May-June 2018

Hawai‘i Island’s Community Magazine The Life |

ARTS CULTURE SUSTAINABILITY

May – June Mei – Iune

2018

William McKnight—A Passionate Sculptor Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Manta Pacific Research Foundation

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Cover artwork: Manta Dreaming, painting by Trina Jezik.

4 Table of contents photo: Sunset at the Heiau, by Don Slocum.

Read more about the artists on page 85.

The Life

Hawaiÿi Island’s Community Magazine May – June | Mei – Iune 2018

Arts

Hawai‘i Islandʻs Famous “Painted Church”

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William McKnight

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By Denise Laitinen

Ambivalent Artist, Passionate Sculptor

By Paula Thomas

Community

The Alonzo Spirit Band

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Hilo Kūpuna Share Hula With Aloha

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The Musical Journey of Kris Fuchigami

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Music for the Soul

By Ma‘ata Tukuafu

By Karen Valentine

Dreams Do Come True

By Denise Laitinen

Culture

Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

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The Ala Kahakai Trail

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Hale o Ho‘oponopono

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Celebrating 57 Years

By Lara Hughes

A Walk through History into the Future

By Jan Wizinowich Perpetuating the Cultural Legacy of Hōnaunau

By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco

Sustainability

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Manta Pacific Research Foundation

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Hāmākua Harvest

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Mālama Moana

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The Compost King of Hilo UrbFarm

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Celebrating a Crop that Brought Hope and Success

By Fern Gavelek Conserving and Protecting the Ballerinas of the Ocean

By Karen Rose Bridging Community and Agriculture

By Britni Schock Take Care of the Ocean that Takes Care of You

By Rachel Laderman

By Brittany P. Anderson

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival

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The Life Hawaiÿi Island’s Community Magazine May – June | Mei – Iune 2018

Ka Wehena: The Opening Miloli‘i

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By Kumu Keala Ching

Business

Managing with Aloha

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Prosper with Ha‘aha‘a

By Rosa Say

Island Treasures

Your Health. Our Mission.

Sugai Coffee

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Talk Story With An Advertiser

93 94 95

The UPS Store of Kamuela Keary's Massage Employment Experts

Local Food Bahn Mi

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A Sandwich for the Season

By Brittany P. Anderson

Kela Me Keia: This & That

• Conveniently located in Waimea

Worldwide Voyage Update: Māhalo, Hawai‘i Sail About Our Cover & Table of Contents Artists Crossword Puzzle Hawai‘i Island Happenings Community Kōkua Farmers Markets Advertiser Index

• Emergency services available 24/7 for all your needs, large or small

Ka Puana: Closing Thoughts

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital

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• Offering primary care, surgery, orthopedics, rehabilitation, OB/GYN and more

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• Fully accredited Level III Trauma Center • Affiliated with The Queen’s Health Systems for easy access to top specialists

72 85 86 88 90 92 96

119: ‘Ano lani; ‘Ano honua.

Mary Kawena Pukui, Olelo Noeau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings.

For appointments call

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67-1125 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743 • www.nhch.com The Queen’s Health Systems is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit family of companies.

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From Our Publisher As we were putting the finishing touches on this issue of Ke Ola Magazine, a theme revealed itself and it isn’t one we realized when we first planned the editorial content. As I was perusing the stories to choose an appropriate ‘Ōlelo Noe‘au (Hawaiian proverb) for our Ka Puana (Closing Thoughts) page, the theme I saw running through this issue was preservation and resiliency. We publish Ke Ola Magazine to perpetuate the stories of Hawai‘i Island, its land, ocean, species, culture, arts, and even buildings. This issue is packed full of each of these topics!

Travel the island with our stories in this issue, from the Ala Kahakai Trail connecting North Kohala to South Point, to the Painted Church in Kealakekua, and on to the nearby National Historic site of Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau and the restored Hale o Ho‘oponopono. These areas of cultural heritage give us insight for honoring the ancestors and history. In sustaining the ‘āina (land), we bring you stories of new growth, inviting you to read about the Hilo UrbFarm and Hāmākua Harvest, along with our continued coverage of local musicians and kūpuna. We also hope you enjoy our coverage of the manta rays and ocean conservation.

Heading towards our tenth anniversary, I couldn’t be more proud of where Ke Ola has come from, where it is now, and where it is going. I’m so blessed to have an amazing magazine ‘ohana that helps bring every issue to you. We’ve just added two more staff members that you’ll see around the island often—our new distribution managers are Laura and Charles Ruff. Be sure to give them a warm aloha when you run into them delivering your favorite magazine.

Also, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest story sponsor, Jack’s Diving Locker, who is sponsoring our Ocean series. We appreciate each of our story sponsors and are gratified at the response weʻre receiving for our sponsorship program. We have limited availability for additional sponsorship topics such as Music, Community, and others. If you know a business that would be interested, let us know! We know Ke Ola is effective, as more than 90% of our advertisers renew with us each year and some have been with us the entire 57 issues we’ve published. Weʻre grateful for our business communityʻs support, helping bring these stories to life every two months!

Mahalo nui loa, Barbara Garcia and the Ke Ola ‘ohana

Letter To The Publisher Aloha, just wanted to sincerely thank you for publishing the stellar article on my art/mission. People see da Whiterhino, come up and say they saw your article and thank me. The positive response has been amazing! I find art healing and calming, and I know I am VERY lucky to have this purpose, and the allowance to affect the keiki when I go to their schools. The notoriety from Ke Ola will help spread the message and certainly has brought me more joy than I could imagine. It may be the breath of energy to keep me trucking.

Sometimes words fail in expressing the spirit of things. Art has that possibility/quality, and I DO feel the spiritualness of it and try to respectfully represent it as such. I’m forever grateful.

Don Elwing, Ocean View, HI

From Our Subscribers

We’re so happy to see Chloe and Sydney in Mountain View, California enjoying our Aloha Gift Box subscriptions! Order yours at KeOlaMagazine.com/ subscriptions

Corrections In our March/April 2018 issue we had the wrong name for Kumu Iwalani Kalimaʻs hula hālau. The correct name is Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani 'E. Our apologies to Kumu Hula Iwalani Kalima and her hālau.

BMW of Hawaii – Art

Island Naturals – Local Agriculture

Clark Realty Corp. – Home/Building

Jack’s Diving Locker – Ocean

Employment Experts – Business

Kings' Shops – Culture

Kona Coast Realty – Sustainability

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MAHALO TO OUR STORY SPONSORS

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Miloli'i

Ka Wehena

Na Kumu Keala Ching

Iho mai ka nani o Miloli‘i I ke alo, aloha o ke Akua Lei aloha o ke Akua Lei Kamaha‘o i ka poli Ho‘opūloa, Miloli‘i a i Honomālino I ka palena aloha kō Kona Hema Lei aloha o ke Akua Lei Kamaha‘o i ka poli Noho malu nā pua kai ala i Miloli‘i ‘Āweoweo, ‘ōpelu i ko‘a ala Lei aloha o ke Akua Lei Kamaha‘o i ka poli He aloha Miloli‘i i ke alo Akua I kai a i uka ala, ala ka Hau‘oli Kamana‘o Lei aloha o ke Akua Lei Kamaha‘o i ka poli

Ascending beauty of Miloli‘i Before the enlighten love Precious lei of the simple one Wondrous lei upon the bosom Ho‘opūloa, Miloli‘i and Honomālino Passionate boundary of South Kona Precious lei of the special one Wondrous lei upon the bosom Peacefully placed are the flowers of Miloli‘i Abundant are ‘Āweoweo and ‘Ōpelu Precious lei of the precious one Wondrous lei upon the bosom Love of Miloli‘i before the empowered Journey upward to Hau‘oli Kamana‘o Precious lei of the spiritual one Wondrous lei upon the bosom

I kēia lā, aia nō ke ola kūpuna mai Kona Akau ā i ke aloha o Kona Hema. He wahi kupaianaha ā like ho‘i ka lei kamaha‘o i ka poli o Miloli‘i. He lei ia, he lei aloha, he lei kamaha‘o i ke a‘o pili i nā pua kai ala i Miloli‘i. Eia ku‘u aloha iā Miloli‘i, kō lākou maluhia, kō lākou ho‘omana Akua, kō lākou ‘auamo kuleana, ā pela wale nō! Eia ala ē!

Today, Elders of North and South Kona were seen on the shores of Miloli‘i. Miloli‘i, an amazing place similar to the wondrous lei placed upon the bosom of Miloli‘i. Indeed a lei, a lei of love, a wondrous lei of precious flowers of the sea in Miloli‘i. My love to Miloli‘i for their peacefulness, for their honoring of the Highest Spirit, for their carrying of a responsibility and many others. Here it is!

February 27, 2018, Nā Wai Puna o Kona journeyed to the bosom of Miloli‘i. We learned with the students of Hi‘ipu‘u Miloli‘i at Kua O Ka Lā New Century Public Charter School. Mahalo e Kumu Lei, Kumu Sheri, and Kumu Kaimi. Ke aloha nō, kūkae na‘au!

For more information on Kumu Keala and Nä Wai Iwi Ola, visit: nawaiiwiola.org Miloliÿi sunset, Hawaiÿi Island. photo courtesy of Shaftton Kaupu-Cabuag

The Legacy: Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Celebrating 57 Years

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

By Lara Hughes

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Double-hulled canoe passing in front of Hale o Keawe heiau (temple) during the park’s Annual Cultural Festival. photo courtesy of the National Park Service

Mahalo Kings' Shops – Culture Story Sponsor

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ince opening in 1961, Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau, a place of refuge, has been a cultural beacon for residents and visitors alike. Kawailehua Domingo, a descendant of South Kona and currently the park’s interpretive supervisor, is the third generation in her family to work at the Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Over the years, she has helped organize the park’s largest event, the Annual Cultural Festival, serving in a multitude of roles. Kawailehua explains, “Our goal during the festival is to convey the feeling and association with the historical period of the 1500s to the 1700s. Sharing the Hawaiian culture is a great reason to get together, and our festival gives visitors an enhanced one-onone experience they will never forget.”

