LIHU‘E — It didn’t take much for Tate Ishizu-Soong to get started on the plate in front of him. The first order of business was the pancakes, Ishizu-Soong mindless of the scrambled eggs, kalua pork, and rice, accompanied by a
LIHU‘E — It didn’t take much for Tate Ishizu-Soong to get started on the plate in front of him.
The first order of business was the pancakes, Ishizu-Soong mindless of the scrambled eggs, kalua pork, and rice, accompanied by a cup of miso soup.
“He’s five, and hungry,” mom Lianne said after Tate was so pre-occupied he temporarily forgot his name.
Tate and his family were some of the steady stream of patrons who attended the annual East Kauai Lions Club pancake breakfast fund-raiser Sunday at the Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria.
“It was the miso soup,” event safety officer John Ochoco said. “We had an easier time selling tickets (this year) because everyone heard about the miso soup.”
The miso soup was adopted from the Lihue Hongwanji annual Mother’s Day breakfast, and has been a popular addition, especially welcome Sunday when chilly north winds and sprinkles welcomed patrons to the cafeteria.
“It was the addition of ‘Royal Hawaiian,'” added another Lion, who noted the purple banner fronting the school’s parking lot, touting the main dish of the breakfast.
“All roads lead to Wilcox,” Ochoco countered, as a pair of couples were seen circling the block earlier in search of the school.
But, the breakfast offerings weren’t limited to what Tate had on his plate. Following that course, there was a fruit bar manned by Lion Roy Nishida.
“Guaranteed sweet,” he said, tipping a tray filled with golden slices of Sugarloaf pineapple flown in from Maui for the event.
Pineapple and banana anchored that dessert portion of the meal, and Leo Club members from Kaua‘i High School worked alongside East Kauai Lions Club members in helping serve beverages as well as remove empty plates and wipe up tables.
Take out was available for those who did not want to chance picking up a cold bug that might have been wafting in the cafeteria, pushed by the cold north wind.
For those who did brave the morning, live entertainment greeted early diners, and there was no lack of fellowship as neighbor greeted neighbor, co-workers mingled with their families, and others just followed Tate’s example of digging in.
Alan Fayé of the North Shore Lions Club was one of those who attended the event, taking time to note the date of their event, which will take place at the Hanalei School on Sunday, April 4, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Fayé noted that Naomi Yokotake’s will be one of two hula halau that will perform for their event, and tickets are available from any North Shore Lion, Fayé distributing a pair for East Kauai Lions’ Club president Michael Nii, who made a brief appearance from within the bowels of the kitchen.
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
