‘Spontaneous’ sale overflows Lauoho Road in Lawa‘i

LAWA‘I — An Island School car wash combined with a Spontaneous Club garage sale to draw a stream of people to the Sunday fundraiser at the Lawa‘i Cannery Warehouse and Mini Storage.

Lorna Santos, one of the Lawa‘i Cannery staff members, said there were so many people that cars were parked on both sides of Lauoho Road, choking traffic and prompting a visit from a Kaua‘i Police Department patrol officer.

“We went out and put up chairs with ‘No parking’ signs so we would have some control over where people parked,” Santos said. “We didn’t expect this many people.”

Combining with the Island School robotics team, Santos said the club was the other beneficiary of the garage sale.

“Everything they make is being donated to the Toys for Tots program,” she said. “They’re really nice kids to do something like this for the needy children.”

Sharee “Peach” Alpeche is the adviser for the service club of about 15 young people ranging from age 5 through teens.

“They just like to volunteer and do stuff,” Alpeche said of the club’s membership. “They come from all around and we kind of have meetings once a month where we all get together and do things.”

Alpeche said last year was the first time the club got together and decided they would do a car wash to benefit Toys for Tots.

“This year, they decided they wanted to do a bake sale and have a garage sale to help Toys for Tots,” Alpeche said. “With the garage sale, we are also doing a toy drop where people can donate toys as well.”

Santos, who is no stranger to helping other people, said she didn’t know about the club until someone told her about it.

“Peach started this for the kids in her workplace,” Santos said. “She wanted to do something so the kids had somewhere to go and someone to talk to and things to do.”

Alpeche said during the monthly get-togethers, the young people have had a pizza night, a tie-dye night, movie nights and other activities they could enjoy doing together.

In addition to the Toys for Tots project, Alpeche said they will set up a Christmas tree at the Tip Top Bakery and Cafe where people can exchange an ornament for a contribution that will go to Toys for Tots.

“We’re not saying what they should contribute,” Alpeche said. “They give what they feel like giving.”

Franny Johnson of the Kong Lung Company in Kilauea came late Saturday night to set up for the sale with her niece Ainsley Harper helping Sunday.

“This is the first time we’re doing this,” Johnson said. “It was like crazy this morning. I looked at all the people coming, and told Ainsley, ‘They’re coming! Take cover!’ This has been a really good event.”

Johnson said the community loves events like this where everyone helps everyone else and have time to talk story and get re-acquainted with each other.

“I was going to help at the car wash, but they said they’ve got enough people so I’m checking to see what they have at the bake sale,” said Charlene Steuri, a parent of robotics students Ben and Stephanie Steuri.

James Masaro, an Island School robotics adviser, said a lot of the tickets were pre-sold.

Skipper Larry Richardson of the Sea Scout program had the help of some volunteers selling donated goods to help raise funds for the recently acquired boat the program received.

“The repairs are coming along nicely,” he said. “At the rate it’s going, we should be ready for a cruise in a few weeks. In the meantime, someone approached us and asked if we were interested in a yacht. Looks like we might be building a fleet.”

Santos said the next garage sale will be in February to benefit the Waimea High School Project Graduation.

Her previous sales have helped hula halau, the Lihu‘e Baseball League program, Island School robotics program, and now, the Spontaneous Club.

For more information on the garage sale, call 332-5929.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.