The Bray ‘Ohana—A Talented Family’s Deep Connection
By Catherine Tarleton The story of the Bray ‘ohana reaches back through generations—from Hawai‘i, back to Tahiti, back to ancient knowledge, history, culture, and wisdom. “I have a book written by my great-grandfather,” says Lelehua Bray, hula teacher, travel professional,…
Tūtū Lanakila Manini: A Hula Gem and Hawaiian Music Renaissance Torchbearer
By Lara Hughes Hose Lanakila Manini, known to many affectionately as Tūtū (grandpa) “Kila” Manini, has been singing and playing Hawaiian music for more than 50 years. Kila, who turns 89 in 2020, got his musical start in 1966 in…
Hawai‘i Handweavers’ Hui: Hard Work and Endless Play
By Catherine Tarleton Words about weaving conjure up artistic images all of their own. We weave stories, spin a “yarn,” and embroider narrative with detail. In Hawai‘i, we weave a tapestry of cultures, from East and West, ancient and current.…
Managing with Aloha: The Role of the Manager, Redesigned and Reconstructed
Series 3 on Managing with Aloha, Bringing Hawai‘i’s Universal Values to the Art of Business. Fifth in Series Three on Managing with Aloha By Rosa Say People ask me, “What’s a good jumpstart to help me deep dive into a…
Kai ‘Ehitu: An Outrigger Team Remembers Its Roots and Its Papa
By Sara Stover “Never forget your roots,” Puamaile Kimitete insists. Her mother Augustine, sister Healani, and brother Richard all nod their heads in agreement. “Even though he lived in Hawai‘i for over three decades, Papa never forgot his Tahitian roots.”…
Every Paddler Knew the Voice of Aunty Maile
By Karen Valentine Kapono It’s race day at Hilo Bayfront. The summer outrigger canoe paddling season is in full swing. Colorful canoes are lined up, ready to race. Canoe club T-shirts with club insignia move through the crowd on paddlers…
Peer through the Lens of Photographer Wayne Levin
By Fern Gavelek Award-winning photographer Wayne Levin has exhibited images in galleries around the globe. You can see his work in New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the Dimbola Museum and Galleries in England. His photos have appeared in…
Ka Wehena: Ho‘omana Kanaka
(Ho‘omana—to strengthen, Kanaka—the people.) E Ho‘omana ē Na Kumu Keala Ching E ho‘omana o luna Empower above E ho‘omana o lalo Empower below E ho‘omana ke ola Empower the life E ho‘omana ke kānaka ē Empower the people E Ola…
Oh, Honey! With Recipe for Green Bean Salad with Honey Vinaigrette
By Brittany P. Anderson The first honeybees arrived on Hawai‘i Island in 1857. They made the journey from California by boat, after several unsuccessful attempts to bring them around South America from New England. Can you imagine sailing aboard a…
Mālama Mokupuni—Caring for Our Island Environment: Nursing Along a Coral Nursery
By Rachel Laderman How do you create an ocean in an aquarium? This is the challenge Michelle Nason took on in 2017, when she was a student in the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s Marine Science Department and Marine Option…
Paddling for Hope: Derek Park Fundraises for Breast Cancer Education and Early Detection
By Karen Rose The “Prince of Preachers,” Charles Haddon Surgeon said that hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, but to be discovered in the night of adversity. Nine years ago, paddler Derek…
Corals: Living Rainforests of the Sea
By Stefan Verbano Hanau ka ‘Uku-ko‘ako‘a, hanau kana, he ‘Ako‘ako‘a, puka “Born was the coral polyp, born was the coral, came forth” —Kumulipo, Hawaiian Chant of Creation, line 15 Surrounding the islands, inhabiting a narrow column of warm water—with destructive…
Maile Lei, Lovely Maile Lei…is Growing Sustainably on Hawai‘i Island
Maile Lei, Lovely Maile Lei… You weave your magic charms around Hawai‘i nei. Every day in your subtle way, You tease the tradewinds with your fragrance, maile lei. – Maddy Lam, 1963 By Marcia Timboy For centuries, lei made from…
For the Love of Horses: Linda Tellington-Jones Proves Touch is Worth a Thousand Words
By Karen Rose It’s been said that a horse doesn’t care how much you know, until she knows how much you care. Local horse whisperer Linda Tellington-Jones would agree. Linda is founder and owner of Tellington TTouch Training, a global…
Celebrating the 2% Land Fund Successes
By Mālielani Larish A Hawaiian yellow-faced bee zips through the air like a flash of black lightning, attracted to the fragrant white flower of the endemic maiapilo shrub. On this weekday morning, the shoreline of ‘O‘oma in North Kona is…
