By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Paige Adams, 6, pets a dairy heifer, one of many animals on display.
Opening weekend attendance was down 20 percent from last year's, but
officials still hope to beat last year's Aloha Stadium record before
the fair ends Sunday. "Maybe they're waiting for the free nights,"
said one fair official. Tonight is one of the special nights, with
free admission for two with an empty half-gallon carton
of Meadow Gold or Viva milk.

All’s fair at
Aloha Stadium

But the Farm fair hopes
for better attendance

Despite better displays and good deals on
locally grown produce, it's been a bit slow

By Treena Shapiro

Star-Bulletin

Opening weekend attendance at the Hawaii State Farm Fair dropped 20 percent from last year, but officials still hope to beat last year's Aloha Stadium record before the fair ends Sunday.

"We would like to expect 150,000," said Douglas Duarte, president of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the fair's sponsor. But Duarte's not sure they'll be able to do it.

"Maybe they're waiting for the free nights," said Wendell Koga, finance chairman for the fair and executive director for the farm bureau. On some nights an empty milk carton, rice bag or Pepsi can will be accepted in place of admission.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Shoppers feel their way through a bin of melons in
the produce section of the State Farm Fair.

The fair has had decreasing attendance since it moved from McKinley High School to Aloha Stadium five years ago. At McKinley, up to 165,000 people a year visited the fair. Since the move, attendance topped at 135,000.

The heat presents a problem. The grassy area at McKinley was much cooler than the Aloha Stadium parking lot, Duarte said. But since there's no better area designated for fair use, the fair will stay put, with more landscaping to provide shade.

Part of the farm fair's mission is to promote and educate the public about agriculture, so the farm bureau is trying to attract more people to the fair with better informational displays and entertainment. This year's big addition was a walk-through forest exhibit that teaches families about the dangers of introducing plants into the Hawaiian rain forest, Duarte said.

The livestock tent remains a big draw with the children. According to her mother Katie, the first thing 4-year-old Sydnee Tiapula said about the pigs was, "They stink." But that didn't stop Sydnee from pressing her face against the bars to get a better look at a pair of porkers. "I like the little ones," she said.

And people are still flocking to the country market for deals on locally grown fruits and vegetables. Volunteer cashiers Robyn Richard and Jason Young from the University of Hawaii Mortar Board said watermelons have been flying out of the tent at 9 cents a pound. Richard said some people buy seven watermelons at a time.

How do they carry all those melons?

Some people push them in baby strollers and make the kids walk, Young said.

HOURS, ADMISSION The Hawaii State Farm Fair is open at Aloha Stadium weeknights from 6 p.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Free nights: Tonight: free admission for two with an empty half-gallon carton of Meadow Gold or Viva milk. Thursday: free admission for four with an empty 20-pound bag of Diamond G rice. Sunday: free admission with a Pepsi can. Regular admission: $2.50 for adults; $1.50 children 5-12; under 5, free Discount admission: $1.50 Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.