Each year, Huntsville’s Wynne Home Arts Center hosts a Hawaiian Luau and, this year on Saturday, August 3, the Wynne Home Arts Center offered its best Luau yet!
The event was led by Wynne Home intern Esmeralda Mata…
…with an able assist by Miranda Estrada (also a City of Huntsville Intern–and now a COH staff member!)…
…the LEAP Ambassadors, Lauren Clay, and members of Mata’s family. All of this occurs, of course, under the direction of Cultural Services Coordinator Linda Pease and her occasionally helpful husband, Ralph.
For preparation, Mata and Estrada prepared or purchased food for approximately 150 people, food that included bacon-wrapped pineapples, fruit kabobs, and various chips and snacks, with water, Capri Sun, and Hawaiian Punch for refreshments on a hot and muggy day.
Lauren Clay led an activities booth featuring tiki puppets, while Gisselle Salas offered temporary tattoos, both of which proved very popular.
With these activities and the food keeping the children (and their sometimes unruly parents) occupied, Mata also offered a series of games for the children’s entertainment.
On site, Miranda Estrada turned in an excellent performance as emcee…
The first game was a hula hoop contest, which brought out some mediocre talent and a few hula-hoop sharks!
Our LEAP President, Makayla Mason, even showed off her one talent–neck hula hooping!
Following the Hula-Hoop contest, children participated in a game of “Musical Leis.” This is a spinoff of Musical Chairs, with the rules exactly the same. You never knew how complicated such a game was until you’ve tried to explain it to four-year olds! We were fortunate to have Sammy Bearkat on hand and participating…
He did very well for a fictional being, coming in third–but finishing first in game presence.
Sammy was also kind enough to pose with families…
…and individuals.
While the photos were underway, the children moved on to the sand-bucket relay race. In this game,two teams of four-six players participate in a relay, carrying sand (in a small spade) from one bucket to the next.
The objective is to move as fast as possible…
…but to do so without spilling sand…
…or missing the bucket…
It’s a fun game that inspired teamwork:
…and some consternation!
Even LEAP Ambassadors enjoyed taking part in this game.
This may have been the most fun game offered.
Plus, the winners got a lot of great prizes!
Next, we played a favorite among the group: Limbo!
Following limbo, the Ballet Folklorico de Huntsville group performed…
The group, led by Anita Escobedo, did their usual excellent job–demonstrating, once again, that they are a real asset to the community.
Ms. Mata also arranged for a very special guest for the event: Princess Moana!
She graciously posed for photos with everyone, young…
…and older…
…alike…
Moana also sang her signature song “How Far I’ll Go”….
…much to the delight of the audience!
She also taught young people how to dance.
Finally, she spent the final part of the event taking an individual interest in the children, who responded with much joy.
It was the most successful of the Wynne Home’s Hawaiian Luaus, and quite the accomplishment for Esmeralda Mata and her sidekick, Miranda Estrada.
And, of course, it was another great day spent volunteering and having fun for the LEAP Ambassadors…
…and for the entire community!
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