Kahaka‘io Ravenscraft is the park’s current cultural demonstrator and interpreter. His predecessor was Uncle Charlie Grace, a well-known cultural practitioner and traditional ki‘i (tiki) carver. Kahaka‘io is responsible for creating many of the themes involving the various festivals and ceremonies that take place at the park throughout the year. He says, “A big part of why we do the festival is to create that connection between the people and the land, the place and the resources.”

It is in that same spirit that Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau will be celebrating its 57th anniversary as a national historical park. The festivities are

planned for Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24. Admission is free and open to all.

The Place: Honoring Our Wahi Pana ‘Wahi pana’ is a Hawaiian term that means a sacred place, a legendary place, or a place with a pulse. It is how Kahaka‘io refers to Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau and also the cultural festival and ceremonies that have been, and continue to be, conducted there. For him, the greatest importance lies in the act of bringing life to the place, keeping its heartbeat strong and demonstrating how the Hawaiian culture can thrive.

“There is life in a place when fishermen are doing their traditions, when they are practicing their techniques and passing it on. When lauhala weavers collect lauhala (Pandanus leaves), when they do their work and they make their beautiful products,” he says, “that process is what brings life to the place.”

Kahaka‘io feels connected to the traditions and processes that are shared and celebrated at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau. His kūpuna (ancestors) practiced, used, and lived by the same methods, knowledge, and mythology. He says this has provided him with a sense of identity and pride to carry the traditions

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Lauhala used in traditional basket weaving. photo by Lara Hughes event. Captain Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa and his brother-in-law Dale Fergerstrom have been bringing their own wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled canoes) every year since the early 1990s and taking visitors out on canoe rides in Hōnaunau Bay. “An astonishing number of local and even Hawaiian kids have never been on a canoe, so even if it’s for a short time, it’s an exposure,” says Kiko. “You see the eyes open and light up, and exposing them to something like that makes them think about what it is that they would like to do.” He continues, “A society or a civilization is a tapestry or a net of many different interlocking skills and abilities, and it’s wonderful to get to see other people’s abilities.”

In years past, crafts such as kapa (cloth made from bark) printing, lei making, basket weaving, and hula have been shared and celebrated. There has even been a traditional hukilau (type of fishing) celebration to signify the closing of the Kawai Domingo and her grandma, Katherine Domingo. photo courtesy of Kawai Domingo Kahakaÿio holding traditional lauhala baskets. photo by Lara Hughes forward to the coming generations on a local and even global scale. “It can inspire people to learn about Hawaiian culture and traditions. I think my favorite part of being here, especially during festival time, is connecting with so many diverse people that are out there. It’s like cultural exchange. You meet people from all over the world and you see just how connected we really are.”

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

The People: A Local and Global Community One of the many things that the cultural festival provides is a space for the community to come together. Whether it is through volunteering, taking up a role as a cultural demonstrator, or attending as a guest, it is apparent that participants have incredibly unique and amazing experiences.

This is further evidenced by the fact that they continue to return each year. “We have a few visitors who plan their annual vacation during our festival,” says Kawai, “We also have a family that comes every year from the different Hawaiian Islands, who use our festival as their family reunion. They share their knowledge of weaving coconut fronds with visitors from all over the world and are able to spend time with each other and create new memories, year after year.”

Local clubs join in to lend a helping hand as well. Keōua Hōnaunau Canoe Club donates their canoes and time to the

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festival. In this demonstration, there are three sections of lau (rope) with tī leaves tied to it that is taken into the ocean. Everyone is invited to participate, and the lau is joined together and kept low in the water. Everyone begins slapping the water. This scares the fish, and since the lau is low in the water, the fish do not want to swim under it and instead swim toward the shore. People on shore pull the lau in slowly and the fish can be seen in the shallow waters. Kahaka‘io performs an oli (traditional chant) and everyone sings “Hawai‘i Aloha” and the fish are set free.

The History: Deep Ties to an Important Past The history of Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau dates back to as early as the 1400s. Around the 1500s the ali‘i (chiefs) had begun to establish land boundaries and centralize their power. The kapu (sacred law) system was enforced by these ruling chiefs, and it placed a large amount of control over the maka‘āinana (commoners). It was during this time that Hōnaunau was first settled and that a pu‘uhonua (place of refuge) was established.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Kahakaÿio carving kiÿi at Puÿuhonua o Hönaunau. photo by Lara Hughes

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Hukilau celebration at the Annual Cultural Festival. photo courtesy of Kawai Domingo Later in the 1600s, Hōnaunau became a royal center.

In the 1900s, the area that would become the national park was preserved by Charles Bishop, who added it to the Bishop Estate. In 1961, the National Park Service became the stewards of the Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

The modern-day Annual Cultural Festival began in 1974, with original funding coming from programs offering money to national parks so that they could celebrate the bicentennial of the American Revolutionary War. The very first cultural festival lasted for six days. Today the festival’s duration is two days long and is annually held in the last full weekend of June, marking the dedication of the area as a national park.

The area has seen many changes, however it has also held onto many constants. Kawai herself has spent a lot of time growing up at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau. “My grandmother Katherine Domingo retired in 1997, after 25 years of service, and my dad works in the maintenance division. So when people ask me how long I’ve been here, I usually respond, ‘All my life’.” In the late 1980s and early 1990s, both of Kawai’s parents worked on the weekend and it was easiest for her and her brother to go to work with their father. “Every weekend we got up at 5 or 6am, before the birds woke up, and we helped my dad cleaning offices, wiping down tables and picking up leaves and rubbish in the park grounds. I remember having to pick up lots of noni (traditional medicinal plant) in the park grounds and I hated it. Now, the smell of noni reminds me of my childhood.” She still has a hard time believing that she works at the park herself, “I never thought I would be working here, but here I am almost seven years later!”

Kawai is one of many park rangers at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnauanau with a unique story and diverse background.

Speaking to other rangers, you hear different stories of where they come from and how they came to be there. Another park ranger, Emily Welch, hails from the US mainland and has been at the park for just over two years. “No park ranger has the same story as to how they got here,” she says and goes on to

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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Hälau waÿa (canoe house) at Puÿuhonua o Hönaunau. photo by Lara Hughes

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

point out, “The one thing that we have in common is that we all wanted to be here.”

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The Future: Keeping the Pulse Alive Kahaka‘io says, “We’re always looking forward, and what we are hoping to see on a cultural level is to enhance our cultural practices, to inspire carvers to learn how to carve their ki‘i (statues) and to carve their wa‘a, to inspire people from other islands and other places to recognize sacred places in their areas and learn what it means to take care of those places.”

Kahaka‘io calls it mo‘okuene (stewardship). “Serving the ‘āina (land), and bringing that sense of balance back to a place and restoring that pulse.”

Kawai hopes to see the park remain as a place where everyone is welcome. “This park protects one of the best preserved pu‘uhonua in the Hawaiian Islands. That’s unique and special, and that’s something we want to continue to do, protect this wahi pana for future generations to be able to connect and visit.” ■ 57th Anniversary and Annual Cultural Festival: Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, from 9am to 3pm. Admission is free.

To volunteer, contact: Kawailehua Domingo kawailehua_domingo@nps.gov or the Interpretation Division at 808.328.2326 For more information: nps.gov/puho/index.htm

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival:

Mahalo Kona Coast Realty – Sustainability Story Sponsor

Celebrating a Crop that Brought Hope and Success

By Fern Gavelek

T

en years ago, a group of folks were sitting on the lānai (porch) gazing out at healthy rows of Ka‘ū coffee trees laden with cherries. Beaming with pride and optimistic for the future, the neighboring Ka‘ū coffee farmers decided they needed a way to share their story, from adversity to success.

The adversity started with the demise of Hawai‘iʻs sugar industry, which resulted in C. Brewer and Company closing the Ka‘ū sugar mill in 1996, after the districtʻs 135-year dependence on sugarcane. As displaced sugar workers, they faced unemployment with few job prospects in a rural area far away from the job centers of Hilo, Kona, and the Kohala Coast. Ka‘ū residents are known for their resiliency and these folks were no different—they wanted to figure out a way to pay their bills and stay in Ka‘ū, so they decided to reinvent themselves and try farming coffee. With the help of the federal Rural Economic Transition Assistance-Hawaii (RETA-H) program, they got busy learning how to grow coffee and start a business—indeed an industry.

Former sugar company cane haulers, office workers and mechanics learned the business of growing and selling coffee, while toiling in the fields to grow it. The first harvests brought in little income, even with the affordable leases, as farmers competed against Kona coffee and other established Hawai‘i brands. Several years

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

17 Delicious baked goods, Kaÿü coffee bags, and a Kaÿü coffee festival barista brewing coffee. Hälau Hula O Leionalani performing at the 2017 Kaÿü Coffee Festival. photos courtesy of the Kaÿü Coffee Festival and by Fern Gavelek

into it, some frustrated growers gave up and deserted their plantings, letting tall grass cover their crops. Others, with tenacity and cooperation, worked toward building a reputable coffee brand and growing a successful Ka‘ū crop, while moving forward with hope for a prosperous future.

Fast forward to 2008. The group that had gathered on the lānai, reflecting on their eventual success, felt it was time to celebrate their distinctive Ka‘ū coffee and the people and place that made it so special.

They decided the platform would be the inaugural Ka‘ū Coffee Festival, a weekend celebration that debuted in 2009 with farm tours, a coffee college, and a ho‘olaule‘a (celebration/festival) chock-full of coffee booths with samplings served by friendly Ka‘ū coffee farmers. Over the years, the festival has grown to multiple days of activities—mostly coffee-related, though some others joyously showcase the uniqueness of Ka‘ū. This year’s rendition marks the festival’s 10th anniversary and is April 21, 27, 29, and May 2, 4–6.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Coffee and Ka‘ū Coffee came to Ka‘ū in the mid-1890s. According to Merle Becker of Aikane Plantation, located between Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala, her great-grandfather, “Papa” J.C. Searle, planted coffee there in 1894; its popularity is documented in old newspaper articles. Keiki from Searle’s trees are grown at Aikane, which also operates a cattle ranch and is the location of the festival’s Coffee & Cattle Day on May 4. The festivities include a hayride and delicious barbecue.

