There were several types of golfers on Sunday at the Keiki Miniature Golf Tournament held at the Lawa‘i Beach Resort rooftop mini golf course for keiki 13 years and under.
Before that, there were a lot of golfers who dreaded the 11th hole that contained the only water hazard on the course. And then, there were those who loved the hole, protesting by crying when having to leave the hole.
Then there were the golfers who knew what to do and avoided the water, many of them overshooting the hole and having to chase down the bouncing golf balls. And, of course, there were those who loved the water and considered a dunk in the hazard more rewarding than sinking the hole.
There was a huge turnout for this year’s tournament, to the point where Lawa‘i Beach Resort personnel wondered if there would be enough golf clubs for every participant. The free school supplies backpacks were sold out, and still participants came rushing out of the elevators.
Golfers also earned a free hot dog lunch and eligibility for more door prizes by playing the full course.
The Keiki Mini Golf Tournament is a part of the 10-day Koloa Plantation Days celebration of family fun and activities that celebrate the plantation days era.
The Koloa Plantation Days started on Friday with a cultural practices workshops, one of the new attractions for this year’s celebration, and the paniolo barbecue and hula at the Koloa Village Shopping Center which joined Koloa Plantation Days for the first time this year.
Koloa Plantation Days continue with a Maha‘ulepu coastal hike and a plantation cooking demonstration, as part of the Kaua‘i Culinary Market at The Shops at Kuku‘iula on Wednesday.
A “Look Back Through the Sugar Era” tour of the former Koloa sugar mill will be hosted by the Grove Farm Company on Thursday. Reservations are needed for this tour, which sells out each year it’s offered. Call 808-245-3678, ext. 2542.
On Friday, the old Koloa historical walk starts at 10 a.m. at the labor monument across Sueoka Store, and the day wraps up with the Flavors of Kuku‘iula from 5:30 p.m. with live kachi kachi music. Local grinds will be available for purchase.
The week wraps up Saturday with the 37th annual parade through Koloa Town and park celebration. Gates to the Anne S. Knudsen Park (Koloa ball park) open at 9 a.m. for local food, craft show, live entertainment, kid’s activities, silent auction and more.
The parade will feature the Koloa Union Church, celebrating its 100th anniversary, as the grand marshall, and starts at 10 a.m. Motorists are reminded that roads will close starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
