WAIMEA — The music of Cherry Cherry demonstrated the excitement and fun of the Waimea Town Celebration on Wednesday night, as it broke through the confines of the historic Waimea Theatre and reached the ears of Brysen Hiraoka, who was dispensing a menu of local favorites ranging from Spam musubi to kalua and cabbage in the outdoor lobby.
“Are you awake, now,” said concert emcee Randall Francisco, of the West Kaua‘i Professional and Business Association, and former president of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce and Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce.
Presented by the historic Waimea Theater cultural center with support from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through its Community Enrichment Program, the eight-day Waimea Town Celebration kicked off over the weekend with a series of theater events.
The events included the Kaua‘i Cocktails and Concert, the King Kaumuali‘i Lu‘au with Kumu Hula Troy Hinano Lazaro and Halau Ka Pa Hula o Hinano, and the airing of asian Pacific films at the Waimea Film Festival.
The Wednesday concert featuring Steve Kelly and the Cherry Cherry nine-piece band represented the midpoint of the eight-day celebration of the history and lifestyle of the westside community, which is celebrating its 47th year of being the island’s largest and longest-running festival.
Cherry Cherry, the touring band that graced the Pacific Missile Range Facility during the Fourth of July Freedom Fest, will be making two additional appearances as the WTC enters its highlight weekend.
Cherry Cherry will open the two-day ho‘olaule‘a starting Friday at 5 p.m. The ho‘olaule‘a is 22 hours of concerts, activities, exhibits, craft vendors, contests like the papale, or hat lei, and local food vendors, many of whom are community groups selling favorite foods as a fundraiser.
Some of the featured contests include the Super Duper 2’s Ice Cream Eating Contest, and the Scotty’s Music ‘Ukulele Contest taking place in the shadow of the old sugar mill. There will also be the Koloa Rum Beer Garden.
Cherry Cherry is scheduled to make its appearance on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. following the Super Duper 2 contest.
The ho‘olaule‘a is joined by the admission-needed Kaua‘i Paniolo Showdown rodeo that started on Thursday and continues through Saturday at Friendship Do’s Ranch Waimea Arena located just outside of Waimea town on the way to Kekaha. Events include World’s Best Muley Roping, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, Poo Wai U, Double Mugging and more.
The Waimea Bridge will be closed for a short while starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, as the 2K, 5K, or 10K run labeled Na Heihei A Ola takes off from Pa‘ula‘ula and runs through Waimea town.
Spectators to Na‘I ‘Ole Long Distance Canoe Race need to negotiate the inconvenience while making their way to the race’s starting point outside the Waimea Pier. The race starts at 8 a.m.
At the nearby Waimea Canyon Park basketball courts, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament is available on Friday evening, and all-day Saturday starting a 9 a.m. For information, contact the new Waimea High School Athletic Director Dino Pabre.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