In the early days, coffee could not compete with the moreprofitable sugarcane. However, conditions were right to grow coffee in the rambling Ka‘ū District that covers 922 square

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miles. Larger than any Hawaiian island except the very island it sits on, the Ka‘ū District basically covers the southern quarter of Hawai‘i County. It includes Ocean View near its northwestern boundary and part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at its northeast end, plus Ka Lae (South Point), Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ōhinu, coffee-rich Pāhala, and Punalu‘u in between.

The area’s nearly 600,000 acres is largely a mix of conservation and agricultural lands offering coffee’s needed elevation of between 1,000 to 2,300 feet with a balance of sun, clouds, and rain—plus deep, rich volcanic soil.

A century later, displaced sugar workers planted coffee on mainly five-acre Ka‘ū plots leased by C. Brewer.

The new farmers formed the Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Cooperative to help navigate the Contestants, like last year’s winner Jami Beck, growing and marketing compete for scholarships during the annual pageant of coffee and provide held April 21 in 2018. the means for group photo courtesy of the Kaÿü Coffee Festival

purchases. C. Brewer sold the coffee farms in 2006 to Ka‘u Farm and Ranch, which purchased 2,000 acres and nearly 40 tenant farms. Chris Manfredi, managing partner of Ka‘u Farm and Ranch, saw the challenges facing the tenant coffee farmers and rolled up his sleeves to help address them.

The popular Kaÿü Mountain Water System Hike is May 2 in 2018. photo courtesy of the Kaÿü Coffee Festival

Find all kinds of baked goods and ono grinds during the May 5th hoÿolauleÿa on the grounds of the Pähala Community Center. photo by Fern Gavelek multiple SCAA awards since, plus accolades at the statewide Hawaii Coffee Association cupping and Roasters Guild Coffees competitions, and from Coffee Review. It gained recognition within the food and beverage industry starting in 2007, when Hawaii Regional Cuisine founder Chef Alan Wong started serving the brew at his restaurants.

In addition, Ka‘ū coffee is sold today through Starbucksʻ prestigious Reserve program, which says on its website, “is the complete and total commitment to the immersive experience of coffee craft and the ongoing pursuit of the world’s rarest, most exalted, most sought-after, small-lot coffees.”

Chris says Ka‘ū coffee will be highlighted at the new Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai and that inclusion “with the best coffees in the world is a giant step forward in solving our name recognition hurdles with prospective roasters and buyers.”

Festival Evolves to Promote Brand, Community In addition to Chris, festival founders include Trinidad “Trini” Marques of Ali‘i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee, Gloria Camba of Ka‘ū Royal Coffee, Lorie Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee, Julia Neal of the Ka‘ū Calendar and Brenda Iokepa-Moses, formerly of C. Brewer and Ka‘u Farm and Ranch and now with Ka‘ū Mahi—current landowner of the tenant farms.

Manfredi credits all the Ka‘ū coffee farmers for joining forces to put on the festival. “We all work together; everyone contributes in a role in which they are comfortable,” he explains. “It’s all about them growing and building their strengths.”

Farmers contribute in countless ways, setting up the tents for the day-long ho‘olaue‘a, donating prizes for the beauty pageant, and cooking for the visiting industry professionals who teach at the coffee college. “From a volunteer perspective, the Ka‘ū community service nonprofit O Ka‘ū Kākou has made executing the festival many times easier,” notes Chris.

A main festival participant is the Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, which hosts the Ka‘ū Coffee Recipe Contest on April 29, the Ka‘ū Mountain Water System Hike and Stargazing atop Mt. Makanau on May 19 4, plus one of the farm tours during the ho‘olaule‘a on May 5.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Building the Ka‘ū Coffee Brand Chris Manfredi, a Long Island, New York native who has perennially served as the festival organizer since its inception, says the biggest difficulty for Ka‘ū coffee was, and still is, brand name recognition.

“When producing coffee in the shadow of Kona, which is well-known for high-quality coffee, it’s hard to establish a new brand,” he emphasizes.

To build Ka‘ū’s coffee and its image, he visited with growers to best understand their challenges while identifying what was and wasn’t working.

Tackling the inconsistency of quality, Chris worked with consultants to help farmers understand “how what they did on the farm and during processing affected coffee flavor.” He says some needed help and some were doing really well. He offered training by inviting experienced coffee experts to help the growers—a tradition that continues today with the festival’s annual coffee college.

“When you’re trying to land a market, you have to have a quantity of high-quality coffee or it’s hard to service the market well,” Chris explains. “It’s very expensive to produce coffee in Hawai‘i and if you don’t have the ultra-premium quality that earns a high price, you won’t survive.”

To get Ka‘ū coffee on the map, Chris entered 15 of his tenant farms in the 2007 Special Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) cupping contest. He says it was to get a baseline, to see how Ka‘ū coffee ranked with others, and it was with no preparation or help from industry experts. Against these odds, Ka‘ū earned two top 10 rankings, sixth and ninth, while vying with 120 entries from around the globe.

“By this time, some growers had become discouraged and had abandoned the farms they started a decade earlier,” recalls Chris. “Many of the buyers then were not giving Ka‘ū the respect it deserved, nor the price necessary to keep the industry going.”

However, Chris says the success of the SCAA cupping inspired some farmers to get back into growing coffee and boosted those who had stuck with it.

“It created a sense of hope and pride that Ka‘ū coffee had a chance to succeed,” he continues.

“We were then determined to create the Ka‘ū coffee brand.”

Ka‘ū coffee has won

Owner Edmund C. Olson also has sponsored scholarships for the Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant, this year on April 21, which is now overseen by Trini. Pāhala Plantation Cottages, a former sugar company manager’s estate, hosts the lively music jam for the Pā‘ina Open House on April 27. While some of these events donʻt specifically highlight coffee, they showcase landmarks and activities that are unique to Ka‘ū.

The festival culminates with two days of java jumpinʻ festivities and education sprawling inside and out of the Pāhala Community Center. The ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday, May 5 showcases local farmers offering coffee sampling and sales, food booths presented by local nonprofits, the barista-guided Ka‘ū Coffee Experience pouring samples of different Ka‘ū coffees prepared in a variety of ways, farm tours, arts and crafts sales, keiki fun, and non-stop island music and hula by local hālau (schools).

Also on tap Saturday are agricultural-themed booths, including the ever-popular Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Cooperative station, with its tasty Filipino food and friendly games for keiki and adults. President Gloria Camba says the 56-member co-op recently secured a USDA Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant to fund consultants and training in a variety of areas including quality control, the creation of e-commerce websites, company branding and quantitative research to identify possible market areas.

The Sunday coffee college hosts notable industry experts to help farmers with their challenges of soil improvement, pest management, processing, roasting, packaging and marketing. A reverse trade mission, the college brings serious specialty coffee industry professionals to Ka‘ū to interface with local growers while teaching them what they need to know.

Presentation topics vary annually and are tailored to immediate issues addressing growers. Case in point is one of last year’s presentations.

“Some farmers had purchased new equipment from a manufacturer and were getting mixed results,” remembers Chris. “So, we brought in the manufacturer to provide needed training.”

Chris is proud of how the college has evolved over the years; attendance is strong and so are the connections made. “The Ka‘ū Coffee Festival celebrates where we have been and helps plot the course for the future,” he adds.

Lorie Obra muses, “I am proud of what Ka‘ū coffee has become, and most importantly, of the dedicated farmers who kept going when it was hard. This festival reminds us of how far we’ve come. And we’re not done yet! We’re still growing.” ■ For more information: kaucoffeefestival.com Facebook: Kau Coffee Festival Twitter/Instagram: Kau Coffee Fest 2018 Ka‘ū Coffee Festival Activities Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant, Saturday, April 21 Pā‘ina Open House, Friday, April 27 Ka‘ū Coffee Recipe Contest, Sunday, April 29 Ka‘ū Mountain Water System Hike, Wednesday, May 2 Ka‘ū Valley Farm Tour, Thursday, May 3 Ka‘ū Coffee & Cattle Day, Friday, Friday, May 4 Ka‘ū Stargazing, Friday, May 4 Ka‘ū Coffee Ho‘olaule‘a, Saturday, May 5 Ka‘ū Coffee College, Sunday, May 6

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The Ala Kahakai Trail:

A Walk through History into the Future

By Jan Wizinowich

H

Along the Ala Kahakai Trail near Punaluÿu, Kaÿü. photo courtesy of Barbara A. Schaefer

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

awaiʽi Island’s history can be found along its coastal and mauka (mountain side) to makai (ocean side) trails, a network imprinted by the hands and feet of those who came before.

The coastal ala loa trail (Hawaiian trail system, literally translated as long path) formed the backbone of that network, supporting communication and commerce between ahupuaʽa (districts).

“Trails were that connectivity of families, of commerce, really survival and thriving, both mauka, makai and along the shoreline. There’s nothing that went on in Hawai‘i that didn’t have to do with trails,” said Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail (AKNHT) interpretive ranger, Nahaku Kalei.

Once circumnavigating the entire island, the coastal trail corridor, which is alive with historic sites, now stretches 175 miles from ‘Upolu Point in North Kohala along the coast and rounding at Ka Lae (South Point), and heads northeast to the Puna shoreline boundary of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

In recognition of the importance of the coastal trail, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail was added to the National Trails System in 2000, under the auspices of the National Park Service (NPS). Studies were conducted, communities were consulted and by 2010 a Comprehensive Management Plan was adopted with an ambitious 15 year goal. “The first 15 years of the plan calls for us to connect Puʽukoholā with Puʽuhonua o Hōnaunau and beyond to Hoʽokena,” said Aric Arakaki, AKNHT superintendent.

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History of the Trail Up through most of the 1800s, communication and transportation were conducted along the trail system.

