Vendors Sought for Kūhiō Day Event in Paukūkalo

Chef/farmer Kimo Simpliciano and wife Janell hold huli kalo (taro shoots) they will give out free at the April 1 Prince Kūhiō Day Celebration. They are shown with dog Honey at their 20-acre Simpli-Fresh Farm in Lahaina. Kimo Simpliciano also will serve as a judge in the inaugural Kūhiō Kalo Cookoff during the 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. event at Paukūkalo Hawaiian homestead.

Organizers of the 28th annual Prince Kūhiō Day Celebration at the Paukūkalo Hawaiian homestead, are seeking craft and food vendors for the upcoming event on April 1, 2017.

The daylong event runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and features the following entertainment line-up:

• Puʻuwai at 10 a.m.
• Nā Wai ʻEha (Kawaʻa ʻohana) at noon
• Homestead at 1 p.m.; and
• Kaniala Masoe at 2 p.m.

Besides food and craft vendors, the free event offers Makahiki games; a kalo cookoff; oratory contest; farmers market; community-information booths, and a procession of royal Hawaiian societies and homestead leaders.

Also, a canned-goods collection will benefit nonprofits, such as the Maui Food Bank.

Vendors pay $75 each and supply their own 10×10-foot tent, table and chairs. Interested vendors may contact Lori Rabanes via email at [email protected] or phone (808) 463-2463 for application forms.

For event information and entry forms for the kalo cookoff, oratory contest and community-information booths, contact event co-chairwoman Carol Lee Kamekona at email [email protected] or phone (808) 264-9385.

The hoʻolauleʻa and a state holiday mark the 146th anniversary of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole‘s birthday March 26, 1871. Hawaiʻi salutes Territorial Congressional Delegate Kūhiō as the Father of the federal 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and Native Hawaiian homestead program. He also founded the Hawaiian Civic Club movement; restored the Royal Order of Kamehameha, and originated the county governance structure.

The host Paukūkalo Hawaiian Homes Community Association, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the SCHHA Maui Mokupuni co-sponsor the event.

The SCHHA, or Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, is the oldest and largest coalition of homestead associations unified to protect and advocate for the interests of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act beneficiaries. The SCHHA Maui Mokupuni serves all 14 Valley Isle homesteads and beneficiary organizations: Paukūkalo, Waiehu Kou 1 through 4, Lealiʻi, Waiohuli residential, Waiohuli undivided interest, Kēōkea farm lots, Kahikinui, Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands, Maui Beneficiary Farmers & Ranchers, Pāʻupena Community Development Corporation, and Hui Kākoʻo O Pihana.