KOLOA — Myrvie Buster was worried about the nori between her teeth Thursday at the Koloa Branch of the Garden Island Federal Credit Union.
“This is all about Koloa,” Buster said. “The Koloa Branch, and the Koloa Plantation Days celebration. We’re celebrating our members and thanking them for their support that got us here. It’s a party, and of course, we’re in the parade as well. We gotta be happy. Look at all the things we have for our members.”
The Garden Island Federal Credit Union, Koloa Branch is just one of the units in the historic parade that will feature horse-mounted units, classic cars, marching bands, and community groups like the Kauai Filipino Community Council that will feature its 2019 Miss Kauai Filipina Isabel Gampon.
The parade, with Eddie Taniguchi Jr. serving as its grand marshal, will start at 10 a.m. through Koloa town, ending at Anne Knudsen Park where a day of ho‘olaule‘a follows.
“I am Hawaiian-Japanese-Portuguese,” said Jasmine Taniguchi Kahepu‘u, daughter of Taniguchi Jr. “My great grandpa,, Masazao Taniguchi, came to Hawaii in 1863 from Hiroshima, Japan. Masazao’s son was Eddie Taniguchi Sr. who is the father of Eddie Taniguchi Jr., my father.”
“My dad’s mom’s side came from Miguel, Portugal on the British Bark High Flyer in Jan. 24, 1880,” Jasmine said “Mom is also half-Hawaiian from the Kanoho family.”
Tainguchi Jr., inducted into the Kauai &Ni‘ihau Cowboy Hall of Fame, was honored by the Kauai County Council along with Jimmy and Joyce Miranda for their paniolo influence in the plantation days era.
“This diverse paniolo culture is still very much alive here on Kauai,” the Council Certificate states.
The Miranda family has been a part of the Koloa Plantation Days since its start in 1985 when a group of people held the parade and luau to celebrate and commemorate 150 years of sugar. The event was so well received it continued and expanded to include 10 days of celebration and festivities.
Following the parade, everyone is invited to the Anne Knudsen Park to enjoy a field of crafters, food booths, keiki activities and games, and a full slate of entertainment, including HAPA, Tsunami Taiko, Jerry Santos and Kamuela Kimokeo, Mike Keale, Cruz Control, and Not My First Rodeo.
Starting at 9 a.m., the Kauai Police Department will close off all streets along the parade route until the conclusion of the parade which is estimated to be around 1 p.m.
