Brody Robinson smiled brighter than the scorching sun beating down on Kaua’i Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center, enveloped in the bright, bold sounds of symphony horns saluting National Agriculture Week.
“He really wanted this,” Brody’s mother said, raising her voice and repeating the response during the musical presentation of the US Pacific Fleet Band Big Wave Brass Band. “It’s a miracle plant!”
Brody was the recipient of the Miracle Plant brought to the Celebration of Agriculture presented by KGC and the Kaua’i County Farm Bureau in conjunction with a host of community sponsors adding their contributions to celebrate National Agriculture Week/Day which raises awareness of the impact agriculture has on life.
“It’s a ‘miracle’ plant,” said Brian Yamamoto, an instructor at Kaua’i Community College, who, in addition to the miracle plant, had other non-ordinary starters and plants like vanilla cuttings, and more. again. “You eat this and sour things taste sweet. You can even eat a whole lemon.
Stephen Fujii, a regular farmer’s market shopper in Pau Hana, rushed after Kawaihau’s senior softball team won the games played at Kaumakani.
“Where are the eggplants?” Fujii asked. “They said you had to get there early or they’d sell out.”
Eggplant starters were indeed a big seller as volunteer Joni Gokan — she is the Kaua’i County Farm Bureau’s education ‘volunteer’ — continued to pull starters to replenish the table supply during of the event which carried strong connotations of the garden fair and the KCFB fair closed for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gokan’s attendance, along with that of Carolyn Lum and the Ladies of Community and Family Education of Kaua’i, reported that in addition to free gifts, application forms for the 2022 KCFB Scholarship and Prizes for Trimble FCE Foundation were available to help open up future opportunities in agriculture.
“Happy 151st Birthday, Prince Kuhio!” said KCFB President Laurie Ho. “We all celebrate a kind of coming out. Hale Botanic’s Yawadee and Bronson Yadao have their succulents. They haven’t hit the market since they got their jobs, and Sue Okada of Sue’s Unique Jewelry hasn’t been able to sell her wares for two years. This is also the first time Jean Souza of Kaua’i Ocean Discovery has gone out in public. It’s spring in action!
•••
Denis Fujimotowriter and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
