LIHU‘E — Business has been good and getting better at the Kukui Grove Monday Market, said Jonell Kaohelauli‘i, marketing director at Kukui Grove Center. Last week, Kaohelauli‘i said the market added Masa’s Shave Ice to help customers beat the heat
LIHU‘E — Business has been good and getting better at the Kukui Grove Monday Market, said Jonell Kaohelauli‘i, marketing director at Kukui Grove Center.
Last week, Kaohelauli‘i said the market added Masa’s Shave Ice to help customers beat the heat with a cold treat.
“Apparently, that was something the customers were waiting for because there was a long line,” Kaohelaulii said.
The Monday Market, celebrating its one-year anniversary under its new name, opens at 3 p.m., but Masa’s Shave Ice opens at 2:30 p.m. while customers wait for the starting whistle. It also operates until about 4:30 p.m. to accommodate shoppers.
“The new addition brings a festival of flavors and colors to the weekly market,” Kaohelaulii said.
Kaohelaulii said there are more than 40 vendors that line the parking area in the back of the Big Kmart and offer shoppers a variety of fresh fruit and produce.
“They’ve been doing very well despite the slow economy,” Kaohelaulii said. “There are a lot of shoppers looking for bargains and they usually find them at the Monday Market.”
Visitors can taste locally grown produce and foods, while residents can enjoy fresh vegetables and share recipes at the market, all while promoting a healthy and affordable lifestyle, Kaohelaulii said.
To supplement the market traffic and accommodate visitors, Kaohelaulii said they offer a free shuttle service to the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club and the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
“These have also proven to be successful as there are guests who catch the morning shuttle and stay until after they’ve shopped at the Monday Market,” she said. “This gives them an opportunity to browse through the mall tenants.”
Masa’s Shave Ice has been popular from the time Kenny Miyoshi and Calvin Fukushima debuted the converted tour bus at the Okinawa Festival late last month.
“We’re still waiting on some paperwork, so being able to come to the Monday Market is good because it gives people some place they can come to enjoy shave ice,” Miyoshi said.
The shave ice wagon is mobile with the ice grinder powered by a generator.
For more information, call Kaohelaulii at 245-7784 ext. 21.
