LIHU‘E — The Harvest Festival, including its major sponsors the Kekaha Agriculture Association and Aloun Farms, celebrated its 10th anniversary by distributing thousands of free pumpkins throughout the island for Halloween.
Continuing on this journey of benevolence and philanthropy, Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau, through its Pau Hana Market on Mondays at Kukui Grove Center south parking lot, is joined by the Kekaha Agriculture Association, Aloun Farms and Meridian Pacific in asking the farmers market shoppers for help in the Spirit of Giving food drive that will benefit the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i.
For the next three Mondays — Dec. 4, 11, and 18 — Pau Hana Market shoppers can drop off nonperishable food items, or cash, and receive a $1 coupon that must be used on the day it’s received.
Tom and Jessie Ann Chestnut, of Kalaheo, were way ahead of the game as they approached the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i food collection tent with cartons of nonperishable food on Monday.
But they didn’t want the discount coupons, instead asking the food bank volunteers to “pay it forward” on Monday (remember, the coupon must be used on the day it’s received).
The incident prompted regular Pau Hana Market shopper Carolyn Lumm to drop a couple of dollars to take care of some friends who dropped in. It also prompted her to check her pantry at home to rotate food for next week’s market.
Amy Chun, of the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau, also took the opportunity to announce the market’s December events include the appearance of Kapa‘a High Schoool agriculture teacher Will Caraway and his students, who will have sweet potato, sunflower and squash seedlings available for purchase at the Dec. 4 market.
The Dec. 11 market is a Kaua‘i Grown event with the appearance of vendors Moloa‘a Bay Coffee, Hanalei Taro, Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Salt and Heavenly Haku with Elvrine Chow.
Opu Road Farm will also have floral arrangements available for purchase at the Dec. 11 market. And, at the Dec. 18 market, the traditional kadomatsu New Year’s decorations will be available for purchase.
“We’ll be closed for Christmas,” Chun said. “Christmas is on a Monday, this year, but we’ll be closed. We come back on New Year’s Day to welcome 2024.”
The Pau Hana Market meets on Mondays starting at 3 p.m.
