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Oahu
Cool down this summer season with a variety of can’t-miss events
Art in motion
Local artists paint the town red during
the yearly Haleiwa Arts Festival.
By Kristen nemoto
i n s i d e r ’ s g u i d e
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M
ore than just a shave ice destination, Haleiwa
has groomed local aspiring artists for nearly two
decades. The weekend of July 18 to 19 will carry
on the tradition of artistic expression as the 18th annual
Haleiwa Arts Festival will take place at Haleiwa Beach Park.
“It is so rewarding to see artists talk to people first hand
and (getting) to see them blossom and excel,”says Haleiwa
Arts Festival executive director Kathleen Ells who is grateful
for all of the hard work and dedication that the local art-
ists and community members put in to make the festival
become a reality each year.“This juired event will host
over 130 visual as well as performing artists. (It’s) a family
friendly (event) and free to the public.”
Community has been the major theme of the festival
for quite some time. Since 1997, local artists were in abun-
dance in Haleiwa and eventually a small group of them
decided to create their own organization to showcase their
artwork. Steadfast and determined, they successfully cre-
ated the Haleiwa Arts Festival the following year as a formal
nonprofit organization.
Soon sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers,
woodcrafters and performers joined into the mix and the
event snowballed into a visual arts showcase that high-
lights the community’s need for“art and culture awareness,
education and participation.”
Once again this year, the festival will push for an eco-
friendly event. Ells believes it is important for the festival
to give back to the community by respecting the very
environment that many artists use for their inspiration.
“The Haleiwa Arts Festival has worked hard to become
a green and zero waste event,”she says. Although over
10,000 visitors pass through the festival, HAF has taken a
proactive approach in refocusing visitors’mindsets when
it comes to waste such as partnering up with Sustainable
Coastline Hawaii and Plastic Free Hawaii. Both of whom
have helped to offer greener solutions for HAF and the
overall North Shore community.
“The food vendors are all required to use eco-friendly
utensils and bio-degradable products,”she continues.“All
visitors bring their own eco-container for free fill ups at wa-
ter stations ... We also have recycle and zero waste stations
near and around our dining tents and food stations.”
The food vendors will range from Thai cuisine, pizza,
hearty plate lunches, kettle corn, salads and organic ice
cream sandwiches and shave ice.
There will be vendors fit for keiki, providing hands on
activities such as clay, mask and mural making. Vendors
who will also be in attendance are the Red Cross, The Out-
door Circle, and information about monk seal protection
and disaster preparedness information.
Following the tradition this year in selecting a HAF
artist’s work to represent the annual event, Nick Welzie was
chosen as the featured artist for HAF’s new T-shirt design
and poster. Past featured artists have included Wyland,
Rebecca Gates, Clark Little and Mark Howard.
Ells is proud to showcase visual artists, whom talents
range from painting, printmaking, wood carvings, jewelry,
photography, ceramics, fiber art, fabric and glass.
“It is very exciting and heartwarming to see the com-
munity come out, both locals and visitors alike, to take
in such a treat for the senses,”she says.“We have such an
amazing group of talented and spirited artists that are
there to talk to you about their crafts and what they love.”
”It is very exciting and
heartwarming to see the
community come out ...
to take in such a treat for
the senses.“
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