Coconut Festival Turns 18

By Léo Azambuja

Held annually at Kapa‘a Beach Park, the traditional Coconut Festival put together by the Kapa‘a Business Association is turning 18 years old this year.

“The draw of the Coconut Festival is that it’s two days of all-things coconut,” event organizer Tricia Yamashita said.

On the weekend of Oct. 4 and 5, visitors and local residents will once again celebrate all things coconut with unique coconut crafts, games, contests and foods, with cooking demos by some of Kaua‘i’s best chefs.

“It’s a wonderful, unique event that only happens once a year,” Yamashita said. “It’s an opportunity to see craft vendors, as well as food and cooking demonstrations, all including the coconut.”

The festival will also bring fire-knife dancing, coconut tree climbing, taiko drummers, hula, a children’s stage, petting zoo, inflatables and coconut activities.

And there will be live music on both days.

“Kalapana will be our headliner entertainer on Sunday, Oct. 5,” said Yamashita, adding that local girl Shar Carillo, whose music is taking off nationwide, will be the entertainer on Oct. 4. “Those are really two big draws for us.”

On Oct. 4, the festival goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Oct. 5, the hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entrance fee is $5 for adults, and children under 12 are free.