Zipping around Magic Island in a golf cart yesterday, pointing out the most popular rides and shows at the Honolulu Family Festival, Fran Kirk suddenly got nostalgic for her childhood.

"The park has a lot of memories. We used to have big picnics here," said the Waikiki entertainment producer, who volunteered her time to help put on the festival.

"This gets people to enjoy the park again, to care about it."

The festival debuted last year as part of the city's centennial celebrations, and was brought back this year by popular demand. Kirk says the event was put on to give families something cheap and fun to do together.

The event attracted 60,000 people last year, despite being postponed for a week because of heavy rains. Organizers expect the crowd tally will reach 100,000 this year.

"A family can come with maybe 30 bucks," Kirk said.

"Mom and dad can have dinner. The keiki can eat, and there's still money left over from that for rides."

The festival kicked off Thursday, but attendance was expected to be highest yesterday and today.

At the festival yesterday afternoon, Joy Cohen sat under a shade tree eating cheese and crackers. She was taking a breather from what was sure to be a long day.

The 'Ewa Beach resident came to the festival with her 2-year-old grandniece, who loves kiddie rides. A second grandniece and two grandnephews — ages 10, 9 and 4 — were set to join her later with their parents.

She wasn't planning to go home until the festival shut down for the night. "I think it's a good thing," Cohen said.

Downtown resident Kerry James and her husband came to the festival for the food, especially the huli huli chicken — whose thick, smoky aroma hung in the hot carnival air, intermingling with the sweet smell of funnel cakes.

Their 12-year-old daughter was more interested in the rides, especially the ones with names like "The Inverter" and "Pharaoh's Fury." Her parents convinced her to try the bumper cars instead, and she relented easily, skipping to get in line.

In addition to rides, there were dozens of food booths. And they weren't just selling traditional carnival fare.

Alex Rodriguez, of 'Ewa Beach, manned the Latin Grindz booth yesterday. He said business was picking up a bit, after an initial reluctance from eventgoers to try something new. "Some of them ask, 'What is that, what is that?' " he said.

Rodriguez, who owns a catering business, said he was selling gandule rice, empandillas, taquitos and pastelles. He made about $700 in sales on Thursday, and $1,000 on Friday.

Nearby, Aiea Korean United Methodist Church was selling plate lunches mounded with kim chee, khal bi and rice.

Proceeds from the church's sales will go to the construction of a new building. The booth was averaging $15,000 in sales a day. "We're trying to build up our church," said Eunju Kim, one of dozens of volunteers who helped operate the booth.

To get customers, they taped big posters of Korean soap opera stars on their booth and wore matching T-shirts. If that wasn't enough, two of their volunteers even played the tambourine to attract attention as people walked by.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.