Hawaii’s
Back yard
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
Isle products are
the stars of yearly festAmy Hammond wraps up her Christmas shopping in August every year. The Made in Hawaii Festival, she says, makes it a cinch.
Hammond, the festival's marketing director, describes the event as "truly a one-stop shop, especially for gifts for family and friends on the mainland. You can find everything from local food products to clothing to art at prices ranging from 99 cents to $9,999."
The Made in Hawaii Festival was launched in 1995 with 61 booths. Since then, it has steadily grown; there were 100 booths in 1996, 150 in 1997, 170 in 1998, 209 in 1999, 284 in 2000, 380 in 2001 and close to 400 in 2002. This year, more than 400 exhibitors from Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, the Big Island and Niihau are expected to fill the Neal Blaisdell Center with an array of wonderful wares.
Made in Hawaii Festival
Where: Neal Blaisdell Center, 777 Ward Ave.When: Noon to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $2; free for children under 6; $1 discount coupons are available at First Hawaiian Bank Oahu branches
Call: 533-1292
E-mail: mihfestival@hotmail.com
Web site: www.madeinhawaiifestival.com
There will be gleaming koa furniture; gourmet fruit curds; hand-carved opihi (limpet) shell necklaces; pillows in the shape of Spam musubi; and dressings, tea and lemonade seasoned with Maui-grown lavender. Also catching the eye will be marbled silk scarves, camisoles, shawls and sarongs; ornaments fashioned from shells; Hawaiian-themed die cuts for scrapbooks (lauae fern was a big seller last year); produce and plants; and one-of-a-kind silk brocade handbags with handles made of sterling silver and semi-precious stones.
That's just the start, so if you're planning to go, reserve ample time for browsing.
HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
JJ Ohana of Kauai, one of the exhibitors returning to the Made in Hawaii Festival at Neal Blaisdell Center beginning Friday, showcases the beauty of Niihau shell lei and jewelry.
The Made in Hawaii Festival is the brainchild of David Morihara, who in 1995 was a State Representative from Upcountry Maui chairing the Agriculture Committee. He envisioned an event that would showcase Hawaii-made products and provide an opportunity for local companies to market themselves to retailers and consumers.
Recalls Morihara, "There had been talk about developing a stronger 'made in Hawaii' identity, and we really needed to introduce an event to catalyze that -- an event that would bring manufacturers together and encourage the community to buy local products. We partnered with the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Food Manufacturers, the University of Hawaii, farmers and others, and First Hawaiian Bank signed on as the title sponsor."
Morihara, now the director of government relations for the University of Hawaii, is pleased to see how the Made in Hawaii Festival has grown over the past eight years.
"A lot of people didn't think such a show could be organized, let alone last this long and be self-supporting," he says. "But as you can tell from the increasing number of exhibitors, there's now a huge demand to be in the festival.
"There's also a growing number of stores carrying made-in-Hawaii products both here and on the mainland, and more and more customers are specifically looking for made-in-Hawaii products. It's all part of the momentum. I can't say it's due solely to the festival, but I think the festival helped."
HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Lilikoi cream cheese, ohelo berry jam, ahi and marlin jerky and more can be found at the Made in Hawaii Store.
THE LAW DEFINES a product as "made in Hawaii" if it has "at least 51 percent of its wholesale value added by manufacture, assembly, fabrication or production within the state." According to Hammond, "This year's participants have all signed affidavits stating that they understand the law on made in Hawaii labeling and that everything they sell at the show passes the legal test and is in keeping with the spirit of the show."
In addition, Hammond says organizers have been working closely with the Office of Consumer Protection over the past few years to ensure the festival's exhibitors comply with the letter of the law. "We've invited OCP to send staff to Blaisdell before the show opens to look for any questionable products."
That said, it doesn't mean every component of every product for sale at the festival must be made in Hawaii, Hammond explains.
"That's just common sense, given that most materials we consume here come from somewhere else. For example, if Kanemitsu Bakery on Molokai uses flour from Nebraska to make their delicious breads, I don't think anybody would argue that they aren't 'local.' Our exhibitors put their heart and soul into creating and assembling their products.
That means you can be proud of 'buying Hawaii' with every purchase you make at the show."
Supporting the local economy begins by supporting local companies, Hammond says, and the Made in Hawaii Festival provides consumers with an opportunity to interact with them, one on one.
"Plus," she says, "it offers a preview of all the new local products that will be introduced for the holiday season. In fact, many of our exhibitors test market their products at the show because it attracts such a great local audience."
Hammond asserts she has the best job in town. "How many people," she asks, "can say they get to shop while they work?"
Listen to the music
Friday
Noon: Jerry Santos
1 p.m.: Del Beazley
3 p.m.: Melveen Leed
5 p.m.: Maunalua, with former Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio performing the hula
7 p.m.: Jay Larrin
Saturday
10 a.m.: Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom
11 a.m.: Frank DeLima
1 p.m.: Marlene Sai
3 p.m.: 'Ale'a
5 p.m.: Robi Kahakalau
7 p.m.: Nathan Aweau
Sunday
11 a.m.: Raiatea Helm
1 p.m.: Sean Na'auao
3 p.m.: Darren Benitez
Made in Hawaii cuisine
Cooking demonstrations by Oahu's top chefs
Friday
2 p.m.: Mark Ellman, Maui Tacos
4 p.m.: Eric Leterc, Pacific Club
6 p.m.: Matt Johnson and Miles Murakami, Sergio's
Saturday
Noon: Almar Arcano, Hy's Steak House
2 p.m.: Veronica Macciess, Sinaloa Hawaiian Tortillas
4 p.m.: Elmer Guzman, Sam Choy's Diamond Head
6 p.m.: Fred DeAngelo, Tiki's Grill & Bar
Sunday
Noon: Kevin Tate, Kevin's Two Boots
2 p.m.: Marcia Cades, Kakaako Kitchen
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based free-lance writer and Society of American Travel Writers award winner.
