North Shore market ordered by city to move by Dec. 31
By Will Hoover
Advertiser North Shore Writer
The North Shore Country Market appeared to have found its place in the sun.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
From its humble beginnings almost a decade ago in Bill Howes' front yard, the market featuring North Shore produce and crafts won a loyal following and graduated to a Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park, and finally, in 1999, with the city's blessing, to a one-acre site between Shark's Cove and Pipeline.
Bill Howes, executive director of the North Shore Country Market, says the city has told the market to vacate its site between Shark's Cove and Pipeline because of zoning laws.
Along the way, the market became more than just another place to buy fresh produce every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"It's sort of a gathering place," said Judy Fomin, president of the Sunset Beach Community Association. "It gives us another outlet where we can go and know we are going to see neighbors and friends."
So organizers were surprised to receive an eviction notice from the city last month. The letter said the market had to be gone from the site by Dec. 31.
Market operators acknowledged that the agreement allowing them to use the city land rent-free was only for five years. But they figured the friendly partnership would continue indefinitely.
After all, its stated mission was to "promote and market homegrown and -made products on the North Shore ... and promote sustainable agriculture through education, research and cooperation."
In addition to the market, the nonprofit corporation oversees projects such as teaching organic farming and marketing.
But the city said the land is zoned for agriculture and that the market is a business.
"They've had an agreement with the Department of Community Services and the Parks Department," said Honolulu managing director Ben Lee. "We've been very supportive of the North Shore Country Market. But they belong on commercial property. It's very difficult to have them continue on this piece of property."
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Howes, the market's executive director, says he's confused by the city's change of heart.
Tricia Santos, a visitor from California, accepts a cold coconut from vendor Paul Manupule at the North Shore Country Market.
"They say we're a commercial enterprise so we should operate at a commercial location," he said. "But we're only open six hours a week. We can't afford to go anywhere else."
On Tuesday, the Sunset Beach Community Association voted to draft a letter supporting the market that will be sent to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Fomin holds out hope that both sides can negotiate the changes necessary to allow the market to remain at its present location.
Startled North Shore residents aren't sure why the market has been told to shut down. Some have heard it is because the city wants the land for the community recreation center going in next door.
But both Lee and Howes say the recreation center has nothing to do with it.
The issue is that the market has not been operating within the strict interpretation of the law, city officials said. To continue operating, the market will have to apply for what Lee calls "a maze of land use permits." He added that the odds are slim that the organization can successfully navigate the complicated, difficult and lengthy process necessary to get the required permits and variances.
Lee said that establishing a commercial enterprise on land that's designated for agricultural use sets a bad precedent.
Howes said that for nine years the North Shore Country Market has resourcefully functioned as a micro-enterprise assistance project. In that time, it has received less than $200,000 in federal, state and local grants for operating expenses.
The market is self-sufficient, financed by the minimal dues paid by member vendors, he said.
The market hasn't run out of options yet. Were it to sell only products grown on the property itself, Lee said the market could operate within the rules, much like the roadside shrimp farm near Kahuku does. Or, it could continue to operate at the same location as a part of the Parks Department's People's Open Market program, which allows vendors to sell locally grown agricultural products once a month.
However, the market's arts and crafts sale doesn't fit into any of the city's agricultural land-use exceptions. Howes said locally made crafts have always been part of the market's attraction.
"We have nothing against the People's Open Market, but it's not us," he said. "We're not like anything else. We never were. This is a project that was driven and supported by the community. And it's just a shame if it can't keep going."
Reach Will Hoover at 525-8038 or whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.
