LIHU‘E — The lines never really went away, Friday night, outside the Deja Vu store at the Kukui Grove Center exhibition area. “This is just an indication of the excitement we’re having for the holiday season,” said Jonell Kaohelauli‘i, the
LIHU‘E — The lines never really went away, Friday night, outside the Deja Vu store at the Kukui Grove Center exhibition area.
“This is just an indication of the excitement we’re having for the holiday season,” said Jonell Kaohelauli‘i, the Kukui Grove marketing director, who watched the crowd with an armload of Reef calendars (all autographed).
Kaohelauli‘i said the excitement started earlier in the afternoon when the mall hosted the 2nd Annual International Ice Sculpting Expo featuring artists from Japan, Maui, and a Kaua‘i sculptor in a freestyle ice-carving exhibition.
That event was followed by the appearance of the Reef team, including several Miss Reef title holders.
“They are here because we’re holding the Reef Hawaiian Pro on O‘ahu, Saturday,” said Amy DeLee, the Miss Reef coordinator. “We have three Miss Reef candidates who will be vying for the world Miss Reef title.”
DeLee said Reef flew in a dozen Miss Reef title holders from different parts of the world for the competition.
Deja Vu is one of the bigger Reef dealers and we asked them if they would like to host an autograph session, DeLee said.
“They’re so cute,” said Sara Miura, the marketing official for Deja Vu. “Two of the boys, Stephen Koehne and Dylan Goodale are Kaua‘i boys, and they can’t believe everyone is making such a fuss over them. They’re really shy.”
Joining Koehne and Goodale, Paul Fisher rounded out the Team Reef offering. They were joined by Michal, Miss Reef USA, Natalia, Miss Reef Panama, and Betzaida, Miss Reef Argentina.
“It’s been busier than a normal Friday,” Kaohelauli‘i said. “People started showing up for the ice expo and it’s been buzzing ever since.”
Kaohelauli‘i said they’ve put up most of their holiday lights and displays, and because there were so many people, even ran a trial of the snow machine, much to the delight of the shoppers.
“Everything kicks off following Thanksgiving,” Kaohelauli‘i said. “But it’s looking a lot like the holidays already. Almost all of the big stores are ready to start already.”