“Although the canoe was a principle means of travel in ancient Hawaiʽi, extensive cross-country trail networks enabled gathering of food and water and harvesting of materials for shelter, clothing, medicine, religious observances and other necessities for survival.” (Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management Plan, p. 13) With the introduction of horses and mules for transportation, wider, straighter trails were constructed to accommodate horse-drawn carts. By the 1850s and evolving over the next 40 years, a government road was built between Kohala, Kona, and Hilo that often diverged from the original ala loa trail, isolating people living in remote areas.

The Great Māhele of 1848 established private property in Hawaiʽi, which led to the Highways Act of 1892, signed into law through the efforts of Queen Liliʽuokalani and the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaiʽi. “One of the last acts of the kingdom was the highway act and it dictated that any trail that was in existence at that time was a public right of way,” said Chris Hawkins, coordinator of the Ala Kahakai Trail Association. This has become a critical legal tool, enabling the State to declare public rights-of-ways.

Re-establishing the Trails When complete, the Ala Kahakai Trail will be the cordage that binds the canoe together. “It’s a system of trails, not one single trail. When we did our consultation with the kūpuna

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Volunteers head home after a trail work day between Hapuna Beach and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. photo courtesy of Barbara A. Schaefer

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(elders) they said don’t forget to include the mauka to makai trails because that’s the trails we use to access the mountains and the sea to gather,” said Aric.

The 175 mile trail includes four national parks and traverses 220 ahupuaʽa. “There are descendants with ancestral ties to the trails, its ahupuaʽa and its history. Communities said they wanted the chance to manage their shoreline areas. It was all based on the ahupuaʽa,” said Aric.

To that end, a management plan emerged from the stakeholders along the trail. “We went through a whole consultation process with the community for the management plan. It was vetted by county, state and federal agencies all the way up to Washington D.C. and it all came back positive.

We were really happy that they were able to understand this is how we want to manage the trail. It makes total sense,” explained Aric.

The Highways Act of 1892 also makes it possible for NPS to identify and re-establish historic routes. “Now it includes the shoreline trail and the Māmalahoa trail in Waikoloa. Ancient trails, pre-contact trails and then also historic trails. We can preserve routes, even if the trail is not there. It may have been covered by a lava flow or paved over but the route is still there and we can interpret that trail and create public access,” said Aric.

Storied Places Each section of the trail has its own stories and sacred sites. Beginning at ‘Upolu Point in North Kohala you can walk through history from the birthplace of Kamehameha I

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to Puʽukoholā Heiau, completed in 1791 as a tribute to the unification of the islands.

A coinciding event south along the trail was the capture of the Fair American. When Captain Thomas Metcalfe of the Fair American anchored at Kaʽūpūlehu in the winter of 1790, he had no idea that Chief Kameʽeiamoku was lying in wait to avenge the flogging he had received from Thomas’ father, Simon Metcalfe, aboard the Eleanora a few weeks earlier. After killing all but one of the crew, Kameʽeiamoku commandeered the Fair American and presented it to Kamehameha.

The lone survivor of the attack was Isaac Davis who, along with John Young, became an instrumental military advisor for Kamehameha’s unification efforts. “There are descendants of Isaac Davis and Kameʽeiamoku who took over the Fair American and we brought them together and created a video with them. That’s a story right there along the trail,” said Aric.

Continuing on the trail, you will be treated to a glimpse of the history of an advanced culture and its sacred sites. “One of the most powerful things that anybody can do is to step onto a trail alignment. It’s really not something you can talk about, but as soon as you are in it, you capture that feeling of all the people who have traveled through these same footsteps you are traveling. You get to see the landscape as they saw it, from very different perspectives,” explained Nahaku.

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Community Building While under the protection of various government entities, there is much more to the trail than the listing of historic sites.

The communities along the trail have a vision that includes providing access for traditional practices, protection of sacred sites, education and uniting local communities in an effort to preserve Hawaiʽi’s culture.

This is proving to be a complex endeavor as the fate of each ahupuaʽa along the trail has varied. “Every single one of those alignments has a different agreement with the land owner. So everyone needs to be verified as to who owns that trail. It’s a slow process to do it correctly,” said Nahaku.

Another NPS focus for the trail is to build the capacity of each community by bringing ancient practices such as salt production into the present as a viable economic support. “We are at the intersection of environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and agricultural self-reliance. Hawai‘i at one time thrived and there was no dependency on the outside. So how do we encourage and support that kind of movement to be at that intersection as well?” said Aric.

One way that NPS seeks to answer that question is by working with ahupuaʽa community groups to help them build and implement their own shoreline management plans through finding fiscal sponsors and helping with the creation of nonprofits. “We want to see them benefit economically as well, through the creation of livelihoods. That’s why we want to build the capacity of the community, so they can compete effectively in the field of ecotourism and visitor accommodations and try to develop a different kind of paradigm for visitors that come on the trail to be hosted by communities,” said Aric.

Another kind of community-building along the trail is the integration with nonprofits such as E Mau Nā Ala Hele, the Ala Kahakai Trail Association, South Kohala Coastal Partnership, willing landowners and volunteers. “We can’t do it ourselves.

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Ramp along the 1871 trail at Puÿuhonua o Hönaunau. photo courtesy of Barbara A. Schaefer

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Along the trail near Kalaemanö. photo courtesy of Barbara A. Schaefer

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Tutu (grandfather) and moÿopuna (grandchild) walking the Ala Kahakai Trail. photo by Pelika Andrade

or 49 Black Sand Beach is a good example. We received a donation from a member of the community to fix a really dangerous section of the trail,” explained Aric.

For more information: Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail: nps.gov/alka/index.htm Ala Kahakai Trail Association: alakahakaitrail.org/ E Mau Nā Ala Hele: emaunaalahele.org/

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Walking the Trail There’s still much work to be done before the entire trail is ready with signage and other safety features. “The policy of Ala Kahakai Trail is to open and make trails public as community-based management plans are established, in place and implemented. Many sections of the trail have not been able to have that happen yet,” said Nahaku.

One section of the trail that is officially open begins at Pelekane Bay, going south to ‘Anaehoʽomalu Bay. “We’ve connected with all the resorts, homeowners associations, and the Kohala Coast Resort Association. We’re working with them to provide interpretation and signage,” said Aric.

Safety and protocol are a primary concern. Sacred sites need to be protected and travelers need to understand the particular protocols associated with them and the trail as a whole. “We’re working on a brochure right now that gets into safety and protocol. Eventually we want to frame this as a pilgrimage trail you come on and experience spirituality. You can visit shrines and learn and take it in and come out of it a spiritually enhanced person,” said Aric.

Trail systems like the Ala Kahakai provide a foundational metaphor for human history and life on our planet; they connect us and move us through life. “Trails that you take in your life, a path that you choose. We can interpret the trails of the Polynesians as they moved across the Pacific and then we can even take it back further to the human diaspora out of Africa. All of our ancestors walked on trails and moved across the planet,” concluded Aric. ■

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

A Sandwich for the Season

Local Foods

By Brittany P. Anderson

This time of year when it is still spring, yet starts to feel like summer, is one of my favorite seasons on Hawai‘i Island. The weather is a bit unpredictable–warm, sunny summer days are on the horizon and you can still get a few cool nights. This time of year is a balance of hot and cold, which is why the Bahn Mi sandwich is the ultimate food for the season.

The Vietnamese Bahn Mi is the product of French colonization, a fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine taking a French baguette and pâté then pairing them with Vietnamese Do Chua and cilantro. Back in 2012, I watched Anthony Bourdain on television swooning over the sandwich and the next day my shopping list was filled with ingredients for the Bahn Mi, and it is a rather long list of ingredients. When we tasted the Bahn Mi for the first time, the effort was well worth it.

The translation of Bahn Mi is literally “bread”—a simple word for such a complex array of flavors and ingredients. The Bahn Mi is a yin yang balance of flavors and temperatures—the most important factor to a successful Bahn Mi. Vietnamese cooking is influenced by the five elements principle called Mahābhūta. These five elements are spicy (metal), sour (wood), bitter (fire), salty (water), and sweet (earth). With the Bahn Mi, omitting one of the elements—sweet, sour, hot, cold, soft, hard—you are left with just a sandwich.

Usually, the Bahn Mi will comprise of a meat, pâté, vegetables, and slathered in mayonnaise all served on a single serving baguette style roll. The roll should be crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside—you absolutely must remove some of the bready portion inside to successfully house all your fillings.

The version I created is decidedly Hawaiian with pineapple, locally made tofu, and locally grown mushrooms turned into pâté. If you prefer meat for your Bahn Mi, you can substitute kālua pork for the tofu in this original recipe.

Mushroom Pâté 8 oz. mushrooms of your choice Half of a 12 oz. block of extra firm tofu 1 Tbsp. oil of your choice Salt and pepper

Grilled Tofu The other half of your 12 oz. block of extra firm tofu Your favorite BBQ sauce Sriracha (optional) Take the other half of block of tofu and cut into ¼ inch thick slices. Place in shallow dish and smother in your favorite BBQ sauce. A dash of sriracha is great too. Set aside in refrigerator to marinate for at least 30 minutes. When you are ready to make the Bahn Mi, grill the tofu slices.

Do Chua – Quick Pickled Carrots and Daikon Daikon, julienned Carrot, julienned Rice vinegar Pinch of sugar (optional) Pinch of salt

Additional Ingredients Sliced cucumber Cilantro Grilled pineapple Red onion 6 single serving hoagie rolls or 2 baguettes cut into thirds

Peel daikon and carrots. Using a mandolin or your expert knife skills, julienne both vegetables. Combine equal parts daikon and carrot in a bowl, cover with rice vinegar, add sugar and salt. Let stand for at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Method Slice roll down the center lengthwise and pull the center of the bread out, hollowing it out to make room for all the fillings.

Slather on a generous helping of spicy mayo, and place under the broiler for 2–3 minutes to crisp slightly. To assemble your Bahn Mi, spread the pâté on one side of the bun, then load in the sliced cucumber, pickled daikon and carrot, grilled tofu, grilled pineapple, and finish with cilantro and red onion. The roll, tofu, and pineapple should be hot while the pickled daikon and carrot as well as pâté should be cold. The mixture of hot, cold, sweet, and spicy are what make this sandwich so special!

