PHOTOS: Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi ends October with costumed canines and prettied-up pumpkins

Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi ended October in perhaps the most festively fun way possible to celebrate Halloween, hosting a Canine Costume Contest, pet food drive and adoption event to benefit Kauaʻi Humane Society first on Oct. 30 followed by the Poʻipū resort’s annual pumpkin contest on All Hallows’ Eve itself, Oct. 31.

Dozens of decked-out dogs and their humans competed during the Canine Costume Contest in categories including Cutest Costume, Scariest Costume and Best Pet and Owner Themed Costume.

Participants ranged from Momi the Butterfly fluttering in and Lulu the Sunflower sprouting up to Charlie the Hot Dog showing off his buns and a chef-and-sushi duo serving up some real flavor.

This year’s pumpkin contest was quite “Wicked,” as among the extravagant entries were multiple gourds garnished in the style of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical the debuted in 2003 and 2024 film adaptation of the same name, which continues with the theatrical release this month of its second and final part “Wicked: For Good.”

But no matter how powerful the witch’s spell was, there were other designs destined to be displayed.

Such as a ramen bowl pumpkin, a scary witch (not of the Oz variety), Violet Beauregarde from “Willy Wonka” — who unforgettably blows up into a giant blueberry and must be squeezed before she can go home from the Wonka factory — and many others.

Resort employees also showed off their own colorful and creative costumes on Halloween.

“I thought these visuals might make a great fit for any Halloween stories you may be planning today or over the weekend,” said Dorothy Hornbeck in her email Oct. 31 to Kauaʻi Now when submitting the amazing photos from the events and information for this brief sprite of a story.

And how correct she is.

Thank you, Dorothy! We hope you and everyone around the Garden Isle and throughout Kauaʻi County had a safe, fun and happy Halloween.