Zoo Volunteer - Keiki Coloring Contest

Before I began my shift in the zoo working with the animals, I was appointed to the volunteer team of the Wildest Show Concert Series that takes place every Wednesday evening throughout the summer, hugely popular in the area.  The zoo officially closes at 4:30 only to reopen at 4:35 for an extremely discounted ticket price of $3 that makes the huge lawn available for picnics and music.  People are also able to take a mini tour to one section of the zoo to check in on a featured critter.  Simultaneously, a coloring contest is underway until 5:30 so that winners in each of three categories can be chosen for announcement at 5:55.  There is also a drawing for an adult and a child ukulele, which is a big deal.  The times I listed are known by staff and volunteers, but "Hawaii Time" is very true and observed each week.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the Ukulele tent (where to enter the drawing) at 4:10 (give or take 15 minutes, actually it's just give, since no one shows up early). Thankfully, the volunteer coordinator is on her game, looks somewhat frazzled on the outside, but she has a sense of humor that maintains throughout the craziness.  She directs staff and volunteers, putting out fires in every direction, whether it's another hole in the stage floor (2' x 18" piece of plywood did the trick), missing tables and chairs 3 minutes to gate opening, no coloring sheets or utensils for the contest after hoards of kids stampede the tent.  The cast of characters that help out at the Wildest Show are seasoned, some of them being part of the action for more than a decade, so no one gets their panties in a twist over any of these issues.

Near 5 o'clock, we usually have at least 20 keiki (kids) that have already begun coloring the picture of the week's featured critter, last week being Rusty the Orangutan.  The lawn begins to fill up with blankets, short lawn chairs, and lots of ohana, some that have been coming for years and years.  By the time the local acts take the stage at 6, the grassy expanse is full of around a thousand people.  The announcer, Roy, knows many by name and face, perusing the crowd before proclaiming the winners of the Keiki Coloring Contest.

Back to the coloring, my territory for the event.  I work with a lady who grew up on the island, has been a very active part of the zoo and concert series for a very long time, and also has a daughter who volunteers.  She is pretty outspoken white lady with a big heart, especially for the two year-olds that enter the contest.  She has a system for how the are is set up, how we pick winners, and how to manage the quirky and particular emcee, Roy.  I follow her lead, since I'm new and a haole. 

 

By 5:30, we collect all the papers and rush out of the coloring area taking refuge near one of the bird sections (there are loads) to go through the stack of 100+ pieces of art to narrow down and choose winners.  The categories are Wildest (mostly the younger keiki), Most Creative, and Neatest.  She and I work to sort, narrow, and finally rank three winners in each category.  Her soft spot for the 2-3 year-olds always comes out. 

We have to be stage side by 5:50 or else Roy gets in a tizzy.  He announces the winners who come meet me beside the stage to redeem their prizes.  The second and third prizes vary, since Kathy gets them from the dollar section.  However, the grand prize winners get a year membership to the zoo!  That's really amazing, except when the kids run up to me excited about the prize and then I hand them an envelope.  I think they are happier about the high fives and hugs than the envelope, since many can't grasp what it means.  Plus, they just witnessed other kids running off with fuzzy pens or puzzles.  It reminds me of skating competitions where little kids are sometimes more interested in the little ribbon the 8th place competitors get and don't want the medal earned for a top three finish.  There have definitely been tears shed over having to stand on the podium with a heavy piece of medal hung around the neck in lieu of a shiny yellow ribbon.

Back to the zoo...besides having to wear pounds of bug spray to fend off mosquitoes, the three hour commitment has been very pleasant.  The music is usually very good (Manoa DNA has been my favorite so far), the sun sets behind the trees by 5, and I get to see lots and lots of smiles.  I was particular excited one evening when I got called "aunty" by a lady and her son.  It made me feel local.