Happy Camper for Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Uli‘i Castor was happy (it’s the beverages that make it ‘Happy’) to get together with her Ka‘ahumanu Society sisters for some lei-making for Donna Loo and the Kaua‘i Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

Happy Camper for Monday, May 23, 2022

Mom and Kaua‘i Police Department Sgt. Darla Nonaka (how many years have you done graduation duty, sergeant?) said Jordon Dizon is going to be a national scout for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles after all these years with the Denver Broncos.

Happy Camper for Sunday, May 22, 2022

Congratulations to all the public high school graduates! There’re 648 of you who celebrated in-person with family and friends. (“bring your umbrellas in case it rains,” said the Kaua‘i High School senior advisor during practice Friday).

Happy Camper for Friday, May 20, 2022

Guess what? We have a surprise on top of the surprise when Grove Farm announced that Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin and Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala (remember the halau’s sweep at this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival?) will be joining Charlie Wade and the back-to-back national champion University of Hawai‘i Men’s Volleyball team on Saturday at Puhi Park from 10 to 11:45 a.m.

Happy Camper for Monday, May 16, 2022

Ferdinand Dosono of Kaua‘i Kim Chee (he’s getting ready for head coach Charlie Wade and the national champion University of Hawai‘i men ‘s volleyball team’s visit Saturday to the Grove Farm Market!) said sixth generation chef Liliana Contrades (home school is still school) is a real local because she was grinding her chicken sandwich with rice.

Happy Camper for Sunday, May 15, 2022

Talk about excitement, and it’s not just because graduation is here. Kudos to Abigail Boroughs, Rose Ann Jones, Renee Palmer and all those Kaua‘i Society of Artists (gotta go check out the fancy Licia McDonald jewelry. What? Rose Ann said they might be sold already?

Happy Camper for Friday, May 13, 2022

This was the week to meet up with the credit unions (yes, I know, Myrvie Buster of Garden Island Federal Credit Union - it’s Rockstar time with Back to School Bash even if school doesn’t let out for another two weeks!) who almost all presented scholarships to deserving graduating high school seniors.

Happy Camper for Monday, May 9, 2022

The Mermaid (yes, she’s real life!) was thrilled that Koko got to do his gyotaku (fish printing) at the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery, and got a lei to boot at Small Fry Saturday when everybody (yes, Taylor and Karen Shigemoto of Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union were waiting to get some Genki Sushi!) was cranking for Mother’s Day (Mayette Loseto at the Grove Farm Market came with a Mother’s Day story!).

Happy Camper for Friday, May 6, 2022

Happy Mother’s Day, Kaua‘i! There’s no shortage of orchids as Neill and Fely Sams of Orchid Alley was able to take care of all those mainland orders…now, time to get ready for the local orders, and the return of First Saturday!

Happy Camper for Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Don’t forget the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Mother’s Day (yes, it’s this weekend!) Orchid Sale is Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for an opportunity at all those goodies you’re only going to find on the Westside.

Happy Camper for Monday, May 2, 2022

Thursday is the fifth day of the fifth month, or Boys Day (who changed it to Kodomo Day? Children’s Day is in June), and shoppers seeking the iconic Boys Day koinobori lucked out because Peach Alpeche of Little Pea (remember them doing all those fundraisers to help little guys?) had an assortment from Tara of Hapa House (the Downtown Lihu‘e Night Market happens AFTER Boys Day!) because Peach said mamas gotta help each other.

Happy Camper for Friday, April 29, 2022

Happy birthday, Coach Dick Ueoka (he said he’s good friends with Mayor Derek Kawakami!) who was surprised when University of Hawai‘i football Coach Timmy Chang rolled in through the efforts of Chef Mark Oyama of Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering.

Happy Camper for Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Mayor Derek Kawakami practiced his release Friday when he approached the bowling alley with the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Power Rangers team of David Bissell, Beth Tokioka and Shelley Paik.

Happy Camper for Monday, April 25, 2022

If you couldn’t hear the screams from Hilo, congratulations, kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin and na wahine of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala on getting first place for kahiko, first place for auana, first place for wahine and first place for combined overall at the Merrie Monarch Festival contested in Hilo on Hawai‘i Island over the weekend!

Happy Camper for Sunday, April 24, 2022

Happy birthday to Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad and Wally Rezentes Jr. on Earth Day, when they participated in the blessing of the new inclusive playground located next to Kamalani Playground at Lydgate Park.