29 Enjoy immediately.

Spicy Mayo ½ cup mayonnaise 2-3 Tbsp. sriracha Combine mayonnaise and sriracha in small bowl, mix thoroughly. Set aside in refrigerator.

Photo by Brittany P. Anderson

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Roughly chop mushrooms, sauté in pan with oil over medium low heat. Once mushrooms are tender, transfer to food processor. Add the half block of tofu and blend until smooth.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

Manta Pacific Research Foundation Conserving

By Karen Rose

”T

he world’s finest wilderness lies beneath the waves,” says marine life artist Wyland. Keller Laros, president of the Manta Pacific Research Foundation (MPRF), agrees.

Keller and his wife Wendy founded MPRF in 2002 out of their passion for manta rays. The mission of this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is to study manta rays in their natural habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish and promote global manta ray conservation.

An underwater photographer, videographer, and certified SCUBA instructor, Keller had his first encounter with the Kona manta rays in 1985. “The summer after I graduated from college as a political science major I visited Kona with my family,” said Keller. “We went on a manta ray night dive with Jack's Diving Locker. After my experience with the night dive, I fell in love with manta rays. They’re that kind of animal. They really affected me, so I gave up the idea of being a lawyer to become a SCUBA instructor and move to Hawai‘i.” He moved to Kona in 1991 and started leading manta ray dives shortly after.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

How the Foundation Began “The manta dive started to become really popular and people kept asking all kinds of questions, like, ‘How long do manta rays live?’ and ‘How do you tell a male from a female?’,” Keller recounts. “Wendy and I sort of cobbled together whatever information we could find and created the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Manta Ray Scuba Diver course, which I taught at Jack’s Diving Locker.”

It was during this time when Keller met an interested philanthropist on one of the dives he was leading. “It was late 2000 when one our passengers asked me how much money we needed for our research,” said Keller. “I asked him what he meant and he answered, ‘$10,000 or $100,000?’. I’d never had anyone ask me anything like that before.”

At the time, the foundation was just an idea and not yet a nonprofit organization. Since the donor needed to make a donation before the end of the year, Keller suggested he support his friend, and later Manta Pacific scientific advisor, Tim Clark, who was set to begin his PhD at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Keller says, “Tim got his PhD funded, and it also gave me the impetus to complete the paperwork and requirements needed to become a nonprofit organization.” The support paid off, and today the Manta Pacific Research Foundation is led by a talented team of volunteers and supported by a community of people who are fueled by a passion for these magnificent creatures.

Manta rays are one of the largest animals in the ocean.

Hailing from tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters, their wingspans often reach over 20 feet across. In the Hawaiian 30 language, they are called hāhālua. The manta ray’s wide

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triangular wings are used to propel themselves gracefully through the water, taking on the characteristics of underwater angels.

“Each manta ray has a unique set of spots on their abdomen,” said Keller. “The first manta we got to know was Lefty. We noticed her left cephalic fin was folded up in front of her face and were able to identify her as an individual. I got the photo of Lefty and upon comparing it with other manta rays, I realized each manta had their own set of spots.”

This began the manta identification project, which still is in existence today. The oldest photo of Lefty dates back to 1979, however Keller sadly notes they haven’t seen her since 2016.

Beginning in 1991, photographs were used to create an identification catalog. MPRF has identified and cataloged 266 manta rays in the waters around Hawai‘i Island with the assistance of volunteer citizen scientists.

“It’s a very interesting population,” Keller continues, “there are two species of manta, the birostris: the pelagic (off shore) manta and the far more numerous alfredi (near shore) manta.

There are another 117 mantas in Maui; however none of the

31 Diver during a manta ray dive in 2017. photo courtesy of Keller Laros

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alfredi have ever been sighted on both islands, giving us our own little kama‘āina (resident) population of manta alfredi rays here.”

By 1993 the dive had become very popular, going from one or two boats per night to as many as six per night. Wanting to be proactive, several local commercial operators and manta enthusiasts got together with PADI Project Aware as a sponsor, to write guidelines for how to conduct a proper manta ray night dive.

“Most scuba divers are happy to passively watch the mantas, but occasionally someone would reach out and grab onto a passing ray. This frightens the mantas away and ruins the experience for everyone,” explained Keller. “The guidelines were printed and distributed by PADI’s Project AWARE (Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility and Education). The guidelines have worked so well within the local community, the dive has thrived as a result.”

In addition to researching manta rays, the Manta Pacific Research Foundation also promotes global manta ray conservation. From 2003 to 2009, Keller, alongside the foundation and several commercial operators, combined forces to help pass legislation protecting the marine animals.

Today, manta rays are protected in the state of Hawai‘i due to the efforts of MPRF and other dedicated individuals.

“In 2009, we finally got the law passed making it illegal to kill or capture manta rays in Hawai‘i,” said Keller. “It took six years to get that done, but it was well worth it.”

In 2013, Keller was on a manta ray night dive when a bottlenose dolphin paid a visit to the divers. Noticing the dolphin’s left pectoral fin was wrapped in fishing line, he signaled the dolphin to approach him. The dolphin swam over to Keller and he carefully removed the line and hook from the animal’s fin. The rescue was captured on video and received tens of millions of views. Scuba divers have removed fishing line from mantas and sea turtles several times over the years.

Keller describes one of these encounters.

“We received word that one of our manta rays, Koie, had gotten fishing line tangled around her right pectoral fin,” he said. “It trailed off behind her and it was slowly cutting into her wing. I got a pair of wire cutters, and during the night dive, she came up and slowly circled as three of us took turns cutting the fishing line off of her. You could tell it hurt, but she knew we were there to help so she kept turning around and coming back. Over the course of about 15 minutes, we were able to remove all the fishing line. It worked out really well.

Sheʻs still got a scar on the front of her pectoral fin, but the rear of it is completely healed. That was pretty cool.”

Another project of the MPRF was the creation of the Manta Learning Center, located at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay. Keller and Wendy collaborated with the Sheraton and underwater photographer Bo Pardue to establish a place where visitors can learn more about these amazing animals.

“Wendy provided information and educational design, Bo got the pictures, and I produced the manta ray identification video that plays on the monitor,” said Keller. “We built the Manta Learning Center so when people are interested in manta rays, they can go down there and check it out.”

The Manta Learning Center is located in the hotel hallway leading into the restaurant, Rays on the Bay. The restaurant, and areas around it, provide an outstanding view of the ocean.

At night, bright lights from the resort shine into the water

A manta ray feeds during a manta ray night dive 2017. photo courtesy of Keller Laros

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Snorkelers on a night manta tour. photo courtesy of Splashers

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attracting plankton, which attracts manta rays.

A current concern of the foundation and the manta community is the increased number of people—commercial operators as well as non-commercial snorkelers and scuba divers—conducting manta snorkels and dives. The popularity of swimming with mantas has grown exponentially. It has gotten to the point where there are too many boats and untrained people in the water at the manta sites. The Manta Pacific Research Foundation as well as several commercial operators have been working with the state to come up with a management plan to protect the environment from anchor damage as well as protect the mantas from potentially being harmed.

As far as future projects go, Keller has ambitious plans for the foundation. “One of our future projects is to collect DNA samples of the manta rays here in Kona so we can compare them to one another and create a family tree,” he said. “Manta rays live a long time and it would be interesting to discover who is related to who.”

The future of Kona’s manta rays is in good hands with the Manta Pacific Research Foundation.

“Iʻm just so crazy about manta rays,” said Keller. “I look at the manta rays and can recognize maybe 100 or more of them.

They’re unique creatures. Theyʻre intelligent. Theyʻre beautiful.

Theyʻre graceful. Theyʻre mysterious. We need to protect the manta rays and perpetuate the biodiversity.” ■ For more information: mantapacific.org

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

The Alonzo Spirit Band

Music for the Soul

The Alonzo Spirit Band at the video shoot for “My Sweet Lord”. Left to right: Melissa, Alonzo, Karl, Damon, Michael, Sarah, Ginger, and Tom. photo courtesy of The Alonzo Spirit Band

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By Ma‘ata Tukuafu

to have them sit on your computer.’ I’d never thought about recording them.”

The first thing he did was reach out to his good friend Chadd Paishon, captain of the Makali‘i, who is also an amazingly talented musician. Chadd had heard some of Alan’s songs and he arranged to have Charlie Recaido (a member of the band Kohala) engineer the first sessions at Lava Trax recording studio in Waimea. Charlie played bass on many of the songs, and soon after, he suggested that sisters Ginger Bertelmann and Melissa Samura come in to record vocals with them.

Other talented musicians agreed to work on the first selftitled CD The Alonzo Spirit Band, released in 2013. Because of the abundance of material Alan had to work with, he began recording enough music for three albums at once. One important famous Hawaiian performer who participated was Lorna Lim, the beautiful singer and musician from the Lim family, who sang three songs: “Lay A Little Dream on Me”, “A Song to Sing You on Your Way”, and “I’ll Be The One To Walk You Home”.

Alan heard Damon Williams’ hit song “Coconut Girl” and asked him if he would sing a few of the songs for The Alonzo Spirit Band CD. Charles Brotman, (also of the band Kohala, and owner of Lava Trax) was in the studio one day, when he heard Damon sing “Find The One”. Alan laughs when he recalls 37 Charles saying, “Oh that’s how it’s supposed to sound,” after KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

t was in 2007 when Alan “Alonzo” Rosen began hearing voices in his head; not crazy voices, but rather, he was hearing notes, lyrics, melodies, and completed songs. After meditation or sometimes in dreams, Alan would hear music and he started writing everything down. Soon he had over 80 original songs with lyrics; every single one had a positive or uplifting message.

Alan, an accomplished Hollywood TV writer/producer/ director (Archie Bunker’s Place and Elvis Meets Nixon, to name a few) moved to Hawai‘i Island in 2000 and immersed himself in the culture here. Through his friendship with Clay and Shorty Bertelmann, he documented the Makali‘i ‘ohana (Hawai‘i Islandʻs voyaging canoe family) for many years, and became close to the voyaging community. In 2008, he released the documentary Mau Voyager, a three-hour biographical tribute to Master Navigator Papa Mau Piailug. It was while completing the documentary project, that Alan began capturing the songs he was hearing onto his computer.

