Cactus with Polynesian design logo Vendor Application Process
For current vendors and
those interested in becoming a future vendor

Vendor Application Packet for wait list (pdf)

Food Application Packet for wait list (pdf)

Communication: We use EMAIL

We communicate with you via EMAIL. Keeping your email address updated is important. A valid phone number enables us to contact you if a time-sensitive response is needed. As we are all volunteers, we will sometimes only be available after work hours or on weekends, so please indicate if your need is urgent.

Please give us an email that is checked regulary: This is how we alert you to potential changes, when it's time to make a reservation for Load In, ifthere are changes, and all those other important issues.

Food Vendors: Tips for selection Festival attendees consistently rate and comment on the foods offered and the length of the food lines each year through our surveys.

They are a demanding bunch, and they know what they like: "it's the ono grinds!"

The Food Vendor Committee looks for a variety of foods that fit the theme of "local" foods (read: home cookin' from Hawaii and the South Pacific.) While many vendors want to only do teriyaki chicken, the Committee looks beyond that one menu item for other favorites from many islands.

The Committe also looks at the potential vendor's capacity to serve a LOT of people. Our attendees complain about long lines that move slowly and we listen. Experience with high volume special event food service is a definite plus.

Merchandise Vendors: Tips for selection

Festival attendees are also vocal about our merchandise selection and quality. They want both island style and island lifestyle products.

They are looking for everything from fine art to fine craftmanship. They are not excited about having too many imported goods that are not authentic and there are only so many teeshirts before they all begin to look alike.

The Merchandise Vendor Committee looks for a variety of products that not only will appeal to transplanted islanders but also appeal to a wide audience that loves colorful and tropical products of good quality.
Application postmarks, review dates, and the vendor selection process New vendor applications are posted onto the website in September each year. Applications are downloadable using Adobe Acobat. Vendors from the last year's Festival will have a packet emailed to them a few weeks earlier.
Tip: Keep your contact information current!

As applications arrive, they are stamped with the date of postmark and vendor fee payments are deposited. As payments clear the bank, they are batched and go to the selection committee. Vendors with payments that don't clear are notified and the new postmark date (when the payment was sent) is noted.

The first review postmark date (usually early November) is indicated on the application and applications in by that date go to committee for the jurying process.

"Jurying" means the selection committee will go through the applications in date order to make selections for quality and relation to our organizational purpose. We want a wide variety of products and as few duplications as possible. You may have a postmark on your application by the November deadline a number of vendors with same or similar product may be ahead of you with earlier postmarks. Mailing your application in October helps a great deal.

New applicants should always send lots of pictures and descriptions so we have enough information to make a decision on your products. Links to your website are also good - just remember to tell us which products you wish to bring.
The wait list Vendor applications not accepted in the first review are contacted and asked if they would like to be put onto the wait-list. Wait-listed applications are reviewed if someone has to cancel. Usually this is about the first week of January but can be anytime up until the week of the event.

If the vendor applicant is not interested in going onto the wait-list, the fee payment is immediately returned.

If the vendor applicant IS interested in going onto the wait-list, the application and fee is kept until an opportunity arises. (The check will not be deposited but we will hold onto it.) If an opeing comes up, the Festival will immediately try to contact the vendor with the offer of space by phone and email. If there is a rapid response needed, we will let you know how long you have to make the decision. (Varies on how close the event is...)

Once the wait-listed vendor accepts the offer, the fee payment is deposited. Once payment is cleared, the vendor receives the official notification of acceptance and any other information previously sent to vendors.
Cancellations
and No-shows
Festival cancellation deadlines are hard deadlines. We must make hard deadline contracts with print, sound, tent rental and other companies and must make deposits and payments in advance ourselves.

Cancellations MUST be made in writing to the Festival Board of Directors to be valid. Your Vendor Chair can help you with the process. Please notify us that you aren't coming, even if it's last minute and just days before the event. Explain your reasons for the cancellation and we will try to work with you as much as possible.

No-Shows are automatically put onto a 'watch' list and any future applications will be so marked but not automatically banned from consideration.

But a second no-show will result in automatic disqualification for future events. Two no-shows demonstrate complete disrespect for the Festival and all the volunteers, performers, and other vendors that work so hard to create a fun, family oriented, and quality event.
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