Howard Shinseki arrived a little before 8:30 a.m. hoping to get a place up front in the line. But many had the same idea, so he settled in with the crowd that filled the sidewalk leading to the social hall
Howard Shinseki arrived a little before 8:30 a.m. hoping to get a place up front in the line.
But many had the same idea, so he settled in with the crowd that filled the sidewalk leading to the social hall of the Lihu‘e Christian Church.
That line soon overflowed onto Kress Street as shoppers armed with cardboard trays and boxes used the still-empty containers to shield themselves from the rapidly warming Saturday sun.
Eugene Jiminez, coming off emcee duty for the Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce’s political forum, bustled between the social hall and the tent set up between the church and the hall where his mother manned the cash box for the plant sale.
Julie Yukimura of Kapaia Stitchery already had all the quilts hanging for display.
“I have a boat tour this morning so Lauren Tabuchi is working so I can be here,” Yukimura said. “I don’t even know what time the tour is supposed to get to the store. All I know is they’re coming this morning sometime.”
Yukimura and other volunteers had spent nearly a year putting together the variety of quilts, working on Sundays at her Kapa‘ia shop.
Sam Morihisa, a member of the church, quietly eyed the rows of tables containing foodstuffs.
“He made a bunch of Spam musubi for this,” Yukimura said. “And he’s still here.”
Morihisa’s 200 Spam musubi didn’t last long after the throng surged through the doors promptly at 9 a.m.
Morihisa was also in the market to buy, loading his cardboard tray with a variety of foods, including an assortment of pickled vegetables and sushi.
The food wasn’t the only thing that went fast.
“I came here just to look for quilts,” said a late arrival who was disappointed the quilts had sold quickly. Fortunately for her and other non-early birds, the silent auction featured some choice items that would go up for bid later in the day.
If bazaar shopping is an indication of the coming holiday season, this year should be a good one as shoppers made quick work of a lot of the merchandise on display.
“We don’t usually stay open that long,” volunteer Russell Maeda said. “There’s nothing left to sell in the end.”
Shoppers still searching for bazaar bargains have two choices this weekend.
The Kalaheo Missionary Church celebrates its 60th Anniversary with the resurrection of its popular Country Fair at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
At the same time, the Artisan Fair kicks off at Po‘ipu Beach Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Also Saturday at 9 a.m., the Kauai Veteran’s Center hosts the Ben Franklin craft fair with more than 50 vendors. North Shore residents and visitors can check out the craft fair at the Princeville Church of the Pacific, also at 9 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
