PO‘IPU — The allure of Valentine’s Day falling on Tuesday might have helped draw shoppers to the Paradise Craft Fair on Saturday at Po‘ipu Beach Park. “It’s been pretty busy from the start,” said Amy Christmas, a long-time Kaua‘i crafter.
PO‘IPU — The allure of Valentine’s Day falling on Tuesday might have helped draw shoppers to the Paradise Craft Fair on Saturday at Po‘ipu Beach Park.
“It’s been pretty busy from the start,” said Amy Christmas, a long-time Kaua‘i crafter. “I think people know the date and have it marked. But yes, it’s been busy.”
Risa Clemmons, organizer for the fair, said a portion of the proceeds from the Po‘ipu fair would help Malama Pono Health Services.
“This is the first of four events which help Malama Pono,” Clemmons, a vendor coordinator at the Anahola Marketplace, said.
“We also do four events which help the Ka‘imi Foundation.”
Saturday’s event drew 60 crafters and vendors, including what Clemmons described as a mini farmers’ market with local-style food trucks off the Po‘ipu Beach parking lot.
“We’re doing another one this Saturday in Hanalei next to the Waioli Mission,” Clemmons said. “This one will help Malama Pono, too.”
Adding to the congestion of the area, heavy equipment took up part of Mano‘Okalanipo Park where the tents were set up and shoppers were being directed to park their cars.
“This is part of a project connecting the park’s restrooms to the sewer treatment plant,” said Bob French of Brennecke’s Beach Broiler and the Nukumoi Surf Shop, threading his way through the pedestrian traffic with his merchandise-laden vehicle.
Kathy Kovala, a watercolor artist from Nisswa, Minn., took advantage of the event to take a table and offer her watercolor works of Kaua‘i locales. The table attracted a steady stream of shoppers.
Clemmons said because they were busy with the Po‘ipu event, she closed her Anahola Marketplace location for the day.
