PUHI — “Mana‘olana” means hope, said Karen Heresa, one of three volunteers manning a tent selling items to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Shoppers at the Grove Farm Community Swap Meet on Saturday arrived early
PUHI — “Mana‘olana” means hope, said Karen Heresa, one of three volunteers manning a tent selling items to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Shoppers at the Grove Farm Community Swap Meet on Saturday arrived early to find bargains.
Heresa, Sharon Saronitman and Kristen Valenti were raising funds for their ACS Relay for Life team, Mana‘olana, which will be participating in the Hanalei Relay for Life scheduled June 16 at Waioli Park.
“We’ve participated in the Hanapepe Relay before, but last year we were at the Hanalei event and since there is a lot of activity surrounding the Hanapepe event, we thought we would start raising funds for the Hanalei event,” Heresa said.
Marissa Sandblom, Grove Farm’s vice president, said in an email, that she was pleased with the event, noting, “Lanakila Pacific is here with yummy scones and stew, and the Boy Scouts and a Relay for Life team are among all the folks raising funds.”
The Garden Isle Church of God youth group stopped swap meet traffic with boxes of doughnuts, the funds being earmarked for a youth camp coming up in July.
“This is our last fundraiser before the camp,” one of the advisors said.
Kristy Kinimaka of Live Laugh Aloha was continuing her tour of special events, coming from the Friday Night Art in Hanapepe event the night before.
“Our next event will be at the Kaua‘i Knockout Championship on March 31,” Kinimaka said, unloading scores of colorful caps and shirts touting her firm’s message: “Live life to the fullest, Laugh as much as possible, and share Aloha in all we do.”
“Most of our business is done through special events and through the Internet,” Kinimaka said. “We started the company on 11-11-(20)11. People can visit www.alwayslivelaughaloha.com for a schedule of our next appearances or to place orders.”
She said prior to launching her business, she was thinking about talking with kumu hula “Aunty Kapu” Kinimaka-Alquiza about her message and, coincidentally, when she came off the flight from Honolulu, Kinimaka-Alquiza was at the airport.
Kinimaka said she’ll be on a Las Vegas promotion April 20, but will return to be at the ACS Relay for Life at Hanapepe Stadium on April 28.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
