KEKAHA — The event was billed as “Free Concert. Free Gifts. Free Activities,” and did not disappoint the hundreds, if not thousands, of people who converged on the Kekaha Neighborhood Center for the “We Are Kekaha — craft, gift and bake fair” on Friday evening.
“We have free Hawai‘i Finest custom ‘Aloha’ shirt,” said one of the Kekaha School PTSA organizers. “The name is not important. This was just collaborative minds getting together. The keiki get free Super Duper ice cream, and a copy of ‘Aloha Allova.’”
The book was written by Dawn O’Brien, who happened to be the evening’s mistress of ceremonies in announcing the appearance of local bands High Watah Music, Hammah House Band and Chardonnay.
At least 40 craft vendors filled the center patio rimmed with local-style food that served as a fundraiser for Kekaha School and various community groups. This was in addition to Mama Bear and Hoku’s food trucks parked outside, with the Waimea High School student-athletes dispensing the cold beverages to complete the plate lunches and bowls.
“I gotta go check out da food,” said O’Brien, the Choose Love ambassador for Hawai‘i. “Shoyu chicken? Who’s got the shoyu chicken? Dat’s my fave.”
O’Brien’s mission was stopped by an organizer who wanted to make sure that no one was forgotten.
“We have so many people and companies who put something in so we could do this,” said a worker from the Kekaha landfill that closed early on Friday so the crew could participate in hosting the community to a great aloha event. “Some put in a lot, some put in whatever they could. But they gave.”
Some of the long list of contributors were Wally Rita Trucking, Douglas Stuarte, Hawthorned Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Rock &Concrete, Brian Carter, French Girls Puka Dog, Moriguchi Enterprise, Makana Tours, Geosyntec, Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union, The Tow Truck, Wa‘alani Enterprises, Rick Renaud and ‘ohana, Kaua‘i Auto Repair, Kepa Services, Cody Kimura, Roger Taniguchi and Palama Trucking.
The list of contributors also included MCS Grill, Aqua Engineers, Kama‘aina Kids, Na Pali Experience, Goodfellow Bros., Pacific Concrete, Cutting &Coring, Wrangler’s Steak House, Global Ag, Gather Federal Credit Union, Kiara’s Western Belts, Kar Leatherworks, Earthworks, S&S Business Machines, Kuhio Auto Group, Garden Isle Hydro, Rita’s Equipment, Kani Wildlife, Arryl Kaneshiro, Sign Art, DC Sweets, Kai Palama, Kekaha School PTSA, the Kekaha landfill ‘ohana and others.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Ah TGI – you gotta inform public about these events before—- We did not know… I missed out!!