Blog — Lauhala weaving

The past three weeks has blown by.  Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona's annual weaving conference was back to its regular time of the year.  Last year I used lauhala from our yard but learned, with my haumana the hard way, that lau from wet places like Hilo (and Hōnaunau apparently) becomes extremely brittle in dry places like airconditioned rooms.  My plans to use my own thornless lauhala, which I think is very hardy, was thwarted by the wet weather.  The leaves had mildew stains.  No good for pāpale.  Luckily, I acquired kukaʻa of Fiji voivoi (lauhala).  While it was already light...

Not lauhala related, but I did wear my pāpale:  Back in February Nani and I flew to Oʻahu to attend the Daughters of Hawaii annual business meeting and run an errand for work.  Straight from the airport we had lunch with Daughters Regent Manu, Kehau, and Manu's daughter at Fook Lam Restaurant in China Town...  Amazing dim sum and my first time experience with the push carts with steam baskets.  IFYKYK. Sort of galavanting before the meeting:  Nani took care of business at the polynesian craft supply, I went next door to Nakeʻu Awai Designs.  I just happened to be wearing my Nakeʻu...

January is Muʻumuʻu Month.  I don't have enough muʻumuʻu to wear a different one each day like some on social media, but I try to wear one whenever I leave the house.  So when we went to see Hamilton and then Muʻu at the Museum after, I had to doll up in my nicest holomuʻu...  A vintage Mamo Howell. Seeing all the muʻumuʻu, holomuʻu, and holokū was amazing that night at Hānaiakamalama.  I confess, I fangirled-out seeing muʻu fashionistas that I follow on Instagram in person.  The mākeke was relatively small, but the vendors were excellent. The following week, luncheon with muʻumuʻu friends...

Sometimes thrift stores call to me... Like $7 good quality jeans for working in the yard. And this $2 Liz Claiborne purse... the "leather" handles are perfect for upcycling on a new lauhala purse.  The original purse had a scuff on the other side, but the handles were just fine. I wasn't going to buy it at first because I thought, "really? When are you making another purse?"  But $2!! So I bought the purse back in February and it sat patiently until "it was time."  Said time came up when EH accidently wrecked one of his favorite aloha shirts at work.  I...

Please pardon the title... I didn't want my blog mistaken for official Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona media. I am a member of the club but not an official representative. I'm just writing about my experience. The conference is usually held in May each year, but with the COVID-19 "shut down" opening up with short notice, they decided to hold it in September.  We were at a "new" venue, the Outrigger Keauhou a.k.a. "the Old Kona Surf."  The conference is a gathering of kumu from throughout the State and haumana that have come from not only Hawaiʻi but the continental...