By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Every year, Paulette Suwa promises herself that she's not going to do it again, and every year, her neighbors talk her into it.

For the last seven years, Suwa has organized the massive Mililani Mauka multi-family garage sale, an event that draws visitors from around the island and fills the streets of the suburb with a festival-type atmosphere.

"Up until this year, I had my kids go to all the 80 homes in the area and send out fliers and then collect $5 per home for advertising and stuff like that," Suwa said. "But this year I got smart and I just put a sign up in at the entrance of the subdivision and told people to e-mail me if they were interested."

The e-mail contact worked and a record 25 homes will be participating in tomorrow's big sale.

Over the years, bargain hunters have found some treasures in the Mililani garages: Surfboards, a motorcycle, tools, plants, bikes, skates, even a Lexus. Kids set up their own tables to sell kid stuff like Pokemon collectibles. One neighbor sold her entire cherrywood furniture set.

"It's a growing community," Suwa said. "We all started off with young kids and now our kids are in high school so we've got a lot of Playskool Little Tykes things and stuff like that."

Some of the families get creative, potting plant cuttings months in advance of the annual sale or setting up refreshment stands for shoppers.

"Two years ago, we bought an outdoor freezer and we said, 'Let's try to pay it off. Let's sell ice cakes.' It gets so hot and the kids love it. But we end up giving away half of it to friends and neighbors."

Soccer teams will bring their items to sell at one players' house as a fund-raiser. Suwa lets her two sisters bring things to sell in her garage, but, she says, "They have to stay to sell their stuff. They can't just drop off and leave. That's the rule."

The families who participate make money — about enough for the whole gang to go out to dinner, Suwa jokes.

"Sometimes we sell things with price tags on it for a quarter, and people still want to bargain with us. They'll ask, 'Can I have the hanger?' and we go, 'We gave you that dress for a quarter and you want the hanger, too?' "

It'll be an all-nighter tonight for Suwa as she prepares for tomorrow's crowds, but she says it's worth it because it brings her community together.

"I'm also a neighborhood watch team captain for our street," she said. "This is a way to let people know who their neighbors are. It's nice to walk around and talk to your neighbors. Otherwise, nobody sees each other."

The Mililani Mauka garage sale is tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Ahikau, Hookaau, Kanae and Hookanahe streets. Suwa says, "Follow the signs!"

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com