KILAUEA — There was no formal protocol to celebrate the opening of Johnny’s He ‘Aha ‘Aina by the ‘Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea ‘ohana at Kilauea Community Agricultural Center on Saturday, Nov. 25.
KILAUEA — There was no formal protocol to celebrate the opening of Johnny’s He ‘Aha ‘Aina by the ‘Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea ‘ohana at Kilauea Community Agricultural Center on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Instead, the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center opened its gates to hundreds of people that came to enjoy the Thanksgiving Fair that celebrated the opening of Johnny’s, described by AHK as “the last piece of the vertical integration for the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center.”
Enhanced by the familiarity of people in the Nonprofit Showcase, people spread out over the Kilauea Community Agricultural Center campus to enjoy the live local entertainment, games inspired by old-time Hawai‘i, free petting zoo and horseback rides for keiki, and a beer garden by Napali Brewery.
Located on the road leading to the Kilauea Lighthouse, Johnny’s is now open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Johnny’s will serve the community with access to Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i-grown produce, fruits and protein,” said Gale Gillespie, the AHK office and sales manager. “It’s named after Johnny Akana, who used to live in Kalihiwai.”
“The life of John ‘Johnny Boy’ Akana of Kalihiwai bridged the eras of old Kaua‘i and modern-day Kaua‘i,” wrote Chris Cook, a former TGI editor, of Akana’s passing in 2004 following a surfing session in Kalihiwai. “His family were konohiki, the caretakers of Kalihiwai.”
