LAWAI — The heavy schedule of the Island School robotics program took its toll, Sunday. “They were supposed to be doing a barbecue, but no one came,” said Lorna Santos, one of the management team members for the Lawai Cannery
LAWAI — The heavy schedule of the Island School robotics program took its toll, Sunday.
“They were supposed to be doing a barbecue, but no one came,” said Lorna Santos, one of the management team members for the Lawai Cannery Mini Storage.
James Massaro, adviser for the Island School Robotics program, said the students had just come off a presentation with Ka Ulu Pono Career Awareness Conference, Thursday, and on Saturday had a robot at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana as part of the base’s Welcome Aboard program.
The weekend was capped with the car wash that was part of the Lawai Cannery garage sale.
“People are already too tired,” Massaro said. “Especially after spending all day Saturday at the base.”
Santos said there were more than 25 vendors for the sale that helped the Island School program.
“Some of the vendors have units rented, but for those who don’t have, we find an open unit and after collecting the fee for the sale, we give them a week to set up,” Santos said. “Most people have a hard time doing garage sales because they don’t have the time to set up due to work and school schedules. We’re pretty flexible. We give them the time so they can set up. All of the fees we collect goes to the beneficiary organization.”
Santos said Sunday’s sale was not the first time they’ve hosted a garage sale to help local groups.
“In February, we had a sale that benefited the Waimea High School Project Graduation program,” she said. “The owner of the facility is happy with the outcomes because there are a lot of people that are able to get a look at what is available here.”
Customers took up all available parking spaces around the former Lawai Cannery pineapple processing facility, and cars were stacked along the crowed Lauoho Road, squeezed between the overgrowth and the road.
“You should see the crowd when we open at 9 a.m.,” Santos said. “It’s a bit crazy. Even the firemen bring their truck and find something to take back to the station.”
Santos said advertising is done through an ad in the local newspaper and one of the radio stations. That, plus word of mouth has resulted in a large turnout.
“It’s great,” said Sharmaine Simao, a repeat vendor. “It’s fun to see all the new people that keep coming, and you get to see people you haven’t seen for a long time.”
Kyungsoo Lee said she had too many things at her home so took part in the sale, offering not only an abundance of various household goods, but overflowing to collectible bottles, artwork produced by herself and her husband and capping the offering with her special Kim Chee Cucumber.
“We just have too much stuff at the house,” Lee said. “But the main reason I’m here is to let people know that we turned our house into ‘The Gallery at Arthouse Kaua‘i’ where people can get a tour by appointment.”
Randall Francisco, president of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, took a break from the chamber’s golf tournament to get his car washed and was getting frustrated because he found a desk he wanted but was torn between purchasing it and getting back to the tournament.
“Don’t worry,” Santos said. “Just let them know and we’ll keep it here until you can come back.”
Carolyn Lum-Tucker was ecstatic because she found a wheeled oversized backpack to carry around some of the other bargains she found. That was soon replaced by an office chair she found in another unit.
“This is a great way to recycle,” said Stel Pimental of Kapa‘a who was helping one of the vendors. “You get to find great bargains, meet a lot of good people and have fun at the same time. It keeps people from throwing out things that end up in the landfill.”
Santos said the next garage sale will be held in August and is supposed to benefit a hula halau.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
