Talk Story with an Advertiser: Plantation Living and Interiors
Dana Mattos is hooked on collecting vintage Hawaiiana. It all began in 1979 during her senior year at Konawaena High School when she got a job at Hula Heaven/Flamingo’s, a well-known retail store in Kailua-Kona that featured new and vintage Hawaiiana.…
Island Tropical Fruitcake
By Sonia R. Martinez Fruit cake (or fruitcake) is traditionally a dark and dense cake made with chopped candied or dried fruit, nuts and spices, and usually wrapped in linen and soaked in spirits for several weeks. Comedians have made fun of…
Island Treasures: Hawaiian Dolls—Wood Valley
As a little girl in Germany, Sabine Hendreschke had about 30 dolls that all had a name and a “soul.” Her childhood was filled with fairy tales and magic. One of her most cherished toys was a coconut cradle that her parents…
Island Treasures: High Country Farm—Honoka‘a
By Sara Hayashi Protea flowers originate from the southern hemisphere, and their unusual shapes give them an otherworldly appearance. High Country Farm has 1.5 acres of these unique flowers on the Hamakua Coast. Shortly after she moved to Hawai‘i Island,…
The Love Story of Harp and Soul: Manuel and Bernice Roberto
By Gayle “Kaleilehua” Greco The strum of the harp mixed melodically with the sound of the flute leaves an echo lingering in the air. It weaves with the breeze, playing on heartstrings, as if one is sitting in heaven. Lost…
Managing with Aloha: Kūlia i ka nu‘u
Kūlia i ka nu‘u: The value of achievement. “Strive to reach the summit.” Pursue personal excellence in all you do. Sixth in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say As the Hawaiian value of achievement, Kūlia i ka nu‘u promotes personal…
An Abundance of Energy: An Intentional Property in Harmony with Nature
By Cynthia Sweeney Once, people didn’t use such words as sustainable and organic because everything just was sustainable and organic. The earth provided, and people lived completely off the land. We can do that again today, only with state-of-the-art technology.…
Healing Art: The Metamorphoses of Phan Nguyen Barker
By Alan D. McNarie “Never in my life did I see more beautiful, beautiful flowers, foliage, ocean,” recalls Phan Nguyen Barker (pronounced Fawn), of her first days in Hawai‘i. “So I began painting—painting flowers like crazy.” That’s a story shared…
What the World Needs Now: Peace, Harmony, and Love, Sweet Love
By Margaret Kearns Sacred lands, historical treasures cherished and protected by the people of Hawai‘i, exist throughout the island chain. All possess special mana (power or energy) and some much more than others. On Hawai‘i Island, one such place is…
Lights! Camera! Ocean! Waimea Ocean Film Festival
By John J. Boyle As the Waimea Ocean Film Festival lines up for the next set, the fourth year bodes to follow the swell of the previous three, growing in size and direction. With more venues, films, and jaw dropping…
Featured Cover Artist: Lisa Greig
Lisa Greig grew up in a creative atmosphere in Sydney, Australia. Her parents were graphic designers who worked from home and had many artist friends who stopped by. Art has been her passion since she was a little girl. “I…
Sean “Peaman” Pagett: Founder of Frozen Pea Productions
By Hadley Catalano Go ahead and call Sean “Peaman” Pagett’s home phone and listen to the message. Don’t worry, he won’t mind. He doesn’t answer it. After a couple rings the answering machine (updated every 24 hours) picks up and…
Kūpuna Talk Story–Kai Kaholokai: Native Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner, Kumu Lā‘au Lapa‘au
By Keith Nealy As a filmmaker and storyteller, I have been blessed with the gift of sharing the mana‘o (knowledge) of more than 60 of Hawai‘i’s most revered kūpuna in spirited conversation exploring the cultural legacy they carry in their…
Where Art Found Its Place: Donkey Mill Art Center
By Le‘a Gleason Nineteen years ago—before a collaboration like this existed for South Kona—a group of artists gathered to share a vision. It was this decision to come together to “develop and expand opportunities in the community to enrich lives…
Christmas on Parade: Celebrating the Season Island Style
By Barbara Fahs When the weather is warm, we might not feel very Christmasy. Leave it to the Aloha State to come up with original, distinctive ways to make this time of year all its own. Santa, known here as…
