NUKOLII — People streamed out of the exits at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort on Saturday.
“The fire alarm went off,” said Shaka Laka Maka, the emcee at the 2024 Holly Jolly Holiday Fair. “That was a false alarm. Everything is fine.”
About 40 Kauai Made vendors and a lineup of entertainers coordinated by Shaka Laka Maka, who in real life is a kumu hula, launched the holiday season at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort whose insides were nearing the completion of holiday decorating spearheaded by the Outrigger’s Richard Ancheta.
“He’s been working really hard,” said Nelson Batalion of the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort. “I think he has a couple more trees he wants to set, and then it’s pau.”
Michelle Rego of the Office of Economic Development said there was a surge at the opening where they distributed 150 Kauai Made bags for the first 150 shoppers in short order.
“It’s air conditioned,” Rego said. “The other craft fairs don’t have air conditioning and the sun is shining after Friday night’s rain.”
In addition to the local entertainment lineup like the Flores Sisters, and the halau from Kumu Wailana Dasalia, shoppers could visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus near the konane station — do you know how to play the game where last move wins?
Companies like Kauai Kookie that endured the Friday night rains during the Rotary Club of Kauai Lights on Rice holiday parade offered a lineup of goodies ranging from gift bags (makes good corporate gifting), platters (Ann Hashisaka said they can be custom made), to seasonal goodies like gingerbread and sugar cookies for individual family consumption.
Others like Na Hulu Art with Laura Wolfgang and Rick Johnson discovered ways to turn the already popular feather hat lei into intricate holiday tree decorations.
The Kauai Made program coordinator Melissia Sugai was being interviewed by Larry Feinstein for an article that is scheduled to appear in a future edition of Kui Kauai, or as Larry describes, “Kauai stories about people who work in the Office of Economic Development.”
The Kui Kauai content can be found on the website www.kauaiforward.com/kui-kauai/.
The Kauai Made program was launched by the County of Kauai in 2006 with support from the Hawaii Tourism Authority with the goal of providing locally made products with more visibility and encourage the production of value-added agricultural products.
Items available at the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort included apparel and accessories as well as fine art, including art from artist Patrice Pendarvis, crafts, food, floral, health and beauty, jewelry and more.
The Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort supplemented the offering with a range of bar beverages and a food bar fearing laulau, beef stew and other items.
For more information on the Kauai Made program, visit www.kauaimade.net.
