Pumpkins Roll Out Ahead of Halloween in Kekaha
KEKAHA — The atmosphere was lively at the 11th annual Harvest Festival held at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Saturday, where a wide variety of community activities took place. Notably, a team from Aloun Farms had just unloaded around 1,200 pumpkins, much to the excitement of attendees.
Under a large tent, numerous community nonprofits were present to raise funds for their various causes, creating a bustling scene filled with energy and purpose.
As part of International Credit Union (ICU) Week, which commenced recently, representatives from the Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union Kekaha branch played a vital role in assisting one of the food vendors, the Westside Christian Center Assembly of God. Their collective effort embodied the theme of ICU Week: “people helping people.”
“The key is ‘community,’” shared Dennis Eguchi, a board member of the Kekaha credit union. “Rev. Darryl Kua and the church are raising money to send some youth to camp.”
The Harvest Festival transformed the expansive grounds of the Kekaha Neighborhood Center into a vibrant hub. Families and children enjoyed free keiki rides and inflatable attractions, while tents offered food, educational activities, and, of course, a free pumpkin tent. In this delightful setup, members of the Waimea High School football team collaborated with the Corteva Agriscience crew, distributing complimentary Kewalo tomato seedlings.
On a memorable day, the Menehune football team dedicated its time to community service, splitting into two groups. One group joined the festivities at the Harvest Festival, which last year attracted about 8,000 attendees, while the other worked on cleaning the underside of the iconic Waimea Bridge—a vital landmark welcoming visitors to the town.
“I got my pumpkins for the kids, and I got my coffee from Ke Kula Niihau. Now, it’s time to go to work,” exclaimed Sheila Bradley of PaperPie, formerly known as Osborne Books. “I’ll also be participating in the Eleele Elementary School craft fair this coming Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” she added.
Several exhibitors showcased their offerings at the festival, including the Kauai Fire Department, whose tardy arrival was due to their involvement in the American Red Cross initiative, “Sounding the Alarm.” This program focuses on installing, inspecting, and providing fire safety instructions to residents at the Kaumakani camp.
The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Kauai Region, took the opportunity to introduce its new health care professionals to the community, while also promoting the upcoming Kauai Healthy Living Fall Celebration at the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital on October 26.
“That’s the last of our free pumpkin giveaways,” announced Laurie Yoshida from Corteva Agroscience. “We typically have pumpkins going to The Shops at Kukuiula on Friday for a free giveaway from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a free movie, ‘Despicable Me,’ with snacks.”
“On Saturday, pumpkins will be available at the Grove Farm farmers market starting at 9:30 a.m. These events are open to the public. We also have other private events for pumpkin deliveries,” she explained.
The Harvest Festival was first established in 2014 as an initiative to thank the west side community for their support. This spirit of gratitude and collaboration continues to thrive as residents come together to celebrate the season and foster connections.
