6-7 Thursday, April 13, 2017 Tat the fairs his year’s Merrie Monarch Festival week features some new additions to an already popular craft fair circuit jam-packed with local designers and crafters, entertainers, food vendors and cultural practitioners. As the official craft fair of the Merrie Monarch Festival, the annual four-day Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair is at the center of the celebration. Dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture, this year’s fair — Wednesday through Saturday, April 19-22 — features nearly 170 master Hawaiian artisans and handcrafters, featuring everything from designer fashions to cultural demonstrations and workshops. “We look at our event like having an annual family get-together,” says fair director Nelson Makua. “It’s one big ohana of artists and producers celebrating all things Hawaiian.” New this year is a lauhala weaving workshop, along with other sessions such as kapa making, ‘ohe kapala, lauhala weaving, Niihau shell lei making, pahu drums and native Hawaiian plants. “It adds a hands-on experience for the attendees,” Makua says. “They can actually get involved with the fair, and go home with whatever they make. People come and hang out all day so now they have something else to do while they’re hanging out.” There is no set schedule for the workshops — just come and join in. One of the fair’s biggest draws is the number of local designers showcased in one spot. “I think that’s half the draw of the fair,” Makua says. “No one else has this collection of local apparel designers. We’ve also managed this year to give some of the local designers bigger booth space so it’s easier for people to shop. Some of the vendors have been asking for that for years, and we were finally able to do that for three of them this year.” Among the Hawaiian Arts Fair designers are Wahine Toa, Simply Sisters, Ha Wahine, Hina Hawaii, Living Hula, East Hawaii Clothing Company, Kupu A‘e Molokai, Kealopiko, Warrior Designs Hawaii, Lavena Hawaii, Lee’s fashions, Hana Lima Hand Dyes, Hawaiian Force and Na Makua Designs. There are 10 new vendors this year, mostly in the food Merrie Monarch arts and crafts events to feature talented newcomers By KATIE YOUNG YAMANAKA Special to the Tribune-Herald See FAIRS Page 8
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