HILO, Hawaii: Is this the line to get into Hoike night at the Merrie Monarch Festival?

No, its the line for the free Portuguese bean soup and bread, served at noon at Gilbert Carvalho Park in Hilo during Sunday’s Dennis Aguiar Portuguese Day-in-the-Park.

A huge crowd had no problem with the rainy day, turning out in droves for the festival which featured malasadas, a performance by the Hawai‘i County Band, genealogy booths and the ono servings of traditional food,  ladelled out by Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce president Marc Miranda.

We spoke to Margo Aguiar, widow of Dennis Aguiar, about the day’s event.

This year was extra special. The county just finished work on a new, two-tiered, gravel parking lot, as well as this foot bridge over a running stream, part of a $890,000 upgrade to Gilbert Carvalho Park that also includes remodeling of the gymnasium restrooms, new paved walking paths meeting federal accessibility standards, and installation of new bleachers.

Last week, the county proudly unveiled the park improvements at this event, which was attended by the Carvalho ohana. Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda, who was instrumental in the getting the improvements done, hoped it would make a difference in time for the festival.

[Video by David Corrigan, Voice of Stephanie Salazar]