Thousands expected at Blaisdell showcase

Upward of 150 vendors will participate in the 31st Annual Home, Garden & New Products Show opening tonight. Among the group is entrepreneur David Liao of VIPs Ltd., who will have home accessories on hand for the crowd of 15,000 expected to filter into the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall over the weekend.

Home, Garden & New Product Show » When: 5 to 9 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday » Place: Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall » Admission: $5; $4 seniors and military; children free » Call: 591-2211

Liao brings hand-painted glass bowls, vases and plates of various shapes and sizes, ranging in price from pocket vases at $25 to $150 for larger pieces such as ornamental bowls 20 inches wide.

He is the main distributor for a San Francisco-based graphic designer who creates prototypes for the collection; the abstract patterns are then painted in Shanghai, said Liao.

A repeat vendor, Liao is "always looking for different things. What really attracts me to the look (of the accessories) are a lot of the Oriental designs ... It's something that's affordable for people, and it's an art piece in itself."

Other attractions at this year's show include custom wall paneling from Wisteria Lane, carpeting from ABC Design Center, ceramic tiles from Vogland, accessories from Alohi Manao Lamps and a plant and orchid exhibit.

The "Taste of the Pacific" feature also returns. With fare ranging from tastes to complete meals, participating restaurants include Le Crepe Cafe, India Cafe, Nani Baba's Ono Hawaiian Food, Plus One Tasty Dogs, CJ Thai, La Familia Mexican Restaurant and Thelma's Filipino Restaurant.

Three celebrities also will hold meet-and-greets: Recording artist Karen Keawehawaii will represent the product "Looks Like Real Flowers" foam hair ornaments; singer Sonya Mendez is lending support to the Well of Hope Foundation, which funds water wells in Ethiopia; and Alicia Michioka-Jones, Miss Hawaii USA 2003, will be there for the Friends of Missing Child Center, of which she is president. Michioka-Jones also is executive director and producer of the 2008 Miss Young International Pageant, and will be joined by this year's contestants.

The Hawaii Mainland Chinese Overseas Association will host a fundraising booth to benefit victims of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan, China, that left more than 4.8 million people homeless.