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| Candles glow as the community anticipates the lighting of the Christmas tree on Friday in Pāhala. Photo by Julia Neal |
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| Mayor Kimo Alameda with keiki in Pāhala during the Christmas Tree Lighting. Photo by Staycin Sakuma |
A PĀHALA TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY on Friday evening brought out the community into the streets and lawns to light candles, listen to music and inspirational talk of emcee Ti Chun, enjoy hula by halau Kaleo a Keahilapalapa, and gather around the Norfolk Pine.
The ceremony preceded the first Kaʻū Taro Festival coming up at noon on Saturday at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Complex. It also preceded the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade on the streets of the village at 6 p.m. on Saturday, ending up at Pāhala Community Center where keiki meet Santa and enjoy gifts, with food for the family.
The Tree Lighting ceremony was produced by the Parade Committee, the Norfolk Pine provided by Kaʻū Farms Management. Venue is Pāhala Plantation Cottages on Kamani Street, which was partially closed off during the event.
Honored attendees included Mayor Kimo Alameda; County Council member and local rancher Michelle Galimba; founder of Pāhala Plantation Cottages and The Ka'u Calendar newspaper Julia Neal; O Kaʻū Kākou President Wayne Kawachi; Eddie and Judy Andrade who conducted the Pāhala Christmas Parade for some 40 years, and Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade leaders, including Committee President Shai Lopez-Castaneda, Staycin Sakuma and Jennifer Makuakane.
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| Several of the organizers and sponsors of the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Pāhala Friday. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma |
THE FIRST KAʻŪ TARO FESTIVAL, THIS SATURDAY, Dec. 14, will be held at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Complex in Pāhala. The event is free and open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Its major organizing sponsor is ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou.
It will be followed by the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. All money raised from the Taro Festival by ‘O Kaʻū Kākou will fund its 2025 Scholarships for Kaʻū residents.
Pāhala Kupuna will conduct the opening protocol. An Ali‘i Court of Kaʻū youth will be coronated to oversee the event. Pāhala Youth Taiko Drummers will present their premiere performance, followed by Pāhala Adult Taiko Drummers.
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| Angel wings with lights performed at the tree lighting. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma |
Alan Moores will present his kalo paintings. Anaokalani’s will present kalo crocks, jewelry and apparel. Paradise Preserved will offer kalo hummus, freeze dried pa‘i‘ai. Wong Yuen Hui will have kalo mochi and kulolo. Fused Fragments will sell kalo sun catchers and nightlights.
Kaʻū Hospital Charitable Foundation will offer salad greens with taro chips. Sugar Sweet will present its freeze dried poi. Flyin Hawaiian Coffee will create peanut butter banana taro smoothies. Taylor’s Bears will be featuring kalo themed stuffed teddy bears.
Hana Hou Restaurant will offer poi ahi poke bowls. Kaʻū Civic Club will sell chicken laulau stew. Lacy’s Food Trailer will sell laulau. Lynda Nolte Watercolors will show her kalo watercolor images. Tools for Quantum Living will sell taro popsicles and laulau seasoning. Ku‘u Ihi Flowers will offer kalo boba drinks and poi balls. Pohaku Coffee will offer taro smoothies.
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| Eddie and Judy Andrade enjoy Tree Lighting after 40 years of organizing the Pāhala Christmas Parade. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma |
Looking Glass Art will feature kalo stained glassworks. Woods of Hawai‘i will present kalo wood carvings and boxes. The Artist Vei will sell kalo cards, portraits and images.
‘O Ka‘ū Kākou will be selling festival t-shirts and live taro plants. ‘Āina University will have an informational booth. In addition to the taro-related products listed above, vendors will offer a wide variety of other non-taro items.
Organizers ask the public to note that many vendors aren’t
equipped to accept electronic payment.
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Games will include Corn Hole Toss by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, a Taro Patch challenge game by Hawaiian Telecom and a Taro Spin the Wheel game by CU Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i Police Dept. Community Police Officers will offer Free Keiki IDs at their festival booth.
‘Ōpala management will be handled by Kaʻū High’s Mālama ‘Āina Compostables and PA system is courtesy of Netcom Enterprises.
Sponsors include: OKK, Kaʻū Coffee Mill, Olson Trust, ‘Ohana Foods Hilo and Nā‘ālehu, Mizuno Superette, CU Hawai'i Federal Credit Union, Luana Hospitality Group with Huggo’s On the Rocks, Lava Lava Beach Club and Kai Eats + Drinks, Kaʻū Auto Repair, Punalu‘u Bake Shop, Mālama Kaʻū Foundation, Gone Fishing, Inc., Backyard Monkey LLC Tree & Yard Service and The Club at Discovery Harbour.
For more, see http://www.okaukakou.org/kau-taro-festival or call Tim DeLozier at 808-582-2342.
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| Christmas Hula on Kamani Street leads up to the Christmas Lighting ceremony in Pāhala on Friday, the evening before the Taro Festival at noon on Saturday and Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal |
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For Coloring Contest for keiki 4 to 7 years of age, see https://www.cuhawaii.com/_/kcms-doc/1582/89204/
Christmas-Coloring-Page-4-7.pdf. For 8 to 14, see
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