The heart that lies in the soul of heroes came out to play on Wednesday when the county’s Department of Park and Recreation, Senior Division and Na Kupuna Council hosted the annual Kupuna Valentine’s Day party on Wednesday at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort.
Firefighters who are everyday heroes became dance partners for the more than 250 people — mostly kupuna — who came from all parts of the island, Kekaha to Kilauea. Dancing is the most favorite part of the crowd that were thrilled when Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami stopped in to have a photograph with the firemen before embarking on a tour that included a stop at all of the tables.
“This is sold out,” said Melanie Okamoto of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “People kept calling. We need to try and figure out how to get more people here.”
Okamoto said the department has been hosting the annual get-together for more than 20 years, starting from the different neighborhood centers before settling in to a resort destination.
“The kupuna love this,” she said. “With the help of Na Kupuna Council, we have all the things people want to come out for — a reason to dress up, good food, door prizes, and of course, gotta having dancing.”
Debbie Wakuta who is known as Happy the Clown set up a special table with assorted balloon sculptures for people to stop by and have fun, whether a whimsical moment with the inflated balloons, or as a prop for the selfie station set up for the occasion.
Valentine’s Day fun continues as Melissa McFerrin Warrack of the Kukui Grove Center announced festive holiday music taking place on Valentine’s Day and the day after.
Sarah Tochiki and the Kauai Community College Jazz Ensemble invite dancers to come out and have fun as the group does a jazzy Valentine’s Day with tunes from the 1940s through the 1980s celebrating the holiday with a few dedications thrown in for good measure.
“It’s a good family night out,” McFerrin Warrack said. “Our Showtime Characters will be out, and there is a Valentine’s Day selfie station where people can get holiday memories. Everyone is invited to come, eat, dance and shine.”
Additionally, today is the final day to participate in the shopping center’s Shop and Dine campaign.
“It’s not too late to shop for your sweetheart and redeem for a treat,” McFerrin Warrack said. “Spend $100 on retail for a $10 dining or treat card, or spend $200 for a $20 dining or treat card. Receipts totalling $100 or $200 can be collected to come up with the total retail. This is our way of sharing the love with our customers.”
On Saturday from noon until 1:30 p.m., Hank Curtis announces a very special “Love is in the air” Valentine’s concert featuring Kauai’s own jazz diva, Peggy Lake, vocalist; Laine Griffith, saxophonist extraordinaire; and long-time Kauai fixture Hank Curtis, pianist and musical director.
“We have a dazzling array of love songs from the ‘Great American Songbook’ and more,” Curtis said. “Come support our local musicians and have a blast celebrating songs of love. If you can’t make it, please spread the word throughout your ohana. Love and aloha!”
