AIEA, Hawaii (KHON2) – The Kawaii Friends Fair kicks off Thanksgiving weekend at the Pearlridge Center.

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Kawaii means “sweet” in Japanese, so you can expect there to be sweet offerings from local vendors, artists and artisans.

According to event coordinator Alli Uno, Kawaii is a cultural phenomenon in Japan that emphasizes charm, simplicity, childlike innocence and cuteness. It is often associated with a popular aesthetic that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s and is characterized by rounded shapes and bold, cartoon-like lines.

Uno has been an artisan for several years and her secret desire was to host a kawaii-themed craft fair that supports local artisan friends and small businesses like her.

With Christmas just around the corner, they are hosting the “Kawaii Kalikimaka A Friendship Gift Drive” for Keiki and Kupuna. For Keiki, they partner with The Secret Santa Project Hawaii. For the Kupuna, they work with the Aloha Nursing Rehab Center.

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