All Saints Church fills with festive holiday vendors, shoppers

KAPA‘A — There was a turn-away crowd at the All Saints Episcopal Church craft fair Saturday in Kapa‘a.

“We had every available inch of parking available filled,” said Steve Bauman, who along with Galen Nakamura, were parking attendants at the event. “We had cars all down the credit union road and everywhere we could think of. We actually had to turn away shoppers.”

Bauman said that was the picture at 9 a.m. when the doors opened.

“There were more than 70 spaces for this event,” Bauman said. “Remember those days when everything was just inside the All Saints Gym?”

Sybil Nishioka, the coordinator, said there were 60 vendors signed up with 70 spaces set up for some of the vendors who took a double space. Proceeds from the holiday craft fair went to benefit Ke Akua Youth Group.

“Sybil outdid herself,” one worker said. “We have half of the vendors in All Saints Gym, and the other half spread out between the gym and the church.”

Wayne Doliente, who was on culinary duty, said they were running low on food after the doors opened. He had an opportunity to smile when Nadine Nakamura, celebrating her birthday, arrived with two cases of burgers to help with the demand.

“I think the chili is running low, we might be out of burgers, and how do you stretch hot dogs?” he said. “I think I should have cooked, more.”

Mary Pigao was one of the vendors, noting this was her final fundraising craft fair before she leaves for Florida with her daughter who is on the Lihu‘e Patriots Junior Midget cheer squad and participating in the National Pop Warner Cheer and Dance Competition.

Westy Morita of Sugar Mill Cupcakes teamed up with her mother Theresa Morita for a combination of cupcakes, marshmallows, mochi and Theresa’s keiki activity bags.

“I’m signed up for the Kaua‘i Museum craft fair Friday,” she said. “I’m excited about that, but with the kind of crowds there, I’m also a little nervous.”

Don Murray of Washington state was a shopper disappointed to learn Westy’s strawberry mochi was sold out.

“She gave us an invitation to visit her shop …a little later,” said Murray, a regular visitor to Kaua‘i. “She’ll have the mochi and the marshmallow.”

The Murrays, on their schedule of visits, have “adopted” the Kapa‘a Middle School choir and ‘ukulele band, chatting with Mary Lardizabal who said the Kapa‘a Middle School will be hosting a craft fair on Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Hale Lani Christian Store joined the festivities, offering shoppers benefits of its anniversary sale.

Visit www.allsaintskauai.episcopalhawaii.org for more information.