KAPA‘A — Sometimes they have music, sometimes they don’t. It’s hard to decide what to do, said John Kaohelauli‘i, creator of konane, a modern rendering of an ancient Hawaiian game. Kaohelauli‘i, who owns Sole Mates in the Coconut Marketplace, set
KAPA‘A — Sometimes they have music, sometimes they don’t. It’s hard to decide what to do, said John Kaohelauli‘i, creator of konane, a modern rendering of an ancient Hawaiian game.
Kaohelauli‘i, who owns Sole Mates in the Coconut Marketplace, set up several tables offering sidewalk traffic an opportunity to try their hand at “last move wins” in front of Work It Out, an active lifestyle shop owned by Kaohelauli‘i’s daughters.
“Last month, they had a band right next door and you couldn’t hear,” Kaohelauli‘i said. “This time, there’s no band. You can’t figure out what to do.”
First Saturday, celebrated on the first Saturday of each month, allows shoppers a different venue for marketing their goods while keeping shops open beyond sunset so shoppers can browse and shop from 5 to 8 p.m.
“We have a website, but we don’t have a shop,” said Sheena Tuazon, who along with her husband Del, own and produce Deepkauai. “Tonight, I have my niece, Taylor Relacion, and sister, Shawn Villatora, helping me market.”
Deepkauai’s merchandise — contemporary T-shirts, material and trucker caps demonstrating hometown pride — was set up outside Vicky’s Fabrics, Relacion and Villatora wrapped in a Deepkauai design pareau fabric as protection from the biting chill of the trades.
“Being here allows people to see what we have without having to visit the website, www.deepkauai.com,” Tuazon said. “We’ll keep doing this — until we can get our own shop.”
Bob Kubota of Pono Market, getting traffic from bundled shoppers looking for a warm cup of coffee to ease the night chill, said Saturday was the 16th First Saturday they have done.
“Tonight, everything is kalua (pork) on a bun, and of course, we have our monthly wine tasting,” Kubota said. “I didn’t even realize we’ve done this for more than a year, already.”
Angelo Cattigay, a classic car aficionado, said Kenny Ishii of Ono Family Restaurant and Shave Ice had invited car aficionados to his parking lot for First Saturday, sharing the blanket of music from the Lost Pelican Band playing in front of Tropical Tantrum.
But the cars were replaced by shoppers fighting the setting sun to get a last shave ice before the popular outlet closed for the night. A ‘no parking’ sign on a marker cone did little to deter the vehicular traffic heading for the shave ice shop.
Shoppers are invited to check out the excitement, next on Feb. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.
