KEKAHA — Fourth of July was very good in the plantation era days, said 94-year-old Ansalmo Barba, Wednesday at Faye Park.
Barba was being interviewed by Darrian Muraoka, a student at the California State University at Monterrey Bay, for a paper she’s working on. Her interview covered not only July Fourth celebrations, but memories of life during the plantation days. She also spoke with several other people congregated at Faye Park.
“Is the food booth ready?” asked Rhoda Libre, the hostess. “How was the fireworks from the Pacific Missile Range Facility’s Freedom Fest?”
A steady stream of people flowed through Faye Park at the Kekaha Fourth of July celebration presented by E Ola Mau Na Leo O Kekaha and coordinated by Pastor Sam Bustillos, Pastor Darryl Kua of the Westside Christian Center, and Buddy Ayudan.
Danny Abadilla, head of E Ola Mau Na Leo O Kekaha, said this year’s celebration is dedicated to three individuals — Sakiko Okihara who served as supervisor for many years at Waimea High School, Jose Bulatao, Jr., a teacher at Kauai Community College and a leader of Bailes de Jose Filipino folk dancers, and Evelyn Olores, the manager of the gas station at Kekaha Plantation.
“Yes, she’s my mother,” said Bradford Kaeo who was constantly updating her Hawaiiana craft display containing feather lei, Ni‘ihau shell craft, and other Hawaiiana items. “My mother Evelyn did a lot of this. The rest of the ‘ohana, like my brother carving the walking sticks, and the aunties are sewing the Ni‘ihau shell lei.”
The Westside Christian Center said the event serves as a fundraiser for its teen and adult challenge programs, helping people in recovery from addiction.
Other community organizations like the St. Theresa School and the Kekaha Elementary School use the venue as a means of awareness and fundraising.
“I volunteer at the school,” said Christiane Love, a Silk and Cotton vendor. “If I volunteer, I can’t tend to the stand. I created this Very Hungry Catepillar beanbag toss game which I tried to replicate the caterpillar to as close to the book as I could.”
The free admission event continued through the day with a trio of water features from the Garza ‘ohana at ‘Ohana Party Inflatables offering a way to beat the Westside heat until the fireworks display ended the day.
