Abrupt shutdown of a Kauai market slashes vital business for 50 small vendors

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A popular market on Kauai’s North Shore has been abruptly shut down. Organizers are trying to find a solution.

The Princeville Farmers and Artist Market was in operation for several years. After a complaint from a nearby homeowner, the market was shut down in early January. It was a vital lifeline for about 50 small businesses and farmers.

“It’s heartbreaking. They are heartbroken. They are at a complete loss. Many of them are in a panic because their primary source of income is from this market,” market coordinator and vendor Desirea Hirani said.

The market took place once a week on Saturdays for three hours at the Prince Albert Park. During that time, hundreds of people would flow through, buying produce and other goods. Everything was locally made.

It was initially approved through the Princeville at Hanalei Community Association. However, the market upset a small group of homeowners, who filed numerous complaints with concerns, including increased traffic.

“We want to make it very clear, we were never operating knowing there was a violation, that we were in violation,” Hirani said.

The most recent complaint, over zoning and permitting uses of the park, is what shut them down.

According to a notice of violation from Kauai County, commercial use of the park was not allowed, and violations could’ve cost the association a fine of up to $10,000 a day.

“We really weren’t aware because we were all under the impression this was private property. We didn’t recognize there was some type of law that actually involved the county,” Hirani said.

Kauai County Planning Director Ka’aina Hull says this matter remains under active investigation. The community association also says they are working to find a solution.

An online petition to save the market has so far garnered over 2,800 signatures.

Hirani met with the county earlier this week and said there is support for the market from both the association and county leaders, but it would be a lengthy 8-12 month process to re-zone and properly permit the event.

As for the critics who shut them down, Hirani has this message:

“This could’ve been resolved so easily with a conversation,” Hirani said. “There’s a big misconception that we just didn’t know, that we were just willing to break the law, trying to fly under the radar. That wasn’t the case. But had you come up to us or approached us with your concerns, we could’ve easily worked them out with aloha and make it a win-win for everybody. But now you have literally disrupted 50 lives while you live in a very posh neighborhood.”

Hirani says its difficult for vendors to sell at other markets as space is incredibly limited and often at max capacity.

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