Contemporary Hawaii Woodworkers: the Wood, the Art, the Aloha
Koa is Hawai‘i. It provides that sense of place, that connection to the ‘āina (land) that is uniquely Hawai‘i. With a property known as chatoyancy (sha-toy-an-cee)—the ability to shimmer like a cat’s-eye gemstone—figured or curly koa wood is like no…
Warabi—Fiddlehead Ferns
By Sonia R. Martinez Whether you know them as warabi (Japanese), ho‘i‘o (Hawaiian) or ostrich fern (most of the mainland), the fiddlehead ferns are the young, edible, tightly coiled shoots of the fern that resemble the end of a violin…
Under the Radar: Ben Kaili is His Own Man
By Shirley Stoffer He appears at most of the major Hawaiian music events on the island of Hawai‘i and neighboring islands, playing slack key guitar and singing in his sweet, nahenahe style. He shares traditional Hawaiian music at music festivals…
The Road Less Traveled—Destination: Diane Renchler’s Toulouce Gallery
By Jessica Kirkwood When traveling up the Hamākuā coast I often I often turn makai (towards the ocean) off the main highway, just seven miles north of Hilo, in favor of the old Māmalahoa’s four-mile scenic route. Each time I…
Why Values? And Why “Manage with Aloha?”
Be true to your values.” It’s advice you’re likely to hear several times in your lifetime, and read in countless books and articles. What does it mean? Looking at it through the lens of ALOHA, it means, “Manifest your spirit…
Every Store Has a Story: K. Takata Store in Hawi
By Hadley Catalano Shiro Takata had no interest in working in his father’s grocery, K. Takata Store, during his childhood in North Kohala in the 1930s and 40s. He’d much rather play sports outside, and as the fourth son of…
A Journey Through Light and Stone: The Art and Architecture of John Wallis
By John J. Boyle A Place to Breathe in the Light The art of creating a space for a place to live suggests an attention to placement, form, and strength of materials. In designing for Hawai‘i, engineering and traditional construction…
A Brief History of Whales in Hawai‘i
By Peter T. Young The koholā (humpback whale) was well known to the early Hawaiians. In the Kumulipo chant—the Hawaiian chant of creation—the Second Era speaks of the birth of the whale: “Hanau ka palaoa noho I kai”—born is the whale…
Storytelling Quilts: From the Wisdom and Wit of Rozemaryn Van Der Horst
By Karen Valentine A storytelling quilt crafted by kupuna Rozemaryn Van der Horst is more than a beautiful rendering of fabrics, hand embroidery, colors, patterns and shapes that tell a story, it is a glimpse into the brilliant mind and…
Waiho‘olu‘u: The Ancient Practice of Natural Dye Making with the Kukui Tree
By Renée Robinson In Hawai‘i the kukui tree, distinctive in its pale green, silvery foliage, is a symbol of enlightenment, protection, and peace. Kukui (also known as candlenut) was a canoe plant. Its seeds were brought to Hawai‘i by the…
Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery: Hawaii Adds Second Marine Facility to Protect One of Its Rarest Mammals
By Denise Laitinen In 2009 when KP2 (Kauai Pup 2), an orphaned Hawaiian monk seal in waters off Moloka‘i needed medical attention, he was transported roughly 2,500 miles to the University of California Santa Cruz Long Marine Laboratory for care…
Dan DeLuz: A Special Man Who Embodied the Hawaiian Spirit of Sharing Graciously
By Tiffany DeEtte Shafto A wave of grief swept through Hawai‘i’s woodworking community as news of the passing of a beloved mentor, friend, and master woodturner, made its way along the coconut wireless. Dan DeLuz inspired a generation of woodworkers…
Loulu Palm Is On The Rebound
By Barbara Fahs The Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook doesn’t have a big neon sign that brags about its ongoing conservation efforts. Instead, Manager Peter Van Dyke and his small crew of helpers quietly go about the…
Mana in a Sacred Place: Keauhou Beach Resort ‘Ohana
By Marya Mann One of the last hula performances at the Keauhou Beach Resort appears before us, spellbinding and alluring. In his soothing baritone, Kumu Keala Ching chants the genealogical history of this powerful place, where kings and queens, leaders…
The Goddess and the Artist: Pele Dreaming
By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco At first glance, you wonder, are her eyes open or closed? Is she smiling or pensive? Is it lava flow or ocean? That is the mystery of MaryAnn Hylton’s casting of “Pele Dreaming.” The image of…
Freeing Willy, Hawaiian Style: Hawai‘i Island’s Whale Entanglement Response Network
By Cynthia Sweeney More than 10,000 humpback whales migrate to the Hawaiian Islands each year, mostly from Alaska, to give birth. And it is estimated that 30 percent of those whales, adults as well as calves—have been entangled in fishing…
Then & Now: The Mysterious Death of David Douglas
By Robert Oaks Most residents and visitors to Hawaiʽi Island are familiar with the Kealakekua Bay monument marking the spot where Captain James Cook was killed in 1779. Less familiar is a monument that marks the spot where David Douglas,…
Hali‘a ke Kumu Hala
Na Kumu Keala Ching Kaulana ke kumu hala o Puna, ‘o Puna wahi paia ‘ala i ka hala laha‘ole. Eia ka hali‘a ke kumu hala o Puna, ‘a‘ohe hala ‘ula i ka pō ala. He ‘i‘ini ka lehua me ka…
