LIHU’E — Bike enthusiasts will gather at Kalena Park at 4:30 p.m. Saturday for the Bikes on Rice group’s monthly community ride through and around Lihu’e.
This is one of the changes made in support of the downtown Lihu’e Night Market which takes place on the second Saturday of every month, the schedule change for Bikes on Rice designed to bring more people in the market as the group leaves Kalena Street. in groups influenced by COVID to make time insufficient to frequent the market set up on Kress Street.
Market manager Lexi Jones toured Kalena Park, making sure the park was safe to accommodate the group. One of his tasks was to check Kress Street, post parking warning signs in front of the market which runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and clear the street of trash.
One of the improvements to the street includes cleaning and maintaining the driveway between the Robert’s Jewelry building, the Alakoko store house, and the old Kaua’i Realty building.
“It’s a workshop space where we do Alakoko workshops,” said Krystl Apeles of Alakoko. “Dr. Addison Bulosan did most of the heavy lifting himself. He literally dug up the overgrowth, and even one of the tables is from his specific chiropractic shop. His friend donated the gravel. If people are looking a place to do workshops is available, they can make an appointment by calling Alakoko at 808-378-4733.
The space, decorated by artist Kayti Latrop, the same artist who did the facade for Alakoko and Robert, and features a semi-open space with plenty of seating.
Apeles said Alakoko uses the space on the third Wednesday of every month for his business mentoring workshops with Robbie Melton from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Next, the artists of Mo’olelo Murals host Paint Paina, a painting workshop with pupu and refreshments raising funds for Mo’olelo Murals.
Artist Mo’olelo Murals is at the heart of the Friday Night Art program which takes place on Kress Street from 2-6pm on Fridays according to information displayed on a banner on Kress Street.
“We have about 38 vendors participating tomorrow,” Jones said. “I have to clean the streets in the morning.”
The next Bikes on Rice Community Ride, sponsored by Get Fit Kaua’i, Kaua’i County and Wai’oli Properties, Inc., will be April 9, meeting at Kalena Park at 4:30 p.m.
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Denis Fujimotowriter and photographer can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
