Some of the changes mentioned in the theme of the 40th Koloa Plantation Days involved the change of time for the historic Koloa Plantation Days parade and park celebration.
Hundreds of people braved the heat and humidity to attend the park celebration, which opened at 2 p.m., and the parade that started at 3 p.m. The parade and park celebration capped more than a week of Koloa Plantation Days festivities, which ranged from historic exhibits and cooking demonstrations to shopping and additional events featuring Koloa and Poipu.
“I’m beat,” said Ferdinand Dosono of Kauai Kim Chee as he milked the shade created by stacks of supplies next to a battery of stoves. “My sons have taken over the cooking. At least, the wind is blowing.”
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was the special guest at the parade, taking her place alongside the Aloun Farms/Kauai Shrimp unit, which featured more than 600 grape tomato seedlings distributed by Waimea High School students who had grown the popular salad tomatoes as a senior project under the guidance of instructor Ryan Kakuda.
The team from Kukuiula/McBryde Resources captured the perpetual trophy for Best Unit after their float, inspired by Beach Boys music, was joined by hundreds of walkers garbed in the familia Kukuiula red and assorted sea life attire.
“We’re very competitive,” said Tammy Puu, who was shepherding a contingent of Keiki and High School rodeo riders, and leading a group of volunteers in a service project on Sunday to repaint the vandalized bridge at the Kukuiula Bay at the Kukuiula Small Boat Harbor.
Randall Francisco accompanied the J1-hired teachers from the Philippines as part of the Kauai Filipino Community Council unit. Miss Kauai Filipina Khiani Garcia would typically be part of the KFCC group. This year, she opted to ride horseback a la Pa‘u Princess style.
In preparation for turning over her state crown in August, Miss Hawaii Filipina Jazlyn Valdez rode an electric tri-wheeled vehicle.
“We have a teacher from Kenya,” said Sarah Tochiki, the Hawaii State Teachers Association Kauai representative who was driving the lead vehicle for the Kauai Community College ensemble. “I’ll send you details of the HSTA dinner where this teacher is supposed to be.”
Source: The Garden Island