Keōkea Open Market to Host Last Monthly Event, Transitions to Quarterly in 2016

Upcountry sound is the speciality of Keōkea recording artist Richard Dancil (left) and Ha`iku musician Wes Furumoto, who will serenade shoppers at a Holiday Crafts at Keokea Marketplace event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Photo credit: Kekoa Enomoto.

The Keokea Homestead Farm Lots Association will host its last “monthly” edition of its open market events this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015.

The organization announced that it will host “quarterly” events in 2016 in place of the second-Sunday-of-the-month open markets that it had held throughout 2015.

Organizers cited an upswing in islandwide farmers markets, lowering vendor and shopper turnout at the homestead’s fledgling 16-month operation.

In the new year, the nonprofit Keōkea Homestead Farm Lots Association will present the quarterly open-market events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The schedule includes: Da Taste of Keōkea on April 23; Father’s Day special June 19; Keōkea Hoʻolauleʻa on Sept. 3, and Holiday Crafts at Keōkea Marketplace on Nov. 5, 2016.

The last “monthly” edition of the open market takes place this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The event features musicians Richard Dancil, Kapali Keahi of Lahaina and Wes Furumoto of Haʻikū.

The holiday themed event includes seasonal gift items, homemade food and fresh produce and plants. The Keōkea Marketplace is located at Mile Marker 17 of Kula Highway at Kaʻamana Street, a quarter-mile past Grandma’s Coffeehouse.

The Keokea Homestead Farm Lots Association represents Maui’s only Native Hawaiian agricultural homestead, encompassing 66 two-acre lots dedicated to sustainable, subsistence farming.

For vendor applications, contact Kalena Park at: [email protected].