Manana Spring Fair April 21

Manana Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) hosts its fifth annual “Celebrate Spring” Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at its Pearl City campus.

“The craft fair has been getting bigger every year,” said Cheryl Katano, the school’s parent involvement chairwoman. “The first year we had about 40 vendors, but this year we have space for more than 80 vendors because of the popularity of our event.”

The PTO is hoping for another successful event this year. The 215-member organization partners with the school to provide each grade level with extra funds for classroom supplies and projects, pay for field trip transportation, support extracurricular groups and sponsor a schoolwide art competition. This year, the group purchased iPads for the technology lab.

“The craft fair is a lot of work, but it is worth it,” said PTO president Jodi Akasaki. “Everyone, and I mean everyone – parents, teachers, cafeteria staff, custodians, office staff, students, school users – everyone pitches in and volunteers their time to help out. We all know it’s for our kids, so we all help.”

Vendors will include Island Papercraft, Flowers By Margie, Benny’s Orchids and Gift Baskets, and Aloha Bear Company.

The PTO also will sell food, including beef stew, Spam musubi, saimin, teri beef sticks, teri chicken sticks, fried noodles, chili-cheese nachos and drinks. There will also be inflatable bouncers and games for keiki, including an Angry Birds game.

For more information, call 454-5305, or visit manana.k12.hi.us and click on the PTO link.