North Shore Country Market on move again

By Will Hoover
Advertiser North Shore Writer

Situated amid banana trees and jungle greenery, the North Shore Country Market with its open-air, thatched long house had become a familiar sight where residents could find fresh produce and locally made crafts every Saturday.

The market had bounced from Bill Howes' front yard a decade ago to Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park to its current one-acre site, between Shark's Cove and Pipeline, four years ago. Howes hoped the popular gathering place had found a lasting home.

But Saturday will be the market's last day on rent-free city land. Beginning Jan. 3, the Country Market will be on the move again — taking up interim residence at Sunset Beach Elementary School. The current location will be dismantled.

"We're going to have to take it all down," said Howes, the market's executive director. "It's kind of sad."

Chip Hartman, a member of the Sunset Beach Community Association, said he was happy the market had found a temporary spot, at least, while it searches for a permanent place in the sun.

"People have always liked the market, and the association has always supported it," said Hartman. "We all rallied behind it. It's one of the few things on the North Shore just about everybody agrees about. Even the people who don't agree with anything go there to get their stuff."

The market also has the city's support, said Honolulu Managing Director Ben Lee. But the site is zoned for agriculture, and the market is a commercial enterprise.

"We have been supportive," Lee said after the city sent Howes a notice saying the market had to be gone by Dec. 31. "They belong on commercial property."

Hartman said the North Shore has commercial property the market could rent. But Howes has said the nonprofit organization cannot afford to rent North Shore land.

"For now, the market will be right under the lanai of the cafeteria at Sunset Beach Elementary School," Howes said. "It's a covered lanai and we'll be able to use the same amount of space for all our vendors."

Howes said the school would allow the market to operate on a 30-day trial basis, in exchange for 30 percent of the vendor dues of $10 a booth.

He said it's vital that things work out at the school.

"We could be nowhere again after January if they don't," he said. "We will just be doing our best. A lot of our vendors have children at the school, so it makes it a community-oriented thing."

Howes said he was grateful the school was willing to help. For the long term, he's looking for someone with an acre or more of land the market can use.

"It could be public land somewhere," he said. "It could be private. We just don't know."

Reach Will Hoover at 525-8038 or whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.