Homestead Farmers’ Market

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

For the first time in more than a year, homestead vendors gathered at Lanikeha last Saturday for the launch of a new, monthly Farmers’ Market, hosted by the Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance.

“This is a place for homesteaders and the community to come out — you get your local vendors, your crafters, your farmers, your cooks, your bakers,” said Homestead Alliance member Rosie Davis, who helped organize the event. “They just come down and gather, they make some money, especially right now during this time it’s a little difficult for some that have lost their jobs.”

The market is now planned monthly, and Saturday’s inaugural event featured about 15 vendors selling everything from plants and food plates to pottery and clothing. Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Davis said long lines gathered in the morning and some items sold out quickly.

“Some of the food vendors sold out without an hour just because people were excited there were different kinds of foods coming back out,” said Davis. “The camaraderie today… I can’t even tell you how many people have said thank you.”

Organizers required masks to be worn, temperatures were taken at the door, and only 10 shoppers were allowed inside Lanikeha building at a time. With safety first, Davis said the event also gave a chance for homesteaders to make a few extra dollars for their families.

“We have some really young vendors out here today which shows that their families are really into finding a way to keep themselves afloat,” she observed.

The event also included an Easter toy giveaway for all attendees.

The Farmers’ Market is planned for the first Saturday of each month. Interested vendors can contact the Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance or visit MolokaiHFA.com for more info.