Kainaliu, Hawaii: A Historical Town South of Kailua-Kona

There is a little town in Hawaii called Kainaliu. It is situated fifteen miles south of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. The most outstanding feature of this town is the Aloha theatre, built in 1929 It was the main theatre in the days of the depression, when plantation workers, and would be job seekers, gathered to see silent films and "talk story." Although the theatre has remained, the stage is now primarily used for live shows, concerts and special community events.

Outside the theatre is a cafe and restaurant called the "Aloha Angel Cafe." The cafe is situated on a deck overlooking pastures leading down to the sea. The old gift store has been converted into the fine dining room. Theatre goers come dressed in high heels, a rarity in Hawaii, and show off their fine silk clothing, before the stage curtain goes up.

Legend has it, that a former worker in the gift store was broken hearted, and hung himself, when a beautiful woman who cooked in the the cafe spurned his love. Some people say they can hear him, or feel his gentle spirit still walking around looking for his lost love. Others say it is a made up farce, because a building that old deserves to have a myth. No matter, he has become part of the family now, and family tradition is rooted in this town.

For fifty years, on the first Friday after Thanksgiving, Kainaliu closed its streets for a Christmas parade. Children, and their children, and their children, looked forward to that time during the parade ,when Santa threw out candy. The mayhem and peals of joy when children chased after Santa did not change, no matter how many years went by. Music rang out as they filled their bags with candy, and parents looked on with fond memories etched upon their faces.