Koloa Plantation Days get under way this week on Kauai’s south shore

The 27th annual Koloa Plantation Days, a nine-day festival that celebrates Kauai’s sugar-plantation past with more than two dozen events, will get under way Fri., July 20 with annual Plantation Days Rodeo events, including preliminary rounds of barrel racing and roping. There will also be a “Bull Riding Showdown,” followed by a paniolo (cowboy) barbecue.

Founded in 1835, Koloa Plantation, near Kauai’s south shore, was Hawaii’s first sugar plantation where immigrant workers from Philippines, Europe, the Azores, Japan, Korea, China, and elsewhere lived in the same area and shared homeland traditions ranging fro music and dances to food.

In addition to rodeo-related events, the celebration’s lineup is packed plantation era walks, talks and exhibits, a craft fair and a culinary market, and several sports-related offerings, ranging from outrigger canoe and paddleboard races to fun runs and a tennis tournament.  Among the highlights are the annual historic Plantation Days Parade and the Koloa Town Park Celebration, both set for Sat. July 28. Headlining the park celebration is two-time Grammy-nominated Raiatea Helm. For a complete park celebration entertainment schedule, click here. For a list of Koloa Plantation Days daily events, click here. Most events are outdoors and free of charge.

Among this weekend’s events are a guided walk along Historic Hapa Trail and the 13th annual Plantation Days Rodeo.

On Sat., July 21, the Koloa Community Association is offering a free morning walk along Historic Hapa Trail, starting at 9 a.m., followed by lunch at Poipu Beach. Guides will explain how, during plantation days, the trail was once a major route connecting Koloa and the Poipu area. Today, Hapa Trail is designated by the County of Kauai as a pedestrian and bike way. Archeological surveys of the area have uncovered an ingenious system Hawaiians built to irrigate the areai. For more information about the guided walk, click here.

The 13th annual Plantation Days Rodeo is set for 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sun., July 22 at CJM Stables, east of Poipu (near the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort). Bring hats, umbrellas and sunblock to the arena. Tickets: $2 for adults, and no charge for kids. Among the featured events include: team roping, double mugging, steer riding, and barrel racing. There will also be a “Paniolo Challenge,” through which this year’s riders try to beat last year’s times for additional prizes.

For additional details about Koloa Plantation Days, click here.