Abled Hawai‘i Artists: Promoting a ‘Renaissance of Inclusion’ in our Hawai‘i Island Community
By Paula Thomas Mar Ortaleza’s work centers around helping adults with disabilities live a fuller life. An employment specialist at the Hawai‘i Island nonprofit Full Life, Mar’s job is to help his clients develop skillsets and find gainful employment. He…
The Resilient Randy Parker
By Leilehua Yuen Growing up surrounded by music, it was little wonder that Randy Parker became a professional musician. “My Father played ‘ukulele, and Mom played piano and ‘ukulele and danced hula. I liked the music they listened to. A…
Kahua Ranch ‘Ohana Reunion
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu With humble pride in his voice, Godfrey Kainoa Sr. speaks about three gold and black plaques lined up in his living room. The inscribed awards are from the O‘ahu Cattlemen’s Association for three generations of hardworking Hawaiian…
Dietrich Varez: A Malihini’s Legacy of Illuminating Hawaiian Culture and Legend
By Paula Thomas He makes his art to give back to his beloved Hawai‘i. He never set out to make a lot of money as an artist, however it worked out that art became his livelihood. He remains overjoyed this…
Lauhala Weaving with Kupuna Art Murata: This teacher helped children understand their culture through the weaving craft
By Karen Valentine As a child who “asked too many questions,” Art Murata of Hōlualoa vowed he would try to answer any child’s question and not be afraid to say he doesn’t know. Growing up with the challenges of being…
Fred Keakaokalani Cachola
Fred Keakaokalani Cachola was born at a time when Hawai‘i was still a territory, graduating from Kamehameha Schools in 1953, six years before Hawai‘i became the 50th state. He was in the U.S. Army, yet remained a Hawaiian in every…
I Love a Parade: Aunty Penny Keli‘i Vredenburg, Mistress of Ceremonies
Standing in front of the fire truck, armed only with her cordless microphone, Penny Vredenburg brings the Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade to a halt. She climbs up on the running board, looks in, then shouts out to the folks along Waimea’s…
100 Years of Giving: Hawai‘i Community Foundation Celebrates a Century of Helping Hawai‘i Island
By Denise Laitinen Nonprofit organizations can impact our lives in so many ways that we aren’t always aware of how much we benefit from their services. For 100 years, Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) has been helping nonprofit organizations statewide, including…
1500 Shades of Aunty Betty Webster
By Catherine Tarleton Aunty Betty Webster and I are having lunch at a local restaurant. She walks in, grabs two menus, and sits in the first booth, facing the door. Aunty, Waimea’s official “sunglass queen” is sporting big bright yellow…
The Spirit of Kohala Lives on at the Christmas Lu’au
By Jan Wizinowich The story of the Hawi Christmas Lū‘au is the tale of a plantation community finding and holding its heart. Although sponsored by the Mormon Church, the entire community participated, beginning weeks in advance. You offered what you…
Parker, The Little School that Could
By Catherine Tarleton The red ranch building with the wide white porch rail is 101 years old, and has lived three different lives: as a social hall, USO, and now Parker School. This small school, originally created to serve “indigent…
A Hidden Gem: Historic Honomū—Local Businesses Join Forces to Mix the Old with the New
By Megan Moseley As locals and visitors alike stroll through the town of Honomū on their way to Akaka Falls, the remnants of yesteryear cannot be overlooked. Visiting Honomū, Hawaiian for “silent bay,” is like stepping into another time and…
Peace Through Mediation
By Shana Wailana Logan In this modern world of violence and rampant injustice, there are few solutions more powerful than peaceful mediation. Ancient Hawaiians would call it ho‘oponopono (to make right), a process which allows families and community members to…
Ulua Fishing Kau Lā‘au Style with Uncle Aku Hauanio
By Denise Laitinen Fishermen rarely share their secrets, yet Uncle Aku is about to tell me the special ingredient to his fish soup. Not just any soup; soup featuring ulua, the most sought-after shoreline fish in Hawai‘i. “Coconut milk makes…
The Evolution of Kumu Auli‘i Mitchell: Dancing from Hawai‘i to Aotearoa for the Love of Hula