“When the songs started coming through, I was just in awe, because I’d never written music before,” Alan says. He had written lyrics for other people in the past, however this was new.

Three years passed and one day while in meditation, Alan says, “The spirits got after me, they said, ‘Well? When are you going to record these songs? We didn’t just give them to you

Alonzo and Chadd in the first days of recording. photo courtesy of Alan Rosen

Melissa Samura and Ginger Bertelmann in the studio, whose voices blend seamlessly with the band. photo courtesy of Alan Rosen

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Ginger, Damon, and Melissa at the end of their video shoot. photo courtesy of Alan Rosen

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hearing Damon record it.

Rupert Tripp Jr, Iris Downey, and Hawaiian musical legend Sonny Lim are other Hawai‘i Island vocalists featured on the first CD. Alan fondly calls all the contributors together “The AllStar Studio Band,” a collection of fantastic and accomplished musicians who bring the songs to life. He found more local talent who added their instrumental voices to the mix: Karl Kasberg on keyboards, Colin John and Charles Brotman on electric guitar, Michael Surprenant on drums, and members of the Bump City Horns (Jesse Snyder on tenor sax, Andrea Lindborg on trumpet, Duncan Bamsey on baritone sax, and Gary Russell on trombone), and many others.

Alan would initiate the recording process by creating a “guide track” of himself singing the melody and playing the chords for the song on his guitar. Then he would play the simple track for the musicians and he found there was so much expertise, they would make suggestions on how it could sound.

“Sonny (Lim) would come in and I’d play him the start of the song, and he would get it right away, without hearing the rest of it. He’d ask which instrument I wanted, guitar or ‘ukulele and he’d just start playing.” He adds that Karl Kasberg has that same ability on the piano/keyboards, as well as guitarists Luke Clebsch, Pat Eskildsen, and Chadd Paishon, who can play in any style of music the piece calls for.

Part of Alan’s role as a producer has been to get the right musician for each song. The Alonzo Spirit Band does not have just one style and each CD contains a variety of genres: pop, reggae, rock, jazz, and soft melodic ballads. Alan says the songs came out like that, and they determine who should sing them. He wouldn’t ask Sonny Lim to play on a loud rock song; rather, he would invite Luke or Pat to play lead instead. On reggae songs, Pat and Jamin Wong are the main musicians, along with Damon on ‘ukulele. Most important to Alan has been the release of positive messages and uplifting music through the contributions of talented local musicians.

The Alonzo Spirit Band’s second CD And Float Away was released at the end of 2015. In addition to original pieces, The Alonzo Spirit Band pays tribute to “My Sweet Lord” (written by George Harrison) and “A Beautiful Morning” (by The Rascals,) both re-imagined and given an island flavor. This upbeat and joyful CD bounces from one genre to another. “Walking in the Light” is a blues/rock shuffle, “Aloha Au I Ke Aloha” is sung in a buoyant pop style, three of the songs are ballads including

one sung by Lorna Lim, the title song is a melodic jazz/pop duet featuring Damon Williams and Iris Downey, and “Cosmic Cadillac” has a rock and roll feel. (For this CD, Charles Brotman took over the engineering and co-mixing reins.)

To create the video for “My Sweet Lord”, Alan chose the location of Pu‘ukohola Heiau National Historic Site to film lead vocalist Damon, Ginger and Melissa and also included all of the musicians who played on that track. As is the nature of a studio band, not everyone could make it on the same day for the video filming.

“There’s a lot of talent just in that one video,” Alan says.

“It took us two and a half days to shoot because everyone couldn’t be together at the same time.”

He had Damon sing and walk along one of the paths, passing various musicians featured on the song, because it was the only way he could get Pat and Sonny into the video.

Damon says he truly enjoys working with Alan in the recording studio. Damon, for two decades now a successful artist in his own right, has assisted Alan with mixing and production, as well as recording more vocals. Some of the current music for the upcoming fourth CD has been recorded at Damon’s studio.

“Alan is a very solid and spiritual person,” Damon says. “He’s had a very worldly life, yet he has turned his focus over to spirituality. He brings people together to do the things that get the project done. All I’m doing is helping him to facilitate his vision.”

The Bright Side is The Alonzo Spirit Band’s third CD, released in 2016. This album continues to bring forward the happy and positive vibe of the group. While And Float Away had a successful run on 52 Triple A (Adult Alternative Audience) radio stations across America, The Bright Side did even better, with songs spun on more than 80 Triple A stations and some commercial radio stations as well. Represented by radio promoters in Los Angeles, Alan says he’s very grateful for promoter Crystal Ann’s ability to get the songs onto the airwaves.

Pat Eskildsen, a member of Kahulanui (a band that plays Hawaiian swing/big band music from the 1920s and 1930s) is featured playing bass and lead guitar on many of the tracks.

One song Pat backs is “The Word”, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and performed by The Beatles, giving it an island pop sound.

Damon, Alonzo, and Pat on a video shoot. photo courtesy of The Alonzo Spirit Band

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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Sonny Lim records in the Lava Trax studio. photo courtesy of Alan Rosen

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

“I really love studio work. We take an old song and change up the style completely,” says Pat. “Between that and Alan’s originals, we’re being creative with material that doesn’t have any type of reference. Creating a groove with only a click track, we have to come up with something, and it sure sounds a lot better when everyone has recorded on it.”

Ginger Bertelmann says she has been working with Alan for more than six years now. Interpreting the music and singing with Melissa Samura has been fun and rewarding for her, and she enjoys being part of the project. Melissa adds that Alan could have chosen other people to sing many of the songs on the albums, and she feels privileged to be a part of the Spirit Band.

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Truth Music (aka Luke Clebsch) is the man behind some of the guitar and harmonica heard on both And Float Away and The Bright Side. He plays many instruments and teaches at the Big Island Music Academy.

“Alan is a lot of fun to work with. His whole intention behind the music and his approach and attitude is open hearted,” Truth says. “We have a lot of fun exploring sounds.”

Alan says the recording experience takes him back to the time he was working on sets with actors. He says it is kind of the same, working with musicians in the studio, though with a difference: now he is a caretaker of songs, nurturing them and releasing them into the world. Overall, he feels grateful for the gift of the songs from the Spirits, grateful for all the talented singers and musicians, and grateful the songs are getting heard on the Triple A stations. One may say the Alonzo Spirit Band has truly been inspired by the voices Alonzo heard in his head. ■ The newest and yet unnamed fourth CD will be released later in 2018.

For more information: alonzospiritband.com

Hämäkua Harvest Bridging Community and Agriculture

By Britni Schock

Keiki learning about agriculture in the Keiki Garden. photo courtesy of Lori Beach

H

Michael came to Hawai‘i for the first time nearly 35 years ago and initially came to be a pilot. After six months flying he decided that wasn’t his passion, however Michael had already fallen in love with Hawai‘i. Noting the lack of roadside markets and rich agriculture potential of East Hawai‘i, he was inspired to enroll in various permaculture design courses on the mainland. Being a part of the Hāmākua Ag community, Michael talked to the landowners (where Hāmākua Harvest is now) about his plan to create a farm hub. Michael says, “It’s one thing to have an idea, itʻs another thing to manifest it. I’m totally dependent on a lot of talented people jumping in and putting their names on it.”

Lori Beach, Administrative Director and board member of Hāmākua Harvest comments, “As I see it, our intention is to support small family farmers and personally I’ve been involved in that since the plantations went down 20-plus years ago. This area didn’t really have support for small family farmers because it was all plantations for over 100 years.”

Lori continues, “Hāmākua Harvest focuses on the Hāmākua

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

āmākua Harvest’s mission is to promote and advance Hāmākua agriculture by supporting local farmers, enriching the region’s social fabric, and promoting healthy rural lifestyles for the benefit of Hāmākua’s communities, economy, and environment.

Located just off Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 11) near the town of Honoka‘a, you will see a sign for Sunday’s farmers’ market. This is Hāmākua Harvest, a farm hub in the making, consisting of 70 acres with 15 acres used for operations. Operating branches with both nonprofit and forprofit components, eventually Hāmākua Harvest will be able to support their nonprofit branch with the earnings from their for-profit branch, creating a self-sustained business model.

Michael Gibson, Executive Director of Hāmākua Harvest, says, “It is intended to be a whole system that is vertically and horizontally integrated, completely self-sustained.” Michael is also the owner of Elemental Plants Nursery with knowledge in the areas of business, agriculture and the Hāmākua community.

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Sky view of the Hämäkua Harvest Annual Festival. photo courtesy of Lori Beach

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

community and the farmers. It is really a way to further the community’s bond with agriculture. We come up with ways to support that, such as the farmers’ market and demonstration orchard.”

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The Sunday Farmers’ Market On Sundays the farm hub hosts a farmers’ market which consists of about 15 vendors displaying local produce, valueadded products, and delicious food. During the market, you can enjoy local musicians and entertainment or take part in educational workshops, where you can learn local area history and culture as well as farming methods. The keiki (children) can have fun with different activities set up each week to teach them about their community.

The variety among the vendors makes the stroll through the market unique. Fresh bagels and a hot cup of Hāmākua coffee are there for your liking. Just ask, and the local small business owners will share behind-the-scenes stories about their farms and products.

Papa‘aloa Joe Coffee Company co-owner Jennifer Meyer says, “This is the only market we are at and we do very well.”

Jennifer and her husband David offer handpicked coffee that is grown in Pāpa‘aloa, just 30 miles southeast from Hāmākua Harvest. They have been vendors at the Sunday market for almost two years. Beginning by selling their premium coffee beans and David’s handcrafted woodwork, they now sell a variety of treasures at the weekly market.

If you want to have a true farmers’ market experience where you can buy something from the person who grew or crafted it, Hāmākua Harvest Farmers’ Market gives you that authentic experience.

