Happy Mother’s Day, Kaua‘i.
Yes, it’s a red-letter day, but Jennifer Takase-Ihara of Deja Vu Surf Hawai‘i is going to be working (check out Kukui Grove Center’s special hours today) before joining her family.
“I love my job,” Takase-Ihara said Friday evening, following a day of steady customers. Many couldn’t believe the family-operated store was finally open following closures from the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m happy to be working. I love my family, too, but sometimes, you just need to have space.”
Jennifer is one of the many working mothers at Kukui Grove Center, said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack (her son Finnegan is still trying to figure out the secret behind the mass board-breaking coordinated by Kenn Firestone at Premier Martial Arts — they’re still waiting on their green light), and Deja Vu (Melissa said Sara Miura was up until past 2 a.m. getting everything ready to open) is one of several stores that got the green light to open its doors Thursday through Gov. David Ige’s (Happy Mother’s Day, Dawn Ige) seventh emergency proclamation.
Tiana Gonzalez-Sanchez of Vitamin World never closed, and was already getting low on supplies as her space was filling up with Mother’s Day gifts from admirers. Erika Valente was finally able to squeeze in lunch near the mall’s closing hours (sounds like Denise Zumwalt of The Flip Flop Shop located across the walkway). Does Mindy Hibbitt of Cell Everything even stop for lunch?
And, we cannot forget Cherie Cabading, who is super busy with Times Supermarket and all the other mothers.
Stay safe, stay well and, definitely, congratulations and thank you.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