By Megan Moseley Kumu Auli‘i Mitchell’s life story is one of song, dance, ‘ohana, and aloha. His practice has taken him around the world and he has touched many lives. “I was birthed in the sands of Kakuhihewa, the island…
Hawai‘i Island Nonprofits Help Fukushima Victims
By Mālielani Larish Fukushima Kids Hawai‘i Standing on a narrow Tōkyō street while the ground beneath her shuddered violently, Yumi Kikuchi looked up at the swaying ancient skyscraper that she had just abandoned. Yumi decided to return to the building,…
There’s Only One Uncle Earl: Uncle Earl Regidor at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco Greeted by an engaging smile and embracing hug, the word Aloha takes on its true meaning as a seed is planted in the hearts of those who meet Uncle Earl. His stately presence, reminiscent of the…
Summer Activities with Your Keiki
It’s the perennial topic—what to do with the keiki for the summer. On Hawai‘i Island there are ample programs, activities, and excursions—it’s just a matter of online searches and phone calls to get the scoop. Ke Ola Magazine has saved…
For the Best Years of Our Lives: Mary Ann Lim
By Catherine Tarleton Aunty Mary Ann Lim piles out of her Honda CR-V and hands me her ‘ukulele as she gathers up two fragrant puakenikeni lei and a spritzer bottle. Hair perfect, white mu‘umu‘u, Tahitian pearl, lavender jade and Hawaiian…
Hamakua Youth Center: Reconnecting Youth with the Land
By Alan D. McNarie It’s a Wednesday afternoon in the former cane town of Honoka‘a on the Hāmākua Coast. Waves of hard, windy rain are pounding down. In the back of an elderly yet brightly painted former store building across…
To See the Beauty of the Dance: Kumu Lona Warner’s All-Inclusive Hālau is Truly One-of-a-Kind
By Kate Kealani H Winter At the first Polynesian dance class of the new year, Kumu Lona greets each of the dancers of Hula Hālau Makanani Kona with a bright new sarong and an “Aloha” brimming with energy and affection.…
Hawaiian Immersion Schools: on Hawai‘i Island
Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series about the 15 charter schools on Hawai‘i Island. In the last issue, Ke Ola Magazine introduced these alternative public schools that parents and children are choosing for their curricula, which…
Bridge House: A Sanctuary with Mana, Where Recovering Addicts Can Find Peace and Healing
By Karen Valentine It’s a rocky road full of pitfalls and the illusion of adventure, the life of a drug and/or alcohol addict. For those who want it to end, at the end of the road is a place called…
Lucille Chung: A Kupuna Extraordinaire
By Paula Thomas We sat in Short N Sweet Bakery and Cafe, Aunty Lucille and me, along with her first cousin, Kawepa Francisco, known on O‘ahu as Natalie. Not much later, another cousin joined us making a tidy crowd for…
The Rebirth of the Kahilu Theatre
By Catherine Tarleton From the front, Kahilu Theatre is similar to the building created 35 years ago by Richard Smart, sixth generation Parker Ranch heir, Broadway entertainer and “modern day ali‘i” to the Waimea community. Around the corner, however, brilliant…
Surf Cowboy: Craig Cunningham
If you were a male in my family, you were a cowboy, or a bronco rider, or you were left behind,” says Craig Cunningham, saddle-maker, surf instructor, artist, and lifetime cowboy. “As a youngster those were the kind of people…
Dr. Billy Bergin: Quarter-Century Veterinarian at Parker Ranch
By Catherine Tarleton On July 1, 1995, on the 25th anniversary to the day of coming, I left the Ranch,” said Dr. Billy Bergin, Parker Ranch’s quarter-century veterinarian and author of three books (soon to be four) about the venerable…
Rough Ridin’ Cowboys Show Their Stuff at Pana‘ewa
Get ready for some rough ridin’, hoof poundin’, fur flyin’, cowboy rockin’ excitement as some of the island’s top contenders don boots, hats, and spurs to thrill the crowd at the 24th annual Panaewa Stampede Rodeo on February 13 and…
Alternative Education for Hawai‘i Island Keiki
Chloe Smith would be homeschooled had it not been for West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA). She and her peers interested in marine biology or aquaponics find refuge in their educational choice at the North Kona public charter school, a stone’s…
Then & Now: The Old Hilo Hospital
“Yes, there are ghosts,” says Lizby Logsdon. “Most people would agree. I haven’t heard anything recently, but it’s not uncommon for the elders to hear children outside playing when there are no children outside.” Lizby is the Community Outreach coordinator…
