New market is drawing a crowd
Maui Sunday Market was designed for visitors but locals are coming around too
Staff Writer
KAHULUI — As the weekend was ending Sunday, hundreds of people were converging at the Kahului Shopping Center parking lot for what has become a regular weekly stop for food trucks, local vendors and live music.
“The numbers are mind-boggling,” said co-founder Kau‘i Kahaiali‘i, who estimates that up to 2,000 people show up for the Maui Sunday Market. “The feedback has been nothing more than tremendous, pono, good.”
Since late July, the market has operated from 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays in a cordoned-off, half-acre section of the shopping center parking lot along Kaahumanu and Puunene avenues.
Thirteen to 15 food trucks and 20 to 30 vendors fill the space, which includes a tent set up for eating and a stage for live entertainment.
“I like to support local businesses, so this is the opportunity to do that, get some food, some good beverages, some shopping,” said Paia resident Brad Gross, who stopped for food and “the best kombucha on the island” with his 11-year-old son, Nate. “We got excited when we drove by the first time we saw it.”
On Sunday, he got his first taste of Poutine, a concoction of french fries with cheese curd and gravy,
from the Just Put In food truck.
Kahaiali‘i and Luana Mahi, president of the nonprofit Maui Food Technology Center, started Maui Sunday Market with the idea of drawing visitors from cruise ships, which dock at nearby Kahului Harbor on Sunday mornings.
After often seeing tourists walking from the cruise ships to Maui Mall or even farther to Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, Kahaiali‘i thought the market could provide another option.
Kahaiali‘i and Mahi also wanted to help revitalize the Kahului community, which doesn’t have a Maui Friday town event. “Even the fifth Friday went to Lanai,” Kahaiali‘i said.
“We thought about it and said Kahului needed its own identity, but what can we do to set it apart from the Friday events,” he said. “It would be good if we could find a way to engage the community with the visitors, help stimulate the community of Kahului.
“From that it morphed into what it is today.”
On average, 1,500 to 1,700 people attend the event each Sunday, most arriving after 5:30 p.m. While some pick up food and leave, others stay to socialize and take in the live music.
On Sunday, Kahaiali‘i joined slack-key artist George Kahumoku Jr., the first musician to take the stage. “He does his community outreach playing music, then he goes to his paid gigs,” Kahaiali‘i said. “It’s a place where he can give back.”
As more people arrive, Kahaiali‘i holds a cordless microphone and walks through the crowd, talking to people about what they’re eating and to vendors about products like mamaki tea soda.
While visitors have found their way to the market, Mahi said most of those attending are residents.
“It turned into more of a local hangout,” she said. “They run into neighbors and friends they haven’t seen in a long time. We hang out for four hours, eat and shop. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Having the market on Sunday is part of its success, Kahaiali‘i said.
“From the get-go, that’s why this worked,” he said. “It’s a Sunday, nobody wants to cook. They relax after church. It was one of those perfect opportunities.”
Admission and parking are free.
Some vendors and food trucks have been part of the market since it started, Kahaiali‘i said. Now, there’s a waiting list for vendors.
First-time seller Courtney Hillinger said she brought her Humbowl Wagon to sell acai bowls after hearing about the market from friends. “They said it got pretty busy,” she said. “I thought it would be a good way to get in the community.”
Kahaiali‘i said one owner rearranged a food truck schedule, closing on another day so the truck could be at the market.
Several food trucks regularly sell out, Kahaiali‘i said.
As the market is closing, there’s still a line for Cream B Maui’s hand-rolled ice cream, Kahaiali‘i said.
“This market is awesome,” said Brittany Moreno-Sajor, owner of Cream B, which celebrated its first year as the first hand-rolled ice cream vendor on wheels on the island. “It’s exactly what we needed – it’s centrally located, especially for the families.
“A lot of the local places to eat close early on Sundays, so this is a good fit.”
Sarah Freitas, with son Moku and his father, Andrew Ponce, arrived early so they could get Cream B ice cream before more people began lining up. “We came specifically for this,” Freitas said.
Across the way, Kihei resident Kawika Klugerman ordered a hot dog in French baguette and a pumpkin cheesecake crepe from Crepes dAmour. “They’re onolicious,” he said.
Klugerman said he was driving by and stopped at the market for the first time. “It’s nice to have,” he said. “I wish it was bigger.”
Arizona residents Inge and James Frye, who are staying in Kihei, arrived early after hearing about the market from another food truck.
“I love food truck food,” Inge Frye said. “It’s fantastic. We want to get something totally different from where we are.”
Many people bring the whole family to the market, said Mila Layaoen, who sold succulents at her Mila’s Succulent Garden booth.
“All my life I’ve been gardening,” she said. “It’s starting to overtake my yard. I started selling my extras.”
At his Hawaii Made Products booth, Juan Estrada sold jewelry, home decor and other products from 50 vendors that he also sells on his e-commerce store. He offered free shipping for products bought at the market.
“It’s definitely one of my best events,” Estrada said.
Kahaiali‘i said the space is leased for the market through the end of the year, with negotiations underway to continue.
The market has missed just one Sunday – Aug. 26, when Tropical Storm Lane hit the islands.
Fewer vendors showed up on Oct. 8, the last day of the Maui Fair, Kahaiali‘i said.
“But the community still came out and supported this event,” he said. “It never missed a beat.”