Blog — papale lauhala

Wow.  The months are flying by.  I was so wrapped up in designing Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona's website and handling the inaugural online registration process that I didn't update the "News" on lauhalahats.com at all since April.  I went into the conference already exhausted and stressed.  Above is a group picture of the kumu at the Hōʻike Dinner.  I'm in the back far right looking at the camera.   But backing up a bit.  At the conference, on Thursday after lunch, Michelle of Hana Hou organized a Vintage Fashion Show with her personal collection of vintage Aloha wear and accessories. ...

Aloha Week seems to have become a month long Aloha Festival. There were many activities at different locations, but I only made it to two. Mauna Lani had their Aloha Festival on Thursday, September 28, and we demonstrated our respective lei hulu, ulana lauhala, and cordage work.  Kaniela Akaka serenaded us with his acoustic instruments.  Beautiful music and pleasant vibes.  I always enjoy hanging out with these artists.  (Below) Above, left to right:  Me, Emily, Kathy, and Tanya.  I wore my "vintage" '90s-ish Princess Kaʻulani Fashions holomuʻu and my fine weave pāpale.  Tanya was wearing her ʻānoni Sassy Hat that she made...

Back in November I had talked about sharing pics of the Hala-weenie Notecard set.  I printed a small run for the Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona weaving conference in May.  Here's a current pic:   In July, Emily and I went to help Jesse with cleaning/caring for pūhala he had planted several years ago.  It was a beautiful day in Kohala.  It was just the three of us.  We didn't see any Monk seals, but Jesse said there was one that regularly rested in the area and prompted the warning signs. The region has great cultural significance as the birthplace...

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...

I (and others who had attended their muʻumuʻu event back in January) received an email invite from Kaʻaiohelo McAfee-Torco, Kaʻūpūlehu Cultural Center Manager, for a May Day Lei Day celebration at the Four Seasons Hualalai.  Their employees had created beautiful lei that were offered for silent auction with the proceeds being donated to Hawaii Island Charity Walk.  I have attended Mauna Lani's May Day festivities through the years, but this was the first time I've experienced it at Kaʻūpūlehu. Raynette was there wearing her beautiful pāpale ʻānoni. That pink ākulikuli lei in the picture was gorgeous and fluorescent in person. There was music and hula,...