ph

ot

o C

re

dit

12 W H E R E c i t y N a m E I Month Year

where now Oahu

Cool down this summer season with a variety of can’t-miss events

Art in motionLocal 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

E~OAHWM_150700_where now.indd 12 5/29/15 8:54:22 AM

ph

ot

o C

re

dit

where nowp

re

vio

us

pa

ge

an

d t

his

pa

ge

to

p:

©M

ar

k h

ow

ar

d;

th

is p

ag

e b

ot

to

M:

©n

iCk

we

lzie

www.wheretraveler.com 13

More 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.“

E~OAHWM_150700_where now.indd 13 6/1/15 8:55:58 AM