Kaimuki set for block party
By Kalani Wilhelm
Advertiser Staff Writer
Green and white balloons will decorate shops in Kaimuki on Saturday to signify a day of community and business celebration during the second annual Kaimuki Kanikapila Merchant Block Party.
• What: Kaimuki Kanikapila Merchant Block Party • Where: Wai'alae Avenue and Kaimuki Community Park • When: Saturday, craft fair 1 to 7 p.m. at Kaimuki Community Park; block party 5 to 10 p.m. on Wai'alae Avenue • Parking: There will be free parking at Kaimuki High School, Sacred Hearts School or St. Patrick's (school only). Trolley service will be available from these areas. Parking is prohibited on Wai'alae Avenue between 11th and Koko Head avenues, and on 12th Avenue from Wai'alae to the municipal lot entrance (tow-away zone) from 1 p.m. until midnight. • Trolley: The Kaimuki-Kapahulu-Waikiki Trolley will provide free rides to Kaimuki from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The free daylong festival, sponsored by the Greater East Honolulu Community Association and the Kaimuki Merchants, will celebrate one of the island's more historic communities and help bring business to its many small shops.
At a glance
A craft fair will take place at Kaimuki Community Park at 1 p.m., and local merchants will have special sales, demonstrations and attractions throughout the day.
A block party on Wai'alae Avenue featuring three stages of live entertainment will highlight festivities beginning at 5 p.m. Jon Yamasato, The Royal Hawaiian Band and John Cruz are among 20 acts scheduled to perform.
To accommodate the party, Wai'alae Avenue will be closed from 3 p.m. until midnight.
"It'll be action city all day," said association director Ginny Meade. "Kaimuki is a real special place. Whether it's kids that used to grow up here or people who have relatives that live here, everybody has some connection to Kaimuki."
Sun Pak, owner of SIS Restaurant, which opened in March, said most of her business comes from people who live in the area because she doesn't advertise. Out-of-town customers find out about her Korean restaurant through word of mouth.
That's where she hopes the block party will help.
"We heard there were tons of people last year," Pak said. "I don't really care about the sales. I just want to let people know that we are here."
Meade said last year's celebration drew about 5,000 people. The success has led to an outpouring of interest from local vendors.
She said that vendor participation has increased from 30 to 48 this year.
"We're still getting calls," Meade said. "We had to turn a lot of businesses away."
The Kaimuki-Kapahulu-Waikiki Trolley will provide free shuttle service into Kaimuki. A "Trolley Token," which can be obtained at participating businesses, is needed for the return trip.
"If things go well this year as we expect them to, we'll definitely plan to make a tradition out of it," Meade said.
