Malama Palama Store entrance - before!

Another "before" shot.

Store entrance - a few hours later!

The store's Christmas decor table.

Sometimes I get so busy doing stuff that I forget to reflect and appreciate the things that have been accomplished – and the folks who helped get them accomplished. The past few weeks since Malama Palama: Festival of 100 Voices have been a blur. As a result, I have not even written a follow-up blog to show readers who were unable to attend just what it was like.

I spent a great deal of my time in the days just prior to the event pricing items – we had more than 500, ranging from elegant $100 dresses, reduced from $380, to kitschy kids’ stuff at $1 . Thank goodness Jerry is retired and is fabulous with a computer – I absolutely could not have done it without him. Maude Lau, who did a great job chairing the Malama Palama Store and Country Store, worked tirelessly for months to make her goal of $12,000 for the stores, She brought in $12,000!

As we set up the store, Jerry was still putting items and prices in the computer.

My brother, Robbie Rath, and my cousin, Jim Beavers, were also a huge help on Saturday. In the background, my cousin Dora and my sister Berta are taking a little shopping break with Island Slipper.

Then came the visual merchandising – making a huge empty space magically appear as a retail paradise.  When it comes to visual merchandising, I promise you there is no better friend and helper than Doug Jago, visual merchandising guru at Neiman Marcus. He literally worked magic on the room, spreading fairy dust on all of us and creating a camaraderie that was exciting and exhilarating. We all learned so much from him. I have now done a number of events with Doug and I just try to be a sponge, learning as much as I can. He is such an amazing person that his creativity is a bit contagious. How lucky we were to have a bit of it rub off on us!

The Island Slipper store within Malama Palama.

We received unbelievably generous support from John Carpenter and Island Slipper. He sent in his prized employee, Cindy, and her crew of three, and they literally set up an Island Slipper store within our store. They were busy constantly, as they were selling their high quality slippers for 50% off. And would you believe every penny of their sales went to Palama Settlement? Have you ever heard of such a thing? In addition, they provided us with 500 shopping bags and dozens of water bottles to give away. (And , yes, I love my new red palaka Island Slippers. Who could resist?)

Of course Berta and Dora had to try - and buy - Island Slippers!

This was the men's best seller.

The generosity of all the donors to Malama Palama Store was heart warming and truly amazing. I simply cannot thank them enough. Sales were fantastic!

In addition, Maude had a huge bake sale, as well as produce and plants, on the lanai. They did a blockbuster business out there too! Even Zippy‘s pitched in with a dozen custard pies. She enlisted her friends in the Chinese Women’s Society, embellished them in aprons and broad-brimmed hats, and put them to work. The Kamehameha Lions Club Wahine were incredible volunteers as well! They somehow knew exactly what was needed.

Here are a few more photos to give you a sense of what the store was like:

Gift baskets were popular and gift certificates flew out the door!

Handbags sold well.

As predicted, jewelry was the biggest seller of all!

Of course there were many other activities all day at Malama Palama. Sadly, I couldn’t get to all of them. Latko the magician was a star on the stage. If you ever get a chance to see him, don’t miss it!  The Farrington Drill Team was fantastic. Keiki loved working with clay with the Hawaii Potters’ Guild and learning to stencil with Sierra Dew. Sorry my photos offer just a smattering of all the wonderful things happening that day.

Palama keiki had their faces painted by board member Mary Ann Changg

Extraordinary Mary Ann Changg, a photographer, stylist, and makeup artist, is also a clown named Sparkles.

The Farrington Lady Govs gave us a water polo demonstration.

Well, I need to close this blog now. I am due down at Palama for the annual Community Christmas party in half an hour. It’s always a great place to be. About 500 families attend and every child aged 0 to 11 goes home with a wrapped gift (unless it’s opened on the spot, which often happens.) This party is a reminder of those we serve.  For many of them, this party is their only Christmas celebration and their Palama gift is the only gift they will receive this year. That’s why it’s so special to me.

- Paula Rath