’s $50,000 goal in pre-sales tickets,” said St. Theresa School Principal Wendy Castillo. “We’re almost there!”
Proceeds from the annual carnival that is returning for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic support St. Theresa School, student scholarships, equipment, facility improvements and educational advancement programs.
“The due date for Gordon Mattos’ newest grandchild — is it his 20th? — is carnival night,” Castillo said. “This is so exciting because this year’s carnival is dedicated to him. His granddaughter, Isabella Gilliam, will deliver the dedication message when the carnival starts at 6 p.m. Friday.”
Castillo said Mattos, a telemetry specialist with the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility for nearly 50 years, comes from a strong Catholic school background.
“He moved here from the Big Island after meeting the love of his live, Adele Pereira,” Castillo said. “She graduated from STS. Together they raised eight kids, and have 20 grandchildren. They all attended STS. We have some who are students here.”
“Gordon’s family is incredible,” Castillo said. “They’re handling the country store, where the school received a donation of fresh beef. These will be packaged as prime cuts and sold.”
Castillo said the entertainment lineup for this carnival is the best she’s seen, including Kumu Hula Troy Lazaro and Halau Ka Pa Hula O Hinano, Kaua‘i Kollab, the Waimea High School band with the St. Theresa School Singers and Baile De Jose on Friday night.
Saturday’s lineup includes the Ron Soderstrom Hypnosis Show, Greenstone Project and Cory Mira and Friends.
“This year is really special,” Castillo said. “My mother from Kalaheo will be handling the charola booth. She arranged to have the Holy Cross Altar Society ladies bake sweet bread that will be available at the carnival. Imagine, all those ladies getting up early in the morning just to bake sweet bread for us. We offer them a huge mahalo for this. People are incredibly generous.”
The Kaua‘i All Girl Rodeo Association returns with pony rides, and the silent auction will feature resort stays and a lot more. Other offerings include the food booth, door prizes, games and more.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 ordfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
The BEST event at the BEST westside school honoring one of the BEST humans ever!! Hoping for a GREAT turnout with lots of people who come and support this wonderful school ‘ohana!!!