KOLOA — Louisa Ganaden-Lynch said Saturday that her class reunion missed the Koloa Plantation Days by about a week, but she was joined by friends waiting for the Historic Hapa Trail Walk at the entrance to the St. Raphael’s Church.
KOLOA — Louisa Ganaden-Lynch said Saturday that her class reunion missed the Koloa Plantation Days by about a week, but she was joined by friends waiting for the Historic Hapa Trail Walk at the entrance to the St. Raphael’s Church.
“They always have their reunion to coincide with the Koloa Plantation Days,” said Katie Miyashiro. “This year, they were a week too early. The reunion is pau, but we came to the walk anyway.”
The Historic Hapa Trail Walk is one of the early events in the week-long Koloa Plantation Days celebration, which celebrates the sugar plantation industry and island culture which developed during the plantation era.
This year, the walk was enhanced by the St. Raphael’s Church celebrating its 175th anniversary.
“The church will be having something each month leading up to the anniversary celebration, Dec. 25,” said Brenda Sameshima, the church’s anniversary celebration chairperson. “We came out early to offer coffee and doughnuts to the Hapa Trail walkers and talk about the church’s history. We also have tours before the walk starts.”
Along the short walk that youngsters of plantation days used to connect Koloa Town to Poipu, walkers were treated to a history of the area by Teddy Blake.
The Koloa Plantation Days continue its celebration today with the Keiki Miniature Golf Tournament at the Lawai Beach Resort. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the first golfers tee off at 10 a.m. The event is free for keiki 13 years and under, and is open to the first 75 kids.
The finals of the 17th annual Koloa Plantation Days Rodeo take place at CJM Country Stables. This is an admission event.
Violet Asuncion and Bluefinger will headline the free Mixed Plate — Live Music at the Old Koloa Town Courtyard, which runs from 5 to 8 p.m.