Shoppers score in trifecta of sales
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu bargain hunters got a triple treat yesterday when three free, major sale events were held simultaneously within easy walking distance of each other.
Above: Matt Schirman, left, and Rick Barboza of Hui Ku Maoli Ola displayed Hawaiian gardenia, or na'u, among their offerings of native plants at the Lyon Arboretum Annual Summer Plant Sale in the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.
Shoppers had the option of leafing through thousands of volumes at the 56th Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale at McKinley High School, sorting through rows of greenery at the Lyon Arboretum Annual Summer Plant Sale at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, or planting themselves in the midst of 80 vendor booths at the 29th Annual Summer Festival of Art & Fine Crafts in Thomas Square Park.
The trio of events was nothing more than a scheduling coincidence, according to organizers for all three affairs.
"But it's an advantage for the customer," said Uilani Moliao, fair coordinator of the craft festival, sponsored by the Pacific Handcrafters Guild, which continues through today. "They can buy a plant, choose a book, and come here and listen to the entertainment in the shade."
Many buyers preferred not to stray from their sale of choice.
Calvin Minoda of Makiki showed up at 5:30 a.m. at the McKinley High cafeteria, quietly unfolded his canvas chair and secured his spot as first in the book-sale line. Minoda was there strictly to buy Hawaiiana, and wouldn't be attending the plant show or craft festival, he said.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
"I've found some priceless things here," said Al Rogers, who was seventh in line. "I wouldn't have the collection I've got without this sale."
Jennifer and Chris Phillips, ages 6 and 7, and their mom, Theresa, went home with 33 books after their first visit to the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale at the McKinley High School cafeteria.
At 10 o'clock sharp Nick Huddleston opened the cafeteria doors and rattled the traditional starting cowbell. "This book sale is open!" said Huddleston, who was handling the cowbell duties for the first time, replacing the late Bud Schwab, who sounded the opening alarm for years. " 'Let the games begin!' ... I'm supposed to say."
The book sale continues through Saturday.
Budding gardener Randy Meyer, 33, of Kaimuki was in the throng that squeezed inside the cafeteria within the first minute. He headed straight for the horticulture section, where he happily snatched up a copy of "Square Foot Gardening."
"It's about making the most of a small space," Meyer said as he put the book inside a cardboard box he carried. "I was going to buy this online for about $12, but I'll get this copy for $2. That's a bargain."
An hour later, Meyer could be found at the plant show over at the Blaisdell, along with more than 2,000 others folks who were there to check out everything from heliconia and ginger to fruit trees and native plants.
Ken and Lisa Vinzant of Waimanalo were among the representatives of 30 nurseries participating in the event. The two were doing brisk business in the ever-popular heliconia varieties.
"When people think of exotic plants, they think of the ones that are the most colorful, with big leaves, such as these," said Ken.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Heliconias do really well at these shows," confirmed Elizabeth Huppman, event coordinator. Many people are aware that none of the heliconias is native to Hawai'i, she said.
At the Summer Festival of Art & Fine Crafts, Dave and Bernie Reeves consider the woodworking wares of John Critchfield of Waipahu, including these large bowls crafted from Norfolk pine.
For the native plant varieties — endangered, indigenous and endemic — Rick Barboza, who owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, was the person to see.
"Some of these plants are so rare that people wouldn't ever be able to see them unless they were hanging off a cliff," said Barboza, whose potted varieties were on sale for as little as $5.
Meyer finally settled for three small plants that were neither native nor exotic — "mint, for my kids, chili pepper for me, and jasmine for my wife."
Across the street at Thomas Square, Dave and Bernie Reeves, who summer in Kane'ohe and teach high-school science in Saudi Arabia during the winter, were proudly toting a couple of long-stemmed beauties of their own — a Bangkok Green Madame Viper orchid and a stunning shrimp plant.
"We did the plant show," said Dave. "And now we're doing one trip around the craft fair. I think I've talked my wife out of the book sale. We usually do the book sale — but not while carrying two plants."
