Business Monday: Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair kicks off this week

Two years ago, I‘ini Kahakalau was hoping to secure a booth at the iconic Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Craft Fair, which she calls the “Mecca of Hawaiian shopping.”

While her business of revitalizing Hawaiian language through games, education and coloring books would qualify for the event, she thought it was a long shot to get into the prestigious fair.

“This is an invitational craft fair and new spots are very hard to come by,” Kahakalau said.

But when two booths became available in 2022, Kahakalau’s Ku-A-Kanaka secured one of the spots out of 300 to 400 applicants. Her business, like most vendors in past fairs, will be back again this year.

The craft fair is part of the Merrie Monarch Festival, which started in the 1970s and is internationally recognized as the premier showcase for hula and Hawaiian culture, attracting thousands of visitors worldwide.

This year, the arts and crafts fair runs Wednesday through Saturday. Vendors are spread out throughout town, but the coveted booths to snag are at the main craft fair event, located at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium & Butler Buildings, a walking distance from the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium, 350 Kalanikoa St. It also is the sight of the hula competition.

Craft fair vendors also are located at Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and the Naniloa Hotel.

Every year, a waitlist of about 100 businesses hope to get one of those booths.

“For vendors, our craft fair offers unparalleled exposure to an audience that deeply appreciates authentic Hawaiian arts, crafts and cultural products,” said Taylor Escalona, co-chair of the Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair.

Kahakalau said almost every vendor at their booth comes up with a theme.

“You feel like you’re in these mini-stores tailored to the products,” Kahakalau said. “They rebuild the backdrops, displays and shelving. People get fresh flowers every day. People are proud of their accomplishments and what they’re selling.”

This year, Escalona said they currently have more than 150 vendors from the Big Island, O’ahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Moloka’i, as well as a couple from California. They include artisans, crafters, food trucks, lei makers and nonprofit community organizations.

Vendors are selected for Hawaiʻi made products that are unique, quality crafted and have Hawaiian cultural value.

“We’re one of the few educational booths and we’re so grateful to be there,” Kahakalau said.

There is a “rigorous” vetting process of vendors that ensures products are locally made in Hawai’i, maintaining the fair’s reputation for authentic craftsmanship.

“What also makes our event so desirable is the thousands of attendees from across the world who come specifically seeking genuine Hawaiian artistry,” Kawazoe said. “Many vendors work year-round creating products exclusively for this event, knowing this single week provides an unmatched opportunity to showcase their finest work to an appreciative global audience.”

Kahakalau said the craft fair is an example of how Hawaiian economics and culture should work. It supports Hawaiian-grown businesses while keeping money local.

“It might seem a few dollars more, but you’re buying quality,” Kahakalau said.

There are vendors using traditional Hawaiian knowledge to create hula implements like the double-gourded drum or wood carvings. People are making jewelry out of tree bark known as kapa, shells, broken glass washed up on beaches or recycled trash.

Donna Cockett of Kaua‘i has been attending the craft fair as a vendor since the mid-1990s. She started at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The reason she got her spot near the stadium was because a previous vendor died.

Cockett is a master lauhala weaver. However, she expanded her skills years ago into weaving bracelets with gold and silver threads adorned by pearls.

Cockett said one reason there aren’t more vendors is because of lack of space.

Cockett has had the same 8-foot-by-8-foot booth for years. At the end of each festival, she pays the Merrie Monarch team $500 to secure her space for the following year.

The craft fair also includes hula shows, music and impromptu performances.

“There’s such an air of excitement throughout the whole day (of the craft fair),” Cockett said. ” All of the people are so nice and humble. It’s just aloha, the way it’s supposed to be.”

The Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Craft Fair kicks off on Wednesday and ends on Saturday. Vendors will be located at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium & Butler Buildings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.