Maoli Arts Month – Wearable Arts Show – 30 May 2009

It was a voggy, muggy week, and we were missing Kaho’onei, but we made it to Saturday determined to have a good time! And we did with the help of our friends, Robert Cazimero and Maile Andrade. Robert came in with an armload of gardenias and sat with us stringing a lei to die for while he and Vickie gave behind the scenes scoops on the MAMO Wearable Arts Showcase. Robert directed the whole production which involved hula, chant, music, and gorgeous hula dancers modelling cutting edge fashion by Hawaiian designers.
[Read more]

Maoli Arts Month – Arts Market – 23 May 2009

It was a blazing day on O’ahu, summer is truly here, so we picked right up with the summertime sounds for this Maoli Arts Market day at the Bishop Museum. Everyone was putting up tents from early morning, rigging the stage and sound system, and getting the food ready. The artists and craftsmen with their friends and families flooded in with their incredible artworks, setting up under shady tents on the Great Lawn.
[Read more]

Live From Bishop Museum with Mervina Cash-Ka’eo – 16 May 2009

We had a beautiful morning in the atrium of Hawaiian Hall for this edition of Na Kai ‘Ewalu! The Maoli Arts Month Exhibition of contemporary artists was a super treat, and just being so near all the Museum’s treasures was pretty inspiring for our little crew. Talk about inspiring, our guest was the President and CEO of Alu Like, Mervina Cash-Ka’eo. An attorney, her personal history of community service in the areas of health, education, legal services, social services, and more, including as a member of the Nanakuli-Ma’ili Neighborhood Board, shows what a committed person can do. [Read more]

Live from Bishop Museum with Oswald Stender – 9 May 2009

This was our first Saturday adventure away from our cozy sunlit kitchen table. The Bishop Museum’s communications director, Donalyn Delacruz, warmly welcomed us to the Hall of Discovery there along side the Planetarium. We were honored to have one of Hawai’i’s most influential citizens in contemporary Hawai’i history, OHA Trustee at Large, Oswald Stender. He provided steady leadership as a Bishop Estate trustee during the tumultuous 90’s, and has contributed to cultural and social service organizations throughout his career. [Read more]

Maoli Arts Month – 2 May 2009

It was hot like summertime on this first Saturday in May, so we pretty much let the music counteract the heat. Kaho’onei was away on legislative business but we kept the party going with Bob Freitas, an award winning sculptor, who spent formative years in Germany, and brings academic fine art issues to contemporary Hawaiian art. He and Noelle Kahanu of the Bishop Museum, and Vickie and others are behind Maoli Arts Month, celebrating Native Hawaiian visual art. This year, Mamo is honoring Auntie Gussie Bento, who is recognized internationally for making exquisite quilts and feather lei. Auntie Gussie told us how her grandmother spoke to her from the past through a beautiful quilt pattern.
[Read more]

Kamehameha Scholars – 25 Apr. 2009

On this Saturday we kept the music coming as we focused on the future. Andrea Dias, the Director of Kamehameha Scholars came by to tell us about a program that reaches into the community outside of Kamehameha Schools to raise up new generations of Hawaiian leaders, and also offers financial help for higher education.
[Read more]

Interview with Bill Meheula discussing ceded lands – 18 Apr. 2009

Another gorgeous Saturday morning and we were thinking of you driving the kids around, going shopping, making breakfast, or heading off to work to all the great music. Our very special guest was Bill Meheula, the attorney who represented the original 4 plaintiffs who sued to stop the State from selling ceded lands on Maui 15 years ago. That is the original case behind the recent U.S. Supreme court ruling that sent the issue of cede land sales back to the Hawai’i courts. Bill is now proposing a dismissal without prejudice in the case that would swing into effect in tandem with legislative action requiring two thirds approval of both houses before a sale of ceded lands could occur. He says the Lingle adminstration has agreed to the settlement, though the legislative end of it still an open question. Bill closed by explaining the relationships between this case and the Akaka bill, disclosing that he supports the billthough he knows Vickie and Kahoonei do not. Everyone’s welcome at this table!
[Read more]

Interview with Collette Machado from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs discussing issues facing Moloka’i – 11 Apr. 2009

We kept the music up front on this beautiful Saturday across the Hawaiian Islands. Our special forcus was on Moloka’i as we welcomed Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Collette Machado to the kitchen table. Born in Kalama’ula, Trustee Machado moved to O’ahu as a girl and after taking a furlough from high school, she got her GED and went on to the Univeristy of Hawai’i at Manoa. The activist days of the 60’s and 70’s sparked Trustee Machado’s political awakening and involvement in community issues. She returned to Moloka’i and community service there and 13 years ago was elected to represent Moloka’i and Lana’i on the OHA board. It was great to hear an update on the future of Moloka’i Ranch, the Moloka’i Land Trust and the potential for wind energy on that island. We also heard about the Lana’i Cultural Heritage Center. Check their website: http://www.lanaichc.org/ for insight into the Hawaiian history of that island.
[Read more]

An interview with representative Mele Carroll discussing current events including the recent supreme court ruling on ceded lands – 4 Apr. 2009

Mahalo for your company again! Some great music today, focusing on Maui artists because of our guest, State Representative Mele Carroll whose district encompasses East Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i and Kaho’olawe. She chairs the House Hawaiian Affairs Committee and sits on the Health and Human Services and Judiciary Committees.This past week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the 1993 Apology Resolution does not prevent the State of Hawai’i from selling Hawai’i’s ceded lands, so Representative Carroll took a few minutes to outline the related legislation that is currently pending here. She favors a complete moratorium on selling or transferring ceded lands but is hopeful a compromise bill providing a 5 year moratorium and requiring legislative approval for any sale will pass this session.Representative Carroll then shared community issues and triumphs regarding the Nahiku Community Center on the Hana coast and possible much-needed capitol improvement projects on Moloka’i. We had to leave it there, reluctantly, because getting an on the ground close up community report from these wonderful places was truly refreshing. we’ll have to continue later!
[Read more]

The gang “talks story” about Local celebrations – 28 Mar. 2009

This was a perfectly relaxing Saturday morning, taking the time to wala’au together. Kaho’onei explained kukakuka means to discuss while wala’au means to talk story, and he recommends we all take 5 minutes a day to vala’au with someone. That sounds like a simple way to increase the aloha in our lives. Kaho’onei laid out the plan for today’s Kuhio Celebrations—a rare 4pm parade and moonlight concert at Kapi’olani Bandstand headlined by Natalie A’i Kamau’u with her mother’s fabulous halau, Halau Hula ‘Olana. Kaho’onei outlined current legislative initiatives relating to Native Hawaiians and explained the process and meaning of a t-shirt so many of us see around town these days. The black Kau Inoa t-shirts signify placing one’s name in an international registry of Hawaiians who will become the constituency for decisions about a future Hawaiian political entity. [Read more]

« Previous Page — Next Page »