’Tis the season for
church fund-raisers

A holiday tradition shared by churches of many denominations is the fund-raising fair. The season has begun.

The Salvation Army gets a head start with a sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Handmade quilts, Christmas ornaments, needlework and other crafts are available at the Women's Ministries Holiday Craft Faire at the Kauluwela Mission Corps, 296 N. Vineyard Blvd. Plants, white elephant items and baked goods also will be sold. Food booths will offer chicken or spaghetti plate lunches, hot dogs and other refreshments.

Shoppers will have several choices next Saturday with sales at:

» Church of the Holy Nativity, 5286 Kalanianaole Highway. The Holiday Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. will feature crafts and ornaments, Jan's Jams and Jellies, and Kristy's Portuguese bean soup. A live auction at 10 a.m., followed by a silent auction, offers a set of Haviland/Limoges china, German beer steins, paintings and Hawaiiana items. Jewelry will be modeled by Miss Hawaii Teen 2004 Katherine Casciato, Miss Junior Teen Hawaii 2004 Raquel Guss and her mother, Dede Guss, who was Mrs. Hawaii 1999.

» First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, 1822 Keeaumoku St. The 28th All-Church Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. will feature a designer clothing boutique, a kids' shop, Thanksgiving and Christmas craft items, baked goods, jams and household white elephant objects. Select items will be offered in a silent auction. Snacks will be available.

» Manoa Valley Church, 2728 Huapala St. Food booths are a major draw at the Craft and Harvest Fair from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Besides the silent auction and booths selling plants, gifts, clothes, books, CDs and white elephant things, there will be chicken plates, noodles, sushi, chili-rice, hamburgers and hot dogs.

» Pearl City Hongwanji Mission, 858 2nd St. The Fujinkai Craft Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. will offer handmade craft creations, plants and produce. Homemade sushi, pickled vegetables, baked goods, and jams and jellies are specialties of the women's group.

» Kailua Hongwanji Temple, 30-D Maluniu Ave. The annual garage sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. has an array of members' sewing and craft work, and donated clothing, kitchen goods and toys.

That's just the beginning of the season. Coming up is the Nov. 13 Bazaar at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., it will offer toys, quilts, arts and crafts, a country store, and a Kiddies Korner. Special treasures will be sold in a silent auction.