January 2007

Kaua`i Orchid & Art Festival to Premiere March 30-31, 2007 in Hanapepe

PRESS RELEASE: January 15, 2007
TO: ALL MEDIA Contact: Hanapepe Economic Alliance, Joanna Carolan, Treasurer -call 335-5944; FAX (808)335-3830

Kaua`i Orchid & Art Festival to Premiere March 30-31 in Hanapepe

The industries of art and agriculture merge at the first annual Kaua'i Orchid and Art Festival. This new festival will be held in Hanapepe, Kaua’i, March 30 and 31, 2007. A joint effort of the Hanapepe Economic Alliance and the Garden Island Orchid Society, a non-profit organization that offers the Spring Fantasy Orchid Show each year.

The event will offer displays, educational workshops and activities in art and in orchid growing. Art and orchid competitions will be held, and a music concert is planned. An award for the “Most Paintable Orchid” will be announced each year. Art workshops will be offered on digital art photography and basic principles of plein air painting.. Two cooking workshops will be offered on vanilla cuisine. A fantastic concert featuring Ken Emerson and the band Swampdaddy begins at 6 p.m. Friday night at the corner of Kona & Hanapepe Roads. The Hawaiian Congregational Church is offering great plate lunches both Friday and Saturday. Enjoy the music on Saturday from noon and see the Kauai Orchid & Arrt Festival competition finale awards at 4 pm.

.

Orchid growers and art appreciators, both visiting and on island, will be attracted to the festival, and the public will enjoy the beautiful displays of both orchids and art. A marketing and promotional campaign is underway.

An established heritage of orchid growing exists in Hanapepe that began in the 1950's with Shimonishi Orchids and others who grew and retailed along Hanapepe Road. The orchid industry continues today by the efforts of a productive group of growers around the island. In recent years, an artist community established itself in town and Hanapepe is known as the art capital of Kaua`i. Both groups share an interest to promote their products.

The festival is supported in part by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Kaua’i Office of Economic Development. Businesses and individual support is welcome. For more information, call 335-5944 and see the festival link on HTTP://kauai.net/hanapepe/ <http://kauai.net/hanapepe/>

###end###

---