Crafters and charities got a share of the Black Friday shopping frenzy over the weekend. Shoppers waiting for doors to open at the Kaua‘i Handworks event took shelter from the morning rains and blustery winds on the lee side of
Crafters and charities got a share of the Black Friday shopping frenzy over the weekend.
Shoppers waiting for doors to open at the Kaua‘i Handworks event took shelter from the morning rains and blustery winds on the lee side of the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria while waiting for the doors to open Saturday.
Inside, more than 30 vendors filled the cafeteria, and when the doors opened, shoppers quickly filled in the aisles in search of unique holiday gifts and bargains.
Karin Panui was one of the crafters who did not disappoint shoppers as she had Edwin Vea hawking the all-in-the-bag creation which she created for this year’s event. Shoppers clamored for the fashion bag of a well-known fashion line and Panui explained the contents of a new fabric checkbook which also contained a coin purse and calendar.
Bette Kobayashi, one of the Kaua‘i Handworks organizers, said the rain was a blessing because the cold and blustery weather had people seeking events where they could be sheltered from the inclement weather.
Similarly, rains in the Po‘ipu area nudged shoppers to the ballroom of the Sheraton Kaua‘i where Debbie Yanagihara had amassed about 30 vendors offering a wide variety of holiday goodies.
Wailua seamstress Deita Kauakahi offered a doggie cover for shopping carts, a modification of the keiki cover she had been making previously.
“I’ve been crafting forever, but now I’m commercial,” Kauakahi said.
Renee Yanagihara, Debbie’s daughter, has been crafting for at least four years at the popular Sheraton event, and during that time has not increased her prices.
At a dollar for a hand-made bracelet, the Waimea Canyon School seventh-grader has grown to offer customized bracelets for no additional cost, the offer drawing customers to her table as customers forked over dollar after dollar, keeping the young entrepreneur busy.
Chad Mizushima of Hanalei made the trip to Po‘ipu where he debuted his line of apparel and Chinese calligraphy originals.
“This is my first time, but I think I’ve found a new passion,” Mizushima said. “My wife does the calligraphy and all of the items are original works.”
The calligraphy overflows from the framed art and accessory pieces to find its way onto a wide variety of apparel, and Mizushima said he’ll be on hand with more items at the Kaua‘i Museum Annual Christmas Craft Fair which starts at 10 a.m. this Friday.
Carmen Yasis, a retired microbiologist, had a talent she didn’t realize she had said Gisela Shelton of the Sheraton Kaua‘i Hui Pu‘uwai, or charity fundraising committee.
“She was born in the Philippines, and after retiring here seven years ago, started to learn painting at the community college,” Shelton said. “Today, she has some of her watercolor works for sale to help raise funds for charity.”
In addition to original watercolors, Yasis also had packaged note cards that belied the pastel shades of a watercolor painting.
These items were joined by cookies, an associates’ cookbook, some limited editions of Kauaiopoly, and an assorted offering from the resort through a silent auction.
The Hui Pu‘uwai program is part of the Sheraton Kaua‘i’s tradition of giving which is almost 40 years old. It was started when the resort opened in 1968 and its kuleana is toward the stewardship of its ‘ohana from the resort’s colleagues to the island’s towns and residents.
Shelton said the organization contributes to three major non-profits on the island: the Kaua‘i Visitor Industry Charity Walk which umbrellas 36 non-profit island groups, the Kaua‘i United Way and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
But its umbrella also extends to community service projects throughout the year, and fundraising continues on an everyday basis.
Around the island, retailers were also busy with specials that started with Black Friday.
Wal-Mart manager Janie Whitehead was busy on a cash register and one Kilauea resident who got to town at 5:30 a.m., Friday, said there was already no parking at Wal-Mart, the two entrances at Kmart had long lines, and decided he would settle for waiting for Costco to open.
“We had a steady flow of traffic all day,” said Jonelle Kaohelaulii, the marketing director of Kukui Grove Shopping Center. “Early in the morning, we went through 200 Kaua‘i Bakery doughnuts in no time. We thought we would offer these to early shoppers and they were gone real fast as shoppers waited for stores to open.”
She had no sales figures available, but felt the mall did a little better than last year’s day after Thanksgiving volume.
Similarly, Eric Miura was outside the Deja Vu store and said sales were pretty steady on Friday and overflowed into Saturday. Outside Deja Vu a sign announced that the specials would run through Sunday.
“Kukui Grove is sharing the magic of the season with free holiday concerts, special keiki activities and, of course, happy shopping,” said Kaohelaulii.
Starting this week, Kukui Grove opens its Winter Wednesday Concert Series from 5 p.m., this week’s featured entertainer being Bruddah Jimmy & Sean.
Ilima Rivera, taking in the parade, Saturday, will offer her holiday hula show on Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon at center stage. Her father, Larry Rivera, will take on the Aloha Friday Night Christmas Special following the Lights on Rice parade in Lihu‘e. His show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Kaohelaulii said the month is filled with that kind of excitement, including the partnership with the Salvation Army in the Saturday Night Snow, and the magic snow machine located right outside Santa’s Place where photos with Santa are also being offered.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
