But there aren’t enough carnies The Kaua’i County Farm Bureau Fair opens at Vidinha Stadium tonight, and organizers are expecting a larger-than-normal opening-night crowd with the Makaha Sons and Willie K both performing live. And hoping for a crowd of
But there aren’t enough carnies
The Kaua’i County Farm Bureau Fair opens at Vidinha Stadium tonight, and organizers are expecting a larger-than-normal opening-night crowd with the Makaha Sons and Willie K both performing live.
And hoping for a crowd of willing workers to man the rides and games of the E.K. Fernandez Shows midway is Odetta Waipa, one of the company’s personnel representatives.
As of Wednesday afternoon, she was still looking for 15 Kaua’i people to work as ticket-takers, ride attendants, assistants in the game and food booths, and other positions paying between $6.50 and $7 an hour for the entire weekend.
For the games tent alone, there are 62 jobs. Waipa said she has 35 regular Fernandez employees from O’ahu and seven from the Big Island and is looking for more.
Many of the Kaua’i weekend hires will serve as relief workers for other employees, she said. They will be issued uniforms and given orientation for their specific locations, and those who help with the rides will attend safety meetings and get instructions on operating the rides from supervisors.
When only five people applied for positions last Saturday and Sunday, Waipa began to worry. She said has been telling all those who applied to tell their friends to go to the fairgrounds and sign up, as well.
All who have filled out applications so far have been hired.
“Please, come apply,” Waipa said.
Kaua’i remains the most difficult place to find willing workers for Fernandez. People would rather go to the fair to play than work, she said.
Once the fair opens tonight, Waipa’s “office” will be a tent near the Spinout ride near the Rice Street end of the midway. She said jobseekers should apply in person with her between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. today through Saturday.
If she doesn’t get enough workers, she’ll resort to importing some from O’ahu and will remain in the hiring mode at the fairgrounds until midnight each night of the fair, she said.
The fair runs today through Sunday. As usual, there will be lots of entertainment, food booths, games, crafts, commercial booths, livestock, an animal petting zoo, plant displays and fruit, vegetable, flower and home economics shows.
Off to the Fair
The Kaua’i County Farm Bureau Fair opens its four-day run tonight from 6 to midnight. Hours the other days will be 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
