(BIVN) – The 7th annual Waimea Fall Festival was held on Saturday at the Spencer Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park.
The free, family event was hosted by Waimea Athletics, and featured live entertainment, a pumpkin patch, indoor and outdoor keiki games and activities, local food and craft vendors, community information booths, and exhibits.
Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Ho‘Aikane headline the day’s entertainment, along with a variety of local performers, including the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band.
In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, the festival featured special military static display featuring a U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific MV-22B Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft and a Hawaii Army National Guard Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Pōhakuloa Training Area also displayed an assortment of tactical vehicles.
Proceeds from the Waimea Fall Festival enable Waimea Athletics to present the seasonal celebration, and also support the Waimea Athletics College Scholarship Fund for students born and raised in Waimea.
“The Waimea Fall Festival is about community supporting community,” said Melissa Samura, event coordinator for Waimea Fall Festival, in a news release. “Guests can interact with members of the military, explore aircraft and emergency-response vehicles up close, and learn about the people who operate them. The festival also creates meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with local business owners, learn what it takes to build a successful business, speak with pilots about the training and qualifications required to fly, and discover government careers and valuable community services.”
“Every participating youth sports team, club, nonprofit organization, and small business benefits from the exposure and funds raised during this event,” Samura added. “Youth sports teams gain hands-on experience in customer service and fundraising by selling products to help cover team travel and provide opportunities for meaningful competition.”