A Mele Kalikimaka to All: ‘Elves’ Around Hawai‘i Island Helping ‘Ohana in Need
By Catherine Tarleton This is the first in an occasional series where Ke Ola Magazine highlights some of the important work of our on-island nonprofits. Enjoy learning about these two organizations and please support them. If you have a favorite…
Ka Wehena: Alo ke alo
Na Kumu Keala Ching Maka i luna, kuli i lalo Alo ka lani, lani ke alo Nani ke alo, alo ke ‘ike Alo ke alo, pili ke alohaMaka i mua, I mua ke ‘ala Alo nā puna, ola ke ola…
I Live. I Love. I Race. Kailua-Kona’s Own Triathlete Bree Wee
By Margaret Kearns “Nice.” Who would expect that to be the first descriptor for a fiercely competitive triathlete? That, however, is the word heard repeatedly from fellow competitors, fans, sponsors, and trainers when asked about Hawai‘i Island’s most stellar female…
Speaking the Language of Love: A Conversation with Kahuna Kalei‘iliahi
By Cynthia Sweeney Our kāhuna, or our indigenous elders are our spiritual and physical connection with where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. Kāhuna have optimism about our spiritual evolution on this planet and…
Kona’s Onion House: The Sydney Opera House Meets Stonehenge
By Barbara Fahs They said it couldn’t be built. Later, they said it couldn’t be repaired. Yet the Onion House stands proudly today in South Kona as a living work of art and innovative architecture. Thanks to the vision of…
Feather Art: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
By Barbara Fahs Na lima mili hulu no‘eau is a Hawaiian expression that means “the skilled hands that touch the feathers.” It honors the ancient art of feather lei, capes, headdresses, and other ornaments. In today’s world, it can easily…
Success! Hakalau Forest Refuge: Scientists and Volunteers Partner to Save Forest Birds
By Fern Gavelek Hawai‘i’s geographical isolation means that the plants and animals found here have evolved unlike any other species found on earth. Human interaction and interference with once untouched habitats has rendered Hawai‘i the endangered species capital of the…
Sounds of Peace: A Joyful Noise in Honoka‘a
By Catherine Tarleton What does peace sound like? In Honoka‘a, on Peace Day, September 21, it sounds like marching bands and taiko drums, ‘ukulele music, bon dance, bells, and gongs. It might sound like rock and roll with a mix…
The Journey of Hula Competition: The Experience of One Haumana
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco When you are asked to be in a hula festival, contest, or competition, the journey for oneself starts at that moment. Inevitably, it is really not about the contest at all; it is about the passage…
Kumu Hula Etua Lopes, E Ola E Ola Mau
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco When the moments in between chicken skin are filled with laughter or tears, you know you are in the presence of the great storyteller, Kumu Hula Etua Lopes. Born on August 29, 1953 in Damien Track…
Then & Now: Hilo Sugar Mill/Wainaku Center
By Denise Laitinen Situated on the sea cliffs just north of Hilo and tucked behind old concrete walls is the former Hilo Sugar Mill, which in its heyday processed 1,400 tons of sugar a day. Now, surrounded by tropical flowers…
Ka Wehena: Lanikepu
Na Kumu Keala Ching I uka, kua mana o Lanikepu Waiwai Kohakohau, i ola ai Wahi uluwehiwehi o Waiaka Ua Uakoko i Hōkū‘ula Noho ‘ia ka wahine i laila nō Pu‘u Pu‘ulaelae hānau hānauna Pali Kapu o nā li‘i o…
Ka Puana–The Refrain: Joy
Excerpt used with permission of the Friends of the Library Waikoloa Region. By Jacqueline McBride Koscil There are many wonderful ideas that I believe in, but choosing joy in all circumstances tops the list. Some people may think of joy…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Fabric Gift Shoppe
Honya Sawinski’s background is business and theatre. After college she got a job at the Hayloft Dinner Theatre in a barn with a big silo in north Virginia. Besides waiting on tables, she worked with the costumers. One day, she…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Mi’s Wine & Cheese Shoppe
Morgan Starr graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in June of 1997, just two years after graduating high school. First, he worked in New York, then, Las Vegas where he helped open the Venetian Hotel. While still in his…
