Hawai'i-made products take center stage at festival
By Jessica Webster
Advertiser Staff Writer
One-stop shopping for poi biscotti and lucky aloha underpants was a little easier this weekend as Hawai'i's vendors convened for the sixth annual Made in Hawai'i Festival in Honolulu.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
Thousands of people scoured the Neal Blaisdell Center for 'ono food samples, and those perfect gifts for Mainland relatives who relish anything with a pineapple motif.
Folks from the Som' Good booth hand out samples at the Made in Hawai'i Festival at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
"Every time I come, I just spend way too much money," said Diane Kaniaupio of Pearl City. "It's a nice showcase for all the local vendors ... and we basically come for the (All Butter Dreams) cookie lady. We love her, and clean up on the cookies."
The All Butter Dreams booth was a hot spot, as was the site for the Kaua'i Tropical Fudge, where throngs of people clogged the aisles to acquire their first and sometimes fifth samples.
"They come to the table, and it's funny, you recognize that they've been here many times before, especially the kids," said Debbi Knowles, who was working the fudge table. "But it's OK. We want to get this product out there, and the festival is a wonderful way to make those wholesale contacts that might help your product go national."
The event included 371 vendors representing all of the islands.
| 'Made in Hawai'i Festival' | |
| • | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today |
| • | Neal Blaisdell Center |
| • | $2; children under 6 attend free |
| • | 533-1292 |
| • | The Honolulu Advertiser is a sponsor of the "Made in Hawai'i Festival" |
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Products made in Hawai'i included fine arts and crafts, music, soaps and oils, food and beverages, clothing, flowers and various accessories such as handbags and jewelry.
Even more miscellaneous products stacked the aisles, including herbs, recycled soil, car seat covers, toys and dog treats.
Elizabeth Lee, from Kona, brought her lauhala woven creations to the show and ran out of hats on the first day.
"We don't get festivals like this out in the country, you know," said Lee, who manages Malu's Enterprise. "We look forward to the opportunity and the variety of products available here."
Local couple Charlotte and Will Nuessle, who usually ride their bikes to the show from Kailua, carried full sacks as they made their way through the Blaisdell.
"We were advised to take our time and see everything because it's all so nice," said Charlotte. "We loved the fruit butters and the honey wine ... and of course the Hawaiian pillows. We really admire all of the love people put into their work."
College students Cami Lau and Casey Wong decided to load up on Hawai'i gifts to bring back to their friends at Harvard and Tufts University.
"You know how it is — they're all intrigued with anything from Hawai'i," Wong said. "Especially if it has pineapples on it."
