A Grape time to Hukilau at the Amador County Fair July 30 through August 2, 2009
The Amador County Fair Board of Directors announces “A Grape Time to Hukilau” as the theme for the 2009 Amador County Fair, July 30 through August 2.
Amador County Fair Board President, Janice Howard announced today that flower leis, hula skirts and fun will set the mood, as well as recognize Amador grape growers and wine makers at the 2009 Amador County Fair July 30 through August 2. “We are all very excited about this years theme “A Grape time to Hukilau” “I can’t wait to see the decorations and fantastic fun ideas that our exhibitors, staff and community will come up with for this year’s Amador County Fair.
“We always look for a fun theme that our staff can decorate around, we can create contests for, and can include in our entertainment so that we can keep things fresh for fair visitors to enjoy,” explains Sherrie Elliot, Amador County Fair office manager.
In choosing the theme, the board appreciated the meaning of a Hukilau as the gathering of the ancient Hawaiians for a common purpose. Just as the Amador County Fair is a large gathering and celebration of friends and family working together for a common goal, the ancient Hawaiians would gather a large number of people, usually family and friends, to work together to catch fish and enjoy a festive beach gathering.
In that same spirit of working together and sharing the bounty, the Amador County Fair community works together to raise funds for community service groups including local 4-H and FFA Chapters, Jackson Lions Club, Jackson and Plymouth Foothills Rotary and other civic minded organizations, too many to list here.
As the Amador County Fair begins planning for the 71st edition of the annual summer gathering it’s important to remember that the Amador County Fair is the World’s #1 Small County Fair and the largest community event in Amador County.
From Wikipedia
A Hukilau is a way of fishing invented by the ancient Hawaiians. The word comes from Huki, meaning pull, and lau, meaning leaves. A large number of people, usually family and friends, would work together in casting the net from shore and then pulling it back. The net was lined with ki leaves, which would help scare the fish into the center of the net. Consistent with the Hawaiian subsistence economy, anybody that helped could share in the catch.
A Hukilau is also known to local Hawaiians as a festive beach gathering.
