HONOLULU — Located just past the corner of Waialae Ave. and Koko Head Ave. in Kaimuki, the eye-catching, turquoise-colored Okumura Building will host a summer pop-up on June 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shoppers will find one-of-a-kind items from hand-stitched leather bags and upcycled vintage apparel to fabrics in a rainbow of colors for any project you can imagine, as well as sustainable, eco-conscious household items, and more.
Katie Meadows, owner of Every Day Better by Green Meadows, coordinated the June 25 pop-up event and will be one of the participating businesses.
“The Okamura Building is occupied by several creative female business owners, and I like to think that we support other locals with the same ingenuity,” said Meadows. “We love showcasing small locally owned businesses and creating interest for our community and customers!
“Since our first pop-up, we’ve had customers continue to ask when we’ll be planning our next one, so we know the community looks forward to them. Speaking for myself, staying in business has been a challenge, especially this year. Special events always draw better business for the building, and that’s another reason that motivates us to put in the work to coordinate a multi-vendor pop-up event,” said Meadows.
Before opening her shop in 2019, Meadows said there weren’t any local shops that prioritized plastic-free products. She wanted to live a greener lifestyle but couldn’t find a lot of the products in the stores that she found online.
“Plastic is so prevalent, and I wanted to be able to shop for practical or cute things without having to worry about the negative impacts of plastic when purchasing it and bringing it into my household. When the perfect spot opened up on Koko Head Avenue, I knew it was a sign to move forward because I love Kaimuki!” said Meadows.
Every Day Better by Green Meadows specializes in eco-conscious homeware and gifts. Meadows personally curates items that are practical, of good design with aesthetic appeal. Products are plastic-free, made sustainably from natural materials, and are handmade in small batches. Customers can find products from local makers/designers/artists, as well as products from the Mainland and other countries.
“I love working with other businesses that are equally committed to moving toward a more environmentally friendly future,” said Meadows. In reference to the pop-up, she said, “Besides working with vendors that are eco-conscious, we also work with many businesses that are inspired to give back to their community by making donations to nonprofits that benefit the environment or at-risk demographics.”
Sitting next door to Every Day Better by Green Meadows on the first floor Is The Calico Cat, a boutique fabric shop owned by Carol Kuniyoshi, daughter of Fred and Ruth Okumura, who built the Okumura Building in the 1960s. Kuniyoshi opened her fabric store in 1982.
Walk in the door and the multi-colored reams of fabrics in an array of designs lining the walls and aisles will confirm that it is, indeed, a fabric shop. On June 25, Kuniyoshi invites quilters of all levels to stop by 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. for a demonstration by quilter Sandy Corbin.
Owner and designer Megumi of Kimono Megumi, on the second floor, specializes in vintage kimono and hand-stitched leather in the form of handbags, wallets and belts.
“I use two needles to hand stitch the leather because I don’t have a sewing machine for leather,” said Megumi. “I do use a sewing machine for the kimono bags.” Sewing the leather by hand is a time-consuming process, and that’s why she needs to charge a little more for her one-of-a-kind leather items. She uses repurposed leather that can be difficult to find, so she’s recently been ordering leather from Italy.
Megumi also hand stamps some of the bags, something she enjoys. One of them features monstera leaves; another has intricate, repetitive hand-stamped squares on its exterior.
She also creates earrings and keychains incorporating silverware and hardware from Turkey.
In the same shop, weaver and educator Ann Kedl owner of Mottainai (if you know Japanese, you'll get it) offers upcycled items, adding vintage fabrics to clothing such as jeans for a unique offering to customers. Kedl's philosophy — remake, reweave, relove.
Patty Yamasaki Sugai owns and creates designs for Atelier 1223 at Montsuki, located just across the hallway from Megumi. If the name, Montsuki, sounds familiar, it’s because Yamasaki Sugai’s mother opened Montsuki in Kakaako in 1979 with the encouragement of her daughter. It’s there that Yamasaki Sugai got firsthand experience with sewing.
Now, with nearly four decades in the textile business, Yamasaki Sugai incorporates vintage Japanese textiles and accessories into wearable apparel, just as her mother did. Her creations are truly unique as she designs collections based on the materials she has on hand. Within the tiny atelier alongside her vintage-modern pieces, customers will also find a range of jewelry by Myrna Lee Chang.
Other small businesses participating in the June 25 pop-up include Cathy’s Vintage Rose, Christy of Rare Birds Soap Co., Dean Suzuki, DeStash Hawaii, Double Happyness, Erika Krayman, Island Keiki, Little Maki Studio, and Shari’s Succy.
Past pop-ups have made donations to Lanakila Meals on Wheels because it employs residents, supports the local community, welcomes local volunteers, and ultimately supports local kupuna.
A portion of the fee paid by vendors to participate in the pop-up event will be donated to Lanakila Meals on Wheels. Donation jars will also be available at the event for anyone who wants to make a donation.
The ongoing construction right at the corner of Waialae Ave. and Koko Head Ave. blocks the Okumura Building from the main road, but once you pass it, the turquoise-colored, two-story building pops out. It’s located at 1223 Koko Head Ave.
“The Okumura Building has its charm,” said Yamasaki Sugai. “I think it started from Mr. Okumura. He was very eclectic, a very flashy dresser, I thought. I’m not sure why he picked turquoise, but he was a very nice man and I remember him when he and Mrs. Okumura had the dry cleaner.”
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.
