Maku'u Farmer's Market Closed Today (Sept 4)

[Lodestone]

Or, as our departed philosopher/catcher Yogi Berra once put it:

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

[terracore]

JMO, but beyond just produce how about any product grown / made in Hawaii.

And if we have the ear of the Maku'u people, why not offer a year-long "pass" for $25 that can be displayed and those people quickly waived into the Sunday market rather than everybody waiting for auntie to dig through her purse while traffic backs up dangerously onto the highway all the way to Ainaloa? Those once-a-year people like myself can still pay the regular $1 fee. Hey! Christmas is coming up. What's a better stocking stuffer than a year's worth of entry into the Maku'u market?

[KeaauRich]

As long as we're adding our two cents' worth, I also like the idea of added produce sales days, but maybe make it days that don't conflict with the major Hilo and Kinoole market days. That might make it easier for vendors to work multiple markets (as some already do) and give us more opportunities to buy produce from (theoretically) local providers.

[shockwave rider]

The Kinoole market in Hilo is the only one I know of that has a Hawaii produced only policy. I like the Pahoa Sunday market for produce, I get everything from one booth who grow most of what they sell and can get in and out in minutes. If I end up shopping in Keaau I go to the outdoor market there for produce and get my other groceries across the street.

I think a $50 front window sticker that gets a car in and out of Maku'u for free all year would be popular, both for vendors and customers. Make it a tax deductible donation to the building fund.

[Frankie Stapleton]

I doubt the Hawaiians who sponsor the Sunday Makuu market on HHL would want to compete with Uncle Robert's Wednesday night event that has some of the same vendors. Both markets help finance native Hawaiians and their endeavors. They had a sign up from at least Friday notifying the public that Makuu market would be closed Sunday.

[pahoated]

quote:

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Originally posted by Frankie Stapleton

I doubt the Hawaiians who sponsor the Sunday Makuu market on HHL would want to compete with Uncle Robert's Wednesday night event that has some of the same vendors. Both markets help finance native Hawaiians and their endeavors.

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That is why a produce only day for Saturday was suggested. It probably wouldn't bother the produce vendors to have two days.

It's fine to imply that native Hawaiians are benefiting from both but the times I have been to Maku'u on Sunday, it is almost all tourist day, tourists manning trinket and food plate tables. Didn't see any native Hawaiians there. Going to Uncle Roberts, there are Thai guys out front, a bunch of white people booths, very few native Hawaiian produce tables.

The real point is why call it a Farmer's Market when there are almost no "farmers" there? Fine, it is more and more popular as a hangout place. How is that supporting local farmers? Why should popularity be a factor?

*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*

[Lodestone]

quote:

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Why should popularity be a factor?

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Wait, what? Anyway...

We go there almost every week; seems like mostly locals are in attendance and plenty of farmers and their fresh, delicious local-grown produce (as well as some off-season pineapples that look suspiciously like Costco, but whatever.) Lots of food vendors, local band playing. OK, so there are arts and crafts for sale (again, locally produced), but just try telling our wives that is a bad thing. []

The tourists there spending money is just a bonus. We always bring our off-island friends there: it is the quintessential Puna experience, and one of the best Farmer's Markets anywhere. Breakfast, groceries, music, and people-watching (tourist, meet hippie) at its finest. What's not to like?

[Kapoho Joe]

quote:

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Originally posted by pahoated

quote:

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Originally posted by Frankie Stapleton

I doubt the Hawaiians who sponsor the Sunday Makuu market on HHL would want to compete with Uncle Robert's Wednesday night event that has some of the same vendors. Both markets help finance native Hawaiians and their endeavors.

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That is why a produce only day for Saturday was suggested. It probably wouldn't bother the produce vendors to have two days.

It's fine to imply that native Hawaiians are benefiting from both but the times I have been to Maku'u on Sunday, it is almost all tourist day, tourists manning trinket and food plate tables. Didn't see any native Hawaiians there. Going to Uncle Roberts, there are Thai guys out front, a bunch of white people booths, very few native Hawaiian produce tables.

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If you hear the whooshing sound Ted, that's the point flying over your head. The native Hawaiians are the ones collecting the booth rental fees and therefore benefit from running the two largest outdoor markets in Puna. I would go on to point out which vendors are native Hawaiians, but I digress.

[TomK]

"a bunch of white people booths"

WTF?

[Guest]

LOL, Yeah Ted, first thing that I think is " LA haina "