Introducing Broccoli Romanesco with Recipe for the Best Pizza Pie Dough
By Brittany P. Anderson When Alfred Joyce Kilmer wrote, “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree,” he must not have stared into the head of a broccoli romanesco. You’ve likely seen the striking…
Mila Polevia: Music is Home
By Catherine Tarleton Kohala is almost a mystical place,” says musician Mila Polevia, music director for St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Kapa‘au. “Not only is it King Kamehameha’s birthplace, it’s just kind of magical. And there’s lots of famous musicians,…
Ka Wehena: Kohala
Na Kumu Keala Ching Kohala nui, Kohala ‘iki Kohala Nā Lani Pili ke kānaka Kohala nui, Kohala ‘iki Kohala Mahukona Kilokilo Kamano Kohala nui, Kohala ‘iki Kohala Pu‘uepa Kū Mo‘okini Kohala nui, Kohala ‘iki Kohala ‘Āpa‘apa‘a Ka makani ola Kohala…
Kathleen Abood Creates Purpose, Connects to Imagination Through Art
By Fern Gavelek One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. This saying rings true for Kathleen Abood, who collects treasures to create art with intention. “I’ve always made stuff out of what I have on hand,” muses the Kailua-Kona resident.…
Puakõ’s Historical Hokuloa Church
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu Driving through the tropical coastal community of Puakō, one will notice that huge mansions have replaced many of the humble beach shacks that once populated the little village of 163 homes. There is one building that is…
A Garden of Trees: Ulu La‘au, the Waimea Nature Park
By Brittany P. Anderson The sky overhead is pure cobalt blue with low-lying clouds steamrolling across the landscape, their shadows dancing on the bright green grass below. Here, in the heart of downtown Waimea (Kamuela), is Ulu La‘au, the Waimea…
Kumu Paul Neves: Peaceful Warrior and Ambassador of Aloha
By Marcia Timboy Kumu Hula Paul Neves is a familiar and esteemed presence to many on Hawai‘i Island: a cultural practitioner, community organizer, vocal proponent of Native Hawaiian rights and sovereignty, and a high chief in the Royal Order of…
To Walk with the Ancestors: Lapakahi and the North Kohala Coast
By Jan Wizinowich Lapakahi State Historical Park (LSHP), a significant cultural complex along the leeward coast of North Kohala on Hawai‘i Island, is a time portal through which we can glimpse the thriving life of Hawai‘i’s early settlers and a…
Managing with Aloha: Align—Put Your Values to Work
Series 3 on Managing with Aloha, Bringing Hawai‘i’s Universal Values to the Art of Business. Fourth in Series Three on Managing with Aloha By Rosa Say To align is to work with integrity by working true to your values, for…
Kepā and Onaona Maly: Saving History
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu Sharing stories is what Kepā Maly and his wife Onaona have been doing for almost 40 years now, working as record keepers and cultural historians for the people of Hawai‘i. This dynamic husband and wife team have…
Mālama Mokupuni—Caring for Our Island Environment: Know Your Place
By Rachel Laderman As we celebrate the 50th Earth Day, we are faced with environmental problems that are larger than ever—sea level rise, coral bleaching, extinctions, extreme weather. What can we possibly do in the face of these super-sized challenges? One…
Rat Lungworm Disease: Optimism Comes with Education
By Stefan Verbano Inside garden hoses, along the walls of rain catchment tanks, between the folds of lettuce leaves, the slugs and snails slither. Although they look just like their harmless mainland cousins, these Hawaiian gastropods harbor a strange and…
The Art of Stopping the World: Gary Ackerman
By Sara Stover Most people would label their day as a bad one after being stung by a jellyfish. Gary Ackerman classified it as inspiration. Stung during one of his routine morning swims, the Hawai‘i resident and artist behind a…
Keiki Hālau Honors Ancient Hula Legacy
By Karen Valentine Kapono Like one of the glistening orbs in a string of pearls, Pelehonuamea Puku‘i Suganuma Harman joins other daughters and granddaughters of hula dancers in a string of generational legacy that is rare in today’s world. In…
The Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island
By Mālielani Larish Embraced by trade winds and an expansive view of the bay, 100 members of the Hilo Boys & Girls Club sing “Ho‘o Nani” to bless the afternoon meal. With a “Pa‘i ka lima!” from their leader, the…
