WAILUA — The Rotary Club of Kapa‘a’s 32nd Taste of Hawai‘i was sold out, said Rotarian Joseph Figaroa on Sunday at the Smith’s Tropical Paradise.
Another Rotarian checking in volunteers like the Interact Club of Kapa‘a, the Key Club of Kaua‘i High School and numerous other youth groups, like the new nonprofit Thrive with Movement dance group, said there would be more than 2,000 people, including all the volunteers.
Labelled “the Ultimate Sunday Brunch, and “the biggest fundraiser,” the Taste of Hawai‘i patrons spent the day cooled by breezy tradewinds by mingling and sampling between 23 food vendors and a dozen beverage stations, including Sunskai Shave Ice from Kekaha and Wai Koko coconut water.
“We use coconut water in our lychee shave ice,” said Rhoda Libre, who was helping at the Sunskai Shave Ice. “We’re the same as Resilient Roots. We’re both from Kekaha … same Fernandez name.”
The day was smoothed out by 16 different bands spread out over five islands, excluding the groups that eased the wait at the Vidinha Stadium parking lot and the holding area outside the Smith’s Tropical Paradise main gates.
People were entertained by Ho‘Aka at the stadium parking lot, while Kaua‘i ‘Ohana continued to keep the crowd outside the main gates occupied as it did in previous events.
Tahitian drum maker and Heiva i Kaua‘i coordinator Tepairu Manea had the help of Orama O Kaua‘i in welcoming the hordes of people flowing through the Taste entrance.
The Leong ‘ohana of the original Leong’s Roadhouse in Kapa‘a brought out the crews from its three locations — Kapa‘a, Wailua and Po‘ipu — to debut at the event with servings of chili peppa’ chicken and mochi pancakes.
The Rotary Club of Kapa‘a said the goal of Taste of Hawai‘i is threefold — to raise money, which enables the club to make a difference through the numerous projects the club supports; to work hard to ensure its customers have the best experience possible while the Rotarians have fun serving the customers; and to share the message and fellowship of Rotary.