Education and Community The Keiki Learning Garden is another nonprofit component of Hāmākua Harvest. “We are very interested in serving the community in a really legitimate way. We would like to attract

more local people and we see the opportunity through the kids. The kids are the future of agriculture in this district,” says Michael. The farm hub offers weekly classes to Hāmākua youth teaching them about farming, growing food, starting a business, and sustainability. The Hāmākua Youth Foundation has been their partner in creating this educational program.

Hands-on experience also comes from the demonstration farm and orchard on the property. Here the community can participate in activities working with crops and learn about farming in the most economical and sustainable ways. The yield from this three acre orchard will provide the community with locally grown produce.

In addition, Hāmākua Harvest will have a working farm and orchard that produces a variety of fruits and vegetables.

“We basically are growing every species and every variety of species that is available in the state in our demonstration orchard, not only to demonstrate and show them off but also as research for our production orchard,” said Michael. The produce will be sold within the community and excess donated to The Food Basket, Hawai‘i Islandʻs Food Bank.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Marielle Hampton and the Hämäkua Ag Co-op. photo courtesy of Lori Beach

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Future Plans There are other 3rd Annual Farm Festival branches of the hub that are in the Hāmākua Harvestʻs 3rd Annual process of creation Farm Festival is a growing event including a fullthat draws from all corners of service nursery, Hawai‘i Island. Being the official selling local trees, kickoff for Honoka‘a Western vegetables starts, Week, the market brings in and plants, while about 45 vendors, musicians also creating and performers, educational income to support workshops, and a silent auction. the organization.

There is something for everyone, In their effort to including the keiki who will enjoy utilize green waste, three times more activities at Hāmākua Harvest this year’s festival than at last is planning to year’s. Michael says, “We put a have a compost lot of focus on education during production facility. the festival.” The Farm Festival is A farm store will Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 8am be on the property to 3pm at Hāmākua Harvest. to support vendors even further and offer a haven of locally made goods to consumers.

Local farmers and artisans will have a venue to sell and promote their products and build their business. Michael says, “Hāmākua Harvest will not only be self-sufficient from the standpoint of energy but with all the activities that go on here.

For example, we take all the waste from the farmers’ market,

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landscape maintenance, the orchard, or anywhere there is organic waste and we turn it into compost. Then we sell compost by the bag at the nursery, or use it in the orchard or for the kidsʻ program.”

As part of their expansion, Hāmākua Harvest will build a processing facility to help farmers with their value-added products. The licensed commercial kitchen will be used for washing and sorting produce to fermenting and flash freezing.

This will provide local businesses with a processing facility at an attractive rate in their community.

A learning center is also in the works and will be a place to learn both in the classroom and in the garden. It will be a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about farming, agriculture, and sustainability.

There are also plans to have an affordable housing model that will inspire builders to be more sustainable, using local materials and renewable energy technology.

Vision As stated by the board of Hāmākua Harvest, “Our vision is a thriving and resilient Hāmākua community where our rich agricultural heritage is honored and cultivated into a collaborative and sustainable future.” ■ For more information: hamakuaharvest.org

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Hawai’i Island’s Famous

“Painted Church”

By Denise Laitinen

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n incredible example of American folk art, St. Benedict Catholic Church in Captain Cook is one of the most well-known and colorful churches on Hawai‘i Island. Tucked into the slopes of Mauna Loa among coffee farms above Hōnaunau Bay, the church has been drawing the religious and the curious alike for more than a century. People come to see the incredible murals that adorn the inside of the church walls, ceiling, and altar—works of art so famous that the church is commonly called the Painted Church. Even the road the church is located on is called Painted Church Road.

However, the church did not start out high on the hill. In the 1840s, a smaller church was built along the shoreline. “Church records go back to 1872, so we can assume the beach church was in existence at that time,” says Marjorie Fujimoto, a longtime Kealakekua resident. Marjorie was baptized in the church, as was her grandmother, and her family has ties to the church dating back to the 1870s.

“The chapel on the beach was called St. Regis, probably because the priest that gave sermons there was named Regis,” explains Marjorie.

By the mid-1880s, many residents along the shoreline had moved mauka (mountain side) to where the soil was more fertile. In 1899, Father John Berchmans Velghe became the pastor of the church and moved the church uphill to its current location. The church grounds, which include an adjoining cemetery and meeting room, offer commanding views of Hōnaunau and Kealakekua Bays.

Renamed St. Benedict Catholic Church, the new church was blessed in 1902. “There never was an explanation of why it was renamed to St. Benedict when it was moved upland,” says Marjorie.

A self-taught artist, Father Velghe set about painting murals inside the church that same year. He sketched Bible scenes on sheets of tracing paper and hung them in the church, tracing their outline and then painting them. The scenes were designed and painted in a style reminiscent of a European gothic cathedral.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

St. Benedict’s, also known as the Painted Church, is open daily to the public for viewing. More than 40,000 visitors come to see this church annually.

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Historic Kainaliu, Kona’s original shopping village.

Located 5 miles south of Kailua-Kona.

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Murals include images of Cain and Abel, the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, Christ rejecting the devil, and others. Given the language barrier between the foreign-born priest and the Hawaiian-speaking parishioners, the art helped the priest convey his teaching to the congregation.

“How he painted [theses scenes] from memory is amazing,” says Marjorie. “He painted them with regular house paint and the murals have never been retouched since he painted them.”

Father Velghe did not stop with scenes from the Bible. Six pillars lining the church aisles are painted and adorned with Bible verses translated from Latin to Hawaiian. Atop the pillars, palm fronds are painted extending onto the ceiling as if they were palm trees. The ceiling itself is painted as a pale blue sky complete with stars, clouds, and birds. The mural on the wall behind the altar gives the illusion of a grand European cathedral with towering pillars extending deep into the recesses with a light at the center.

For two years Father Velghe painted the interior of the church. He had not quite finished all the murals by 1904 when he was transferred to another parish and subsequent health issues forced him to return to his native Belgium. Meanwhile in Hawai‘i, word quickly spread about the stunning frescoes and shortly thereafter the church became known as the “Painted Church.”

Considered an impressive example of American folk art, the paintings have inspired other clergy in similar efforts.

Star of the Sea Church in Kalapana is another Catholic church celebrated for its murals, created by a self-taught priest from Belgium, Father Evarist Gielan. Father Gielan reportedly

The current St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Captain Cook was built in 1899. drew inspiration from Father Velghe’s work at St. Benedict’s.

[See Ke Ola issue Nov/Dec 2015 for an article on the Star of the Sea Painted Church.]

Hawai‘i’s most famous Catholic priest, Saint Damien, was also from Belgium. Saint Damien started his career as a priest on Hawai‘i Island, founding several churches in the Kalapana area before heading to Moloka‘i where his work with those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy) led to his sainthood.

Originally built along the coastline, the church was moved upland more than a century ago and offers gorgeous views of Kealakekua Bay.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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A statue of Saint Damien stands near the front entrance of St. Benedict Catholic Church. “The statue was erected in 1985 as a remembrance of the work he did with the leprosy colony on Moloka‘i and all the good work he did,” explains Marjorie.

“It serves as a model for our parishioners to follow.”

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Active Parish St. Benedict Church, originally built to hold around 100 people, has not changed in size since it was completed. It serves as a parish (main) church to nearby St. John the Baptist Church, which means the priest who serves St. Benedict’s also oversees all the church services and activities for St. John’s.

According to Marjorie, about 200 members attend Sunday services between the two churches.

As part of the Roman Catholic Church under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Honolulu, the diocese assigns priests to the church, who come from around the world and usually serve a term of three years.

“Many of our priests come from South America or the Philippines,” says Marjorie, adding that some priests are born in Hawai‘i. Currently, Rev. Ornoldo Cherrez of Ecuador serves as the parish administrator, a position he has held since 2016.

St. Benedict’s parish remains quite active with morning mass held Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 7am, plus a mass on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. A Hawaiian language mass is held the second Sunday of the month.

Its outreach programs include a hospital ministry, where church members visit patients in the hospitals, and a homebound ministry that visits parishioners unable to attend church. For more than 25 years the church has also operated a food pantry on the second, third, and fourth Fridays of the

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month. However, as this issue went to print the food pantry is not operating because the food director retired and the church is seeking a new director to manage the program.

There is also a very active youth program that encompasses religious education (commonly called Sunday school) and a youth ministry. About 80 students are involved in the church’s youth programs.

The altar at St. Benedict’s Church.

A Major Tourist Destination In addition to being an active, operating church, the tiny parish is a major tourist destination. Throngs of visitors have been flocking to see the amazing artwork for 114 years.

Marjorie, who worked for the church office for many years, says that by the time she retired in 2002, the church was attracting 40,000 visitors a year. Although current attendance records aren’t kept, one can only assume those numbers have increased dramatically given the rise in tourism to Hawai‘i Island in recent years.

These days, upwards of eight busloads of tourists visit the church every Wednesday when cruise ships dock at nearby Kailua-Kona. Additional tour companies visit regularly throughout the week, as do independent visitors exploring West Hawai‘i.

The church does not receive direct compensation from the many tour companies nor does it charge an admission fee.

“The only charge we have is a postcard that’s for sale and we have never prevented people from taking pictures inside the church,” explains Marjorie. “It’s up to individual tourists if they want to donate.

“For us, it is God’s gift. We share it with everybody.”

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One of the murals inside St. Benedict’s Church. The murals have not been refreshed since originally completed in 1904.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

The murals on the walls and ceilings flow together seamlessly.

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In Need of Restoration While the church is known for its aloha and warm hospitality, it simultaneously struggles with preserving the very artwork that made it famous.

Listed on the Hawai‘i State Register of Historical Places and the National Register of Historic Places, the parish is required to maintain the church and its grounds.

“We’ve had it refurbished outside,” says Marjorie. “We have a donation box, but even with that it’s hard to keep up with repairs so we are always looking for ways to generate funds.”

Given that the murals have never been retouched since they were completed in 1904, the restoration of the frescos would be a very large expense for the church. Built of wood, the church must also contend with termite damage and other issues, such as replacing the steeple and maintaining the grounds.

As the church struggles with upkeep, it continues to welcome visitors and pursue its mission to fulfill the gospel of Christ. Open for viewing seven days a week from 8am to 5pm, “People can come in and view it after mass,” says Marjorie.

