Hanama‘ulu hosts 1st swap meet

HANAMA‘ULU — The unique nature of Hanama‘ulu shone like the morning sun as the Hanama‘ulu Community Association opened the gates to its first swap meet, Saturday at the Peter Rayno Park.

Event coordinator Eddie Sarita said about two dozen vendors turned out for the event, offering a variety of goods from household items to snack items, many being unique cultural offerings.

Marie Carvalho used the event to start raising funds for a planned Carvalho family reunion in two years, offering a line of handmade jewelry, decorated bottles of chili pepper water and the familiar Chinese pretzels.

Soncy Tamashiro of the mayor’s office said a co-worker, Laurie Kelekoma, invited her to bring some stuff to sell because the Kelekoma family had several booths.

Karin Panui had her grandson work out a super special deal when all the clothes he brought to sell were purchased by a man who said they were going to be shipped to the Philippines.

“We did real well at the Grove Farm Swap Meet a couple of weeks ago,” Panui said. “And we’ll be at the Kaua‘i Handworks craft fair this Saturday at the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria starting at 8:30 a.m., too.”

Sarita said Grove Farm, who enjoyed more than 80 vendors at its last swap meet in Puhi, helped the Hanama‘ulu association by offering tips on setting up the event.

“I’m surprised that we never got any applications from people wanting to sell fresh produce,” Sarita said. “I think people want fresh produce.”

To accommodate the overflow parking from the FIRST LEGO League Kaua‘i Qualifier challenge taking place at King Kaumuali‘i School, Sarita said swap meet patrons were parking at one end of the park with robotics people parking at the other end, closer to the school.

“We can work together,” Sarita said. “They help us, and we help them.”

Sarita said if the event is evaluated as successful, the community association plans to host a swap meet each quarter.