HOW TO BECOME A VENDOR AT THE EVENTS:
You'd have to know and abide by the rules, regulations, conditions and limitations of each event. You can get this as well as a vendor application form from the person in charge of accepting vendors for the event. We furnish this information in our Members pages.

FEES:
Costs involved with selling at events include: a booth fee (can range from $25 to $350+ depending on the event), and a refundable deposit (to encourage you to follow the rules of the event and to keep your area clean). Some events ask for a donation of an item for their raffle or drawings, and a very few require liability insurance or will provide it for you at an additional cost (can range from $50 to $100+). If you require electricity, this may be an additional charge, and sometimes rental of tables, chairs and tents are offered. "Booths" are usually just a space, and you would have to provide your own tent (if outdoors) and display furniture. Some events held indoors will include a table in the booth fee.

SCREENING:
A few events will require the screening of your products to avoid an abundance of similar crafts/products or to maintain a quality standard for the event. If screening is required, it's usually for first-time vendors or if new products are to be sold by a returning vendor. Screening processes vary and can be by phone, or by bringing samples to an appointment (i.e. Mission Houses Fairs), to registration (i.e. Hickam AFB Fairs), or to a specified meeting date for all vendors (i.e. Diamond Head Arts & Crafts Fair).

GENERAL EXCISE TAX LICENSE:
Everyone, residents and visitors, doing business in Hawaii must obtain a G.E.T. license from the State Department of Taxation. There's a one-time filing fee of $20 to apply, and the license is effective for as long as you conduct business in Hawaii or as short as a one-time event. Get more info at: http://www6.hawaii.gov/tax/a7_faq.htm#get. You can file for a one-time event G.E.T. online at http://www.ehawaiigov.org/efile/. The G.E.T. on all goods sold in Hawaii is 4% for retail sales and ½% for wholesale. There's also a ½% surcharge for goods sold on Oahu.

OUT OF STATE VENDORS:
Most events are open to both residents and visitors. Some events, however, due to their theme or organizer restrict participants. For example, The Made-In-Hawaii Festival obviously will accept only products made in Hawaii. Some neighbor island fairs accept only residents of that island.

EVENTS on PUBLIC PARKS
Handcrafters, Resellers and Food Vendors: The City and County of Honolulu does not allow the reselling of goods (retailers) at craft fairs held on Oahu's public parks. Products sold there must be handcrafted to a certain degree by the seller. The degree is often determined by the organization running the fair. Food vendors with food offered for consumption at the event are allowed, however, packaged food is not. These restrictions apply to "craft fairs", but are not mandatory for "festivals", which are events whose predominant purpose is other than the selling of goods.
Weather Protection: "Booths" at events on public parks are outdoor space assignments where sellers must usually provide their own canopy and display furniture. Some, like the "Sunset" events, do provide the tenting, and others may require that your tent's canopy be white. If you would like to rent a tent, there are two companies that will setup and breakdown one for you at most public parks on Oahu. They're listed in our Suplies & Services page .

EVENTS at PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Handcrafters, Resellers and Food Vendors: Events at schools are usually open to all: handcrafters, resellers, and packaged food vendors, however, the organization running the event may have restrictions, like limiting food items if they plan to sell their own for fund-raising. If the event is called "Craft & Gift Fairs", it is a cue that reselling is allowed.
State Tax Clearance Requirement: A State Tax Clearance is often required of vendors for events held on school grounds. Application form is at http://www.state.hi.us/tax/current/a6.pdf, or you can file online at http://www.ehawaiigov.org/efile/. A tax clearance is good for 6 months. Tax clearances are not required for events at private schools.

EVENTS at PRIVATE FACILITIES
Handcrafters, Resellers and Food Vendors: The organizer of the event calls the shots here. Depending on the nature of the event, they may accept only handmade-by-you goods or may accept retail gift items (resellers) as well. Most welcome packaged food items, but may restrict on-site-consumables if they conflict with the facility's food concession.

FOOD VENDORS
Food vendors may be required to have their food prepared in a Department of Health (DOH) certified kitchen, meet other applicable DOH requirements, be insured for $1,000,000 and furnish a certificate of insurance. Events held on public parks are strict in enforcing these requirements, and other events and organizers vary in severity. You'll have to check with each organizer and comply with their requirements.