LIHUE — The product is so new, it does not have a name, yet said Laura Cristobal-Andersland of the Salty Wahine Gourmet Hawaiian Salts on Friday during the Kauai Museum Christmas Craft Fair.
“My granddaughter beat me,” Cristobal-Andersland said. “I developed my first receipe when I was 11 years old. Liliana, my granddaughter, is just 4 years old. This new product was inspired by Liliana. We’re letting the customers come up with the name.”
The Salty Wahine will be at The Grove Farm Market today when Grove Farm adds the bi-monthly craft fair component to its weekly farmers market.
Cristobal-Andersland said the Salty Wahine will also be at the Holly Jolly festival that features Kauai Made products at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort today starting from 9 a.m.
The annual Kauai Museum Christmas Craft fair also featured other vendors that will be present at the Grove Farm Market and the Holly Jolly festival, including Elena Camat of Gourmet Hawaiian Pretzels.
Madi Jiminez and her sister Karin Panui of Mailelani’s will decide who will be at which event.
“I just came to pick up the Hawaiian lunch,” said a shopper leaving the museum grounds. “I found a bag at Mailelani’s, and I couldn’t resist. I knew I should have had horse blinders on.”
Other vendors included those from the Grove Farm Market and the Pau Hana Market, a collaborative effort between the Kauai County Farm Bureau and Kukui Grove Center.
“I’ve never been to this before,” said Josh Uyehara of Hartung Brothers. “I came in to get some permit work done, but I guess I’ll go check it out.”
The Kauai Museum Christmas Craft Fair is part of festivities that launch the holiday season in Lihue. It was followed by the Rotary Club of Kauai Lights on Rice holiday lights parade.
Evidence of spectators’ anticipation of the event dotted the sidewalks from Ace Housemart Hardware to the historic County Building.
Other vendors taking advantage of the Kauai Museum event included writer Linda Moriarty being available to sign copies of her “Lei Niihau” book, and Hiipoi of the Kanahele ohana selling Niihau jewelry, including the highly sought Niihau shell lei.
Carol Yotsuda of Boroboro Boutique said there was an Oahu vendor selling vintage material, and that Shannon Hiramoto was out at Tire Warehouse taking care of a large screw that punctured her tire.
“She should be back at any minute,” Yotsuda said. “She needs to get a new tire. But Kat Ho will be at the Grove Farm Market, and whatever we have left, we’ll probably send it to Kat at the Grove Farm Market.”
Emceed by Shaka Laka Maka (that’s the name he used when the Relay for Life was held in Hanapepe), the Holly Jolly Holiday Fair will take place at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with about 40 Kauai Made vendors and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The goal of the Kauai Made program is to provide locally made products with more visibility and encourage production of value-added agricultural products.
