PO‘IPU — Hundreds of people took advantage of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens annual Christmas craft fair Sunday to get a better look at the South Shore Visitor Center as well as get acquainted with some of the many Kaua‘i
PO‘IPU — Hundreds of people took advantage of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens annual Christmas craft fair Sunday to get a better look at the South Shore Visitor Center as well as get acquainted with some of the many Kaua‘i exhibitors.
Wes Perreira, the warehouse supervisor for the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch, was pleasantly surprised when its collection tent yielded more than $260 and 119 pounds of food to help with its holiday distributions.
“This was a pretty last minute deal,” Perreira said while helping shoppers get oriented with the layout. “I wasn’t sure I could make it. But I’m glad we could put it together.”
Visitors browsing through the offerings of food trucks, crafters and vendors were greeted by an occasional pet sporting “Adopt Me” vests.
“This is our ‘Shelter Dogs on Field Trips’ program,” said Pam Woolway of the Kaua‘i Humane Society. “The idea is to get basically-trained dogs and animals out into the public where they get exposure and hopefully, adopted.”
Woolway said for Sunday’s outing, which was accompanied by numerous volunteers, the humane society brought out 10 dogs, three kittens and a bunny.
“This is a great program for everyone,” Woolway said. “It’s open to all. Visitors or residents can participate. Basically, it’s like adopting a pet for a day. We provide treats and water for the day and the ‘foster’ parent takes the animal out for a field trip where they get exposure.”
Woolway said one of the success stories coming out of the program was when an Oregon family saw a dog and adopted it.
“We can show them how to have the animal shipped to their home,” Woolway said. “Of course, it’s more economical if their new pet travels with them, and we can show them how that is done, too. But, we can arrange to have animals shipped to their home.”
Local artist Patrick Ching, instrumental in a lot of the Kilauea Wildlife Refuge programs, allowed shoppers an opportunity to paint with the artist in a special tent area.
“There’s a little person who is pretty good,” Ching said. “They went off shopping, but will be back to finish the artwork.”
Celeste Velarde, a Kapa‘a Elementary School student, was true to Ching’s word, returning with her Kapa‘a Elementary Robotics cap on to finish her honu artwork.
Celeste’s mom said “two” was Celeste’s lucky number, the Kapa‘a Elementary robotics team finishing second during the recent LEGOS Robotics competition, Celeste getting second place in the keiki division of the sand sculpting contest, and a few years back, earned second place in the Keiki Art Contest hosted by the Kaua‘i Museum.
Currently a fifth grade student at Kapa‘a where she is on the Student Council, Celeste admitted she was named first place by the Boys & Girls Club as the 2011 Youth of the Year for all elementary schools.
Marie Petro, an NTBG volunteer, was joined by Margaret McGinty and Jo Elliott in fielding questions about some of their hand-made and baked goods items at the NTBG booth.
Petro, the mother of Dean Petro of the Kapa‘a High School football coaching staff, said all of the items are made by the volunteers and many of them are also available at the NTBG Visitor Center gift shop located at 4425 Lawa‘i Road in Po‘ipu.
Gwen Silva is the manager of the gift shop and was the person who coordinated with Perreira to have the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch represented at the event where Paul Togioka, recently featured at the Slack Key Guitar Festival, and Anela Lauren, a long-time harpist, provided entertainment.
