Labor Day Breakfast is 43 years old

LIHUE — The handwritten message atop a stuffed animal’s chest delivered the day’s message on Monday during the annual Lihue United Church of Christ (LUCC) Labor Day Breakfast at Lihue Parish Hall.

“Gobble until you wobble,” said LUCC volunteer Marlene Bunao. “This is our 43rd year we’re serving the Labor Day Breakfast. “I don’t know who you can talk to about how we started this. This rummage section is new, serving as a fundraiser to help maintain the place.”

A steady stream of breakfast eaters flowed through the buffet line set up inside the parish hall. Diners were given the option of eating in and enjoying the homegrown entertainment or taking the meal to go.

This year’s meal was greeted by clear skies, warm temperatures and a teasing wind, reasons for many of the meals being taken out to be enjoyed elsewhere.

“I’ve been entertaining for at least 90 minutes,” said Dr. Monty Downs, the current Kauai Hospice medical lead, and team doctor for the Kapaa High School football team. “I started playing at 7 a.m. when the doors opened. I was going to do this whether they had sound on the stage or not.”

Among the field of diners, a Hale ‘Opio board member thanked the newspaper for printing an announcement of the event.

“I’m on the Hale ‘Opio board and I didn’t even know about this,” the breakfast fan said. “They’re supporting us, so we must support them.”

Another diner, Charlene Dorsey of the Kauai Veterans Council, took the opportunity to remind people of various events coming up in the near future — preparations for a 2024 Miss Veteran, who will preside over the annual Kauai Veterans Council Veterans Day parade and the holiday craft fair presented by the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.