PUHI — There will be no Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Street Fair in December, but the event will return on the second Saturday in January, said Jody McCune, the school’s PCNC and event organizer. “We have some new things for
PUHI — There will be no Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Street Fair in December, but the event will return on the second Saturday in January, said Jody McCune, the school’s PCNC and event organizer.
“We have some new things for this event,” said Kevin Matsunaga, CKMS instructor for the media class. “This event and the one in January will benefit CK TV, and for this event, we have free bingo in the cafeteria. We’ve also added crafters and vendors for the craft fair.”
In addition to the new additions, Matsunaga said they arranged to have more lights and decorations added to the walkway and more tables, allowing for a more festive atmosphere in which people can enjoy offerings from the lineup of food stations and lunchwagons.
“Some of the regular lunchwagons couldn’t make it for this month’s event because they had schedule conflicts,” McCune said. “But they’ll be back in January, and we’re still getting phone calls from interested people.”
Saturday’s CKMS Street Fair is the third event. The first two benefited the CKMS Band program which was away on an O‘ahu field trip.
Since its start, the event has steadily grown, now offering free bingo, dining in the cafeteria and the addition of crafters and vendors of Kaua‘i-made items.
Elena Camat, a vendor and creator of Chinese pretzels, was one of the vendors. She noted that she had just signed up for a four-month tour.
“I’ll be back in January and until the April event,” said Camat, who started her business as a means of raising funds for her son, Eljay’s, trip to Arizona for a U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program. “Business has been pretty good and we’re always looking for new flavors to develop.”
Art Umezu, the Kaua‘i film commissioner, was enjoying his first street fair with his wife and Yu Ohki, the marketing and sales officer for Kalaheo Flowers.
“Yu is from Tokyo, Japan,” said Umezu, whose ties with Matsunaga and the CK TV program brought him to the event. “This is a very good event, and I’m glad the Chiefess kids are doing this. We needed something like this where people can visit the different lunchwagons and sample the food which is available.”
For more information, or to reserve a space, call McCune at 212-3473.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.