Banana Poka Round-Up
A Forest Fair
It’s a forest education fair for the whole family with a funny name – the Banana Poka RoundUp! An invasive pest from
Held in early summer, May 29, 2011, in Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow, the event features basket making, great live music, exhibits by organizations and agencies that work to save the environment, along with lots of activities for kids – face-painting, hiking, painting from nature, as well as making pressed plant cards and a walking stick from guava saplings.
Right after announcement of the “One-Person-Can-Make-A-Difference” Awards, a Crowing Contest is held – every one from little kids to adults join in!
Banana Poka Round-Up enters third decade of forest fun May 29, 2011
The Banana Poka RoundUp, that plucky mountain event that celebrates Kauai's
natural environment, steps into its third decade of forest fun for the whole family
Sunday, May 29, 22011 in Kokee State Park's lush Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow.
Sponsored by Hui o Laka since 1989, the 22nd annual RoundUp includes several
new features, including being the finish line for the second annual
Pedal to the Meadow bike race, a Kekaha-to-Kokee race that begins at 7:00 am Sunday morning.
Early finishers should be at the Meadow by 9:00 am.
The Big Tent at the RoundUp is the traditional Banana Poka Basket Workshop.
Small mountains of the aggressive South American vine are collected the week
before, ready for those who would like to learn how to fashion it into attractive rustic
baskets. Call 335-9975 to register for this workshop. Volunteer instructors include
Billi Smith, Wai Kuapahi, Laurie Ho, Linda Oshiro, HaliI Topp, and Danelle Kaauwai.
For Memorial Day, participants can make miniature floral arrangements, starting with
a recycled tuna or cat food can, and using variety of mountain foliage and flowers.
Mieko Lowe, whose arrangements and fiber crafts made from natural materials
always impress and delight, will lead the floral arrangement session. Retired
educator Takeshi Fujita will teach folks how to make oshibana cards out of pressed
flowers and ferns. Materials are provided for all workshops, though participants are
encouraged to bring along their own garden clippers.
Live music makes the RoundUp a perfect mountain day. Hawaiian music by
musicians Ilima Rivera, Paul Togioka, and Second Nature Crew will float through the
mountain air. The Happy Enchalata, a 5-person band, will add some country stomp
to the affair.
The core message of the RoundUp is in its array of educational exhibits,
displayed by a variety of environmental agencies and organizations, with lively hand-
on exhibits attended by volunteers and agency representatives who can answer questions.
Exhibitors include DLNR Conservation & Resources Enforcement, Storybook
Theatre of Hawaii, Garden Island RC&D, Kauai Invasive Species Committee,
Kokee Resource Conservation Program, DLNR-DOFAW Na Ala Hele,
DLNR-DOFAW, Kokee Leaseholders, Hui o Laka-Kokua Kokee, Kauai Forest Bird
Recovery Project, Garden Island RC & D, National Tropical Botanical Gardens,
Kokee Leaseholders Association, and DLNRs Division of Forestry & Wildlife Kauai Seabirds.
The colorful event "rounds up" visitors, families and residents for a cool day
of mountain music, workshops, exhibits, and family activities that has become a
tradition on Kauai's west side. Hui o Laka, the non-profit organization that operates
Kokee Natural History Museum, sponsors the event with support from community
volunteers and businesses and Hawaii Tourism Authority County of Kauai.
To sign up for the basket workshop (the $15 fee makes you a member of Hui o
Laka), call 335-9975, Ext. 0. Oshibana card making will be offered from 10:30 am to
11:30 am. A free family hike on the Berry Flats Loop will leave the RoundUp at 12:30 pm.
At 12 noon, youngsters join "Russell da Rooster" and Mark Jeffers of Storybook
Theatre of Hawaii for the annual childrens parade and "Crowing Contest" at 12:15
pm, with child and adult categories.
The Banana Poka RoundUp is supported by Big Save, Lapperts, Costco, Jennie
Hutchings Designs, The Blue Orchid, Ishihara Market, The Sound Man, Wranglers
Steakhouse, RSI Roofing, TYRI, West Kauai Business and Professional Association,
Walmart, Waimea Plantation Cottages, TYRI, Inc, Namahana II Catering, Hopaco,
Ventures Associates, Garden Island Security, Flowers Forever, The Waimea
Theatre, Kauai Fruit & Flower Company, Aunty Lilikoi, Kauai Kookie Kompany,
Bamboo Moon Video, Kikiaola Construction, and Subway Waimea.
The "festival with the funny name" is free and begins at 10:00 am and winds down at
4:00 pm. Please carpool, as parking is limited. Animals are not allowed in the Meadow,
so please leave pets at home. For more information or for individuals requiring an
auxiliary aid or support to participate, call Kokee Museum at 335-9975, Ext 0 ten
working days before the event.
Schedule:
09:00 am Early finishers of bike race
10:00 am Start Banana Poka Round-Up
10:00 am Banana Poka Basketmaking
10:00 am Paul Togioka
10:00 am Happy Enchalata
10:30 am Oshibana Card Making
11:00 am Banana Poka Basketmaking
11:30 am Oshibana Card Making
12 noon Pedal to the Meadow Results
12:15 pm Russell the Rooster Crowing Contest
12:30 pm Family hike on the Berry Flats Loop
01:00 pm Ilima Rivera
01:00 pm Banana Poka Basketmaking
02:00 pm Second Nature Crew
02:00 pm Banana Poka Basketmaking
04:00 pm Pau Banana Poka Round-Up
Daylong Ikebana Flower arranging and hiking stick whittling