Stories by Dennis Fujimoto

Bonjolea II takes the whole shot

NAWILIWILI HARBOR — Bonjolea II broke the one-hour mark in elapsed time in winning the final race of the Nawiliwili Yacht Club Shoreline Wahine Series at Nawiliwili Harbor on Thursday, July 27.

Fire and Tahitian dance at Heiva on Aug. 5

KAPA‘A — When the sun sets on the first day of Heiva I Kaua‘i Tahitian dance and drumming competition, the gates will reopen for Po Afi Kaua‘i Samoan Fireknife Competition starting at 6 p.m. at Kapa‘a Beach Park on Saturday.

Happy Camper for Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Kaleo Carvalho said the “Wai” and “Limu” shirts designate support for the kaikamahine, or wahine, and keikikane, or kane performers because the kaikamahine danced about water and the keikikane danced about seaweed.

Halau comes home to Kaua‘i

LIHU‘E — Hundreds of people, including participants of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, crammed the Lihu‘e Airport baggage claim area on Sunday, anticipating the homecoming of Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, and the “menehune” of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala.

Happy Camper for Monday, July 31, 2023

Hard Ice and a Kaua‘i version of GuriGuri from Da Booze Shop were just some of the offerings at the last bon dance on the Kaua‘i Buddhist Council 2023 calendar at the Waimea Higashi Hongwanji.

Waimea Public Library reopens after 18-month renovation project

WAIMEA — Waimea Public Library Branch Manager Michelle Young read “Not A Box” by Antoinette Portis on Friday during the Waimea Public Library reopening celebration that was attended by special guestzs — Hawai‘i State Librarian Stacey Aldrich and Senate President Ron Kouchi.

Happy Camper for Friday, July 28, 2023

OK, it’s time for the Koloa Plantation Days historic parade (Happy 100th Anniversary, Koloa Union Church, which serves as the parade grand marshall!), and figuring out how to get there with all the traffic closures (how long did it take to get to Koloa last Friday?).

Play Streets coming to Laukona Park

HANAMA‘ULU — The Play Streets Kaua‘i planning team announced the arrival of and accessibility to the popular Play Streets free program at Laukona Park in Hanama‘ulu on Aug. 12 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Halau returns to Lili‘uokalani contest

Like a general leading her warriors to battle on Wednesday, Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala took the first step toward their waiting flight to O‘ahu where the halau will participate in the 2023 Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition.

Happy Camper for Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The historic Koloa Plantation Days parade (Koloa Union Church, celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sunday, is the parade’s grand marshall) that starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday wraps up a full week of activities (many not related to Koloa Plantation Days) that started last Friday with the heavy traffic going out of Lihu‘e.