PUHI — Sarijah Sanchez, 9, was thrilled that her Lucky Honu were selling within the first hour of the Grove Farm Community Swap Meet on Saturday. While not the biggest swap meet of the year, and threatened by cold winds
PUHI — Sarijah Sanchez, 9, was thrilled that her Lucky Honu were selling within the first hour of the Grove Farm Community Swap Meet on Saturday.
While not the biggest swap meet of the year, and threatened by cold winds and dark gray clouds, people streamed into Puhi Park to take advantage of bargains being offered from the 40 vendors.
Marissa Sandblom, joining other Grove Farm employees in manning several tents of household items, said she didn’t expect that many people signing up because it is summertime.
“We’ll definitely have more people during the Nov. 17 swap meet because it’ll be approaching the holiday season,” Sandblom said.
Sanchez, going to be a fourth grade student at the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School when school starts in late July, said she and her aunty, Kerrie Shaffer, worked on creating Lucky Honu after seeing one around town.
At that time, they said, “’We can do that,’ Sanchez said. ‘We should make some and sell them at the swap meet.’”
That was six months ago, Shaffer said. On Saturday, Sanchez started reaping the fruits of that labor as people stopped by, attracted by not only the “2 for $3” price tag, but also by the attractive forest of copper-leafed trees, some sitting atop rocks, others rooted onto driftwood.
“I got help from aunty to make these,” Sanchez said of the copper-leafed trees.
Blakelee Cox-Abuan and Brandee Abuan took advantage of the swap meet to bring their wares, normally sold at the weekly Friday Art Night in Hanapepe town, to more people in the Lihu‘e area.
Known as Chai’s Cookies, the two sisters diligently churn out batches of cookies centering around Chai’s Magic Cookies, a secret combination utilizing coconut, chocolate, walnut on a graham cracker crust and definitely not resembling a macaroon.
They also offer duct tape accessories and a line of logowear.
“If people missed us at the swap meet, they can come visit us in Hanapepe on Friday nights,” said Brandee Abuan.
“Or, they can visit our Facebook page.”
The St. Raphael Church Youth Ministry used the swap meet as a pickup point for advance sales of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, capitalizing on swap meet traffic to enhance its fundraising efforts for a Diocesan Youth Day that the group is planning to participate in on O‘ahu in September.
“We’re going to send 17 youth and four adult chaperones,” said Adela Fune, the group’s advisor. “The event will be held at the Wet and Wild Park on O‘ahu, and on Sunday, we’ll have a bake sale following the 9:30 mass at the church to help raise more funds.”
Shelly Gerardo, passing through, lamented the fact she failed to get fliers of the Lawa‘i Cannery garage sale benefiting Special Olympics Kaua‘i, ready for her trip.
“We won’t be in the Sunday sale,” said Shane Tokita of the Easter Seals of Hawai‘i, a perennial participant in the Grove Farm Swap meet.
“Usually, our items are all sold by the end of the meet, and I think two garage sales ago, the Lawa‘i Cannery had the Easter Seals as its garage sale beneficiary.”
Kenny Miyoshi of Masa’s Shave Ice was selling goods despite the windy and threatening weather. “I’m on a break,” Miyoshi said. “They’re working on the road in Nawiliwili and it’s so dusty, I thought I would take a break until they’re done. Right now, I’m only at the Monday Market at Kukui Grove.”
Dale Jacobs and Dr. Kani Blackwell were manning a tent to raise funds for the Kaua‘i Powwow.
“It’s never too early to start making money for a successful powwow,” Jacobs said.
“The Kaua‘i Powwow will be Sept. 28 through 30 at the Kapa‘a Beach Park and we’ve already gotten commitment from Three Nations, our Color Guard from Arizona who represent three Nations and also, three different branches of the armed services.”
Blackwell said the Kaua‘i Powwow school outreach program is aiming to serve 300 children during its program on Sept. 28 at Lydgate Park.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