“Sometimes there are docents to provide tours, but it depends on the volunteers’ schedules, otherwise it is self-guided tours.”

■ For more information: 808.328.2227 Donations for preserving the church can be sent to: St. Benedict Catholic Church 84-5140 Painted Church Rd., Captain Cook, HI 96704 Photos by Denise Laitinen

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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Malama Mokupuni: Caring for Our Island Environment

Malama Moana:

Take Care of the Ocean that Takes Care of You

By Rachel Laderman

sometimes through ignorance,

we smother our beaches, reefs, and wildlife with so much affection and attention that they are left gasping to recover.

At Kahalu‘u Bay in Kailua-Kona, the community saw this happening. Beautiful Kahalu‘u Bay was deteriorating due to unaware actions of thousands of park visitors each month.

“Tourists were sitting on the turtles to take a picture. They were turning them over,” says Cindi Punihaole, director of the Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center. “The community, businesses, and the UH Sea Grant Kona agent went to The Kohala Center and said, ‘We need help educating people.’” Now a partnership of these entities, plus the County of Hawai‘i Parks Department, provide a model of welcoming, effective on-site education.

The Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center operates out of a turquoise mobile van wrapped in a vibrant mural of sea life displaying reef etiquette tips. Staff and volunteers set up tents and tables of information daily from 9:30am to 4pm, weather

ReefTeach volunteer Mary Saarloos wades into the water to talk to visitors about reef etiquette, using laminated photos with symbols to communicate in any language. Kahaluÿu Bay is the most popular swimming site in Kona, attracting 400,000 visitors a year. has been devastated. “Growing up in Kona in the 50s, it was truly country, no electric, no running water, no inside utilities.

You were gatherers. It was difficult, but the most beautiful time.”

When visitors to Kahalu‘u Bay are drawn over to the education van to rent gear and get snorkeling tips, the educators take the opportunity to do a ten second talk on how to enjoy the bay without harming its fragile corals and marine life. Here are some of their guidelines.

Do Not Stand on or Touch Coral Coral is alive—those rock-like mounds house tiny polyps living symbiotically with algae. They do not appreciate being stood on by flippers and feet! Please do not drag diving gear and boats over coral. Swim gently—kicking up sand and sediment blocks sunlight needed by coral.

Pick up your ‘Ōpala (rubbish) Clean up your surrounding area. Anything left on the beach ends up in the ocean, so bring a trash bag with you, look around before you leave, and spend five minutes picking up "Being here at one of the most popular beaches, we are able to reach so many people, who then spread the message around the world. It’s a pretty powerful tool," says Kathleen Clark, operations and education specialist.

Tricia Gunberg integrates safety tips and reef etiquette as she helps visitors at the Kahaluÿu Bay Education Center. permitting. The center is funded primarily by grants and donations from business partners and individuals plus a small income from renting snorkeling gear.

Cindi grew up in a nearby ahupua‘a (district), and fished at Kahalu‘u with her father. She has seen first-hand how the reef

cigarette butts, plastic lids, drinking straws, food wrappers, plastic bags, and plastic lighters.

Leave Coral and Shells Where They Are Crabs use shells as homes, and coral is the source for the future beach. State law prohibits intentional taking of, breaking or damaging coral or rock to which marine life is visibly attached (HRS-188-68).

Wear a Rash Guard and Use Mineral-Based Sunscreen Common chemicals in most sunscreens are harmful to coral and other marine life. Look for zinc or titanium oxide-based sunscreens, instead. Minimize skin surface by wearing longsleeved swim shirts. Use this list to find reef-safe sunscreen locally: kohalacenter.org/docs/resources/kbec/Eco_Sunscreen_ Guide.pdf.

Leave Wildlife Alone Never touch, handle, feed, or chase marine wildlife. Fish and marine invertebrates have a slimy coating that protects them from infection, and handling rubs this off. Honu (green sea turtles) and monk seals rest and sleep on the shore.

While you may think they are injured or abandoned, there is usually nothing wrong with them. Stay at least 10 feet away from honu. Disturbing honu and monk seals violates state and

federal laws.

Fish—and Shop for Fish—Responsibly The fishing and foraging code of the Hawaiians is “Don’t take what you want; take only what you need.” Careful Hawaiian harvesters observe the cycles of sea creatures so they are left alone during reproductive times. Building on this knowledge and adding western science, The Kohala Center has produced a spawning guide for the leeward coast: see kohalacenter.org/ spawning-guide/get.

Every visit to the beach can be a chance to mālama moana, to take care of the ocean. “Think three to four generations from now,” says Cindi. “Take care of the land because it takes care of you. Like your sweetheart: you take care of him, he takes care of you.” ■ Reference and photo credit: Rachel Laderman, Lynker Technologies Marine Science Division/NOAA Affiliate, Hawai‘i Island For more information on historic sites at Kahalu‘u: kohalacenter.org/kbec/culture-and-history For beach cleanup: 808cleanups.org/calendar/

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Overlooking the remains of the Waikuaÿaÿala fishpond, Cindi Punihaole describes how Kahaluÿu and Keauhou once held a great concentration of sacred spots, including 23 heiau (temples), a canoe landing and longhouse, and bathing places for chiefs.

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

By Rosa Say

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One of the things I’m proudest of with the Managing with Aloha philosophy is that it has evolved. It has shifted from mine to ours in a more industry-inclusive way; however the 19 Values of Aloha have evolved too, within the context of their mission as workplace culture-builders.

When I sat to edit my book for its 2nd edition, 12 years after it had initially been published, I quickly realized that a fresh edit wouldn’t be enough, and I would have to essentially rewrite it. I kept all of its pilot stories to preserve its basic snapshot-in-time narrative; the changes I made, and there were many, were about the values themselves, and they weren’t actually changes—they were additions, nearly 50 pages worth.

My guiding value in this rewrite process, was Ha‘aha‘a, the value of humility, for I kept asking myself, what else have you learned? I’ve long used Ha‘aha‘a for self-coaching guidance in being willing to consider new ideas and to soften my demeanor, but this was the first time I used it to steer an entire project.

We study the Hawaiian values and use them as our resource because they are so timeless. We proactively work with them in the freshness of today’s workplace challenges because they are so adaptable. The catch phrase we often use in our Language of Intention which relates to this, is “goals change; values are forever.”

It did not surprise me that chapter 12 on Ha‘aha‘a was one of the chapters I added to most in publishing Managing with Aloha’s 2nd edition. If values were people, we’d probably describe them as being open-minded and flexible, the quintessence of what Ha‘aha‘a is all about. We’d describe them as lifelong learners.

When 2018 began, cries for “more humility” were frequent, and were heard worldwide. I heard it said and often echoed that 2017 was a “year of arrogance” and we’d have to heal by making 2018 a “year of humility” be it in business or politics, with race relations or gender issues, and whether doing so locally, nationally, or globally.

So how are we doing in making that happen?

Humility requires that we be open-minded in a manner which unlocks and reveals the listener and learner in us. It does not mean we lower ourselves, become subservient, or even that we step aside. There is a balancing effort within humility wherein we stand tall within our present knowledge and dignity, but with a softer, more pliable demeanor accepting of others; we are willing to cooperate with them. We participate.

“Humility. Be humble, be modest.

Open your thoughts.”

Thirteenth in Series Two on Managing with Aloha

Managing with aloha

BUSINESS

Next issue: We revisit Ho‘ohanohano, the value of dignity.

Contact writer Rosa Say at RosaSay.com or ManagingWithAloha.com

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We get involved. We initiate. Yet through each and every one of those efforts, we remain humble.

Perhaps we need to talk about the objectives of humility more than we do, giving it concrete, meaningful goals.

Humility is the best ‘how’ we achieve the ‘whys’ of acceptance, cooperation, co-working and co-living in all their shapes and forms. What does that mean for your business in particular?

Humility in the business realm is ripe for leadership— leadership which can be demonstrated for the outside communities your business resides in. Further, that is the humble, yet ‘local way’ of businesses which radiate their Aloha Spirit.

When your business regularly practices Ha‘aha‘a value alignment, your everyday working culture practices the openminded and Aloha-spirited listening and learning required when humility is actively applied to the everyday business objectives that will make your company prosper. Humility becomes a signature ‘how’ of ‘why’ your business exists in the first place.

This is exactly what a “year of humility” can do for all of us— make us prosper again within clear values which make us feel whole and less divided.

We start with humility itself, understanding it as the pure definition and central goal of listening and learning, exploring all our possible business expressions of Ha‘aha‘a in their best possible forms for us. Then, we pair it up with our other core values, and how our Ha‘aha‘a practices relate to our Kuleana (our responsibilities), our Ho‘okipa (our service to others), and our Alaka‘i (our leadership in our community).

I encourage you to talk about humility more than you presently may be doing so in your workplace, talking to each other about how you actually practice it as your shared value and apply it. Have humility be a way you “speak with Aloha” to each other, and to all you serve, then succumb to that magic where you must walk your talk to “work with Aloha” and “live with Aloha” as well—three of our Aloha Intentions for the practice of one value is a wonderful way to prosper.

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Perpetuating the Cultural Legacy of Hönaunau

Hale o Ho‘oponopono

By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco

D

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

riving down the single lane road towards the Hōnaunau boat ramp, there is a quietness that envelops you, a glimpse of the ocean, and a curiosity of what happened on this land in the early days outside the walls of Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau. As you make the turn at the corner of Hōnaunau Bay, the restored Hale o Ho‘oponopono stands tall and proud.

Completed in July of 2017, the restoration of the traditional native Hawaiian hale was born as a labor of love and kuleana (responsibility) of the Keōua Hōnaunau Canoe Club and the Hōnaunau community. Rafael Ramirez, current president of the canoe club humbly says, “It was the most incredible project of my life. I’ve been involved in building, remodeling, but nothing like this. This was different; this was like going through a window in time.”

The original Hale o Ho‘oponopono (house of making things right, bringing things into balance, healing) was built in the same Hōnaunau location in the early 1970s by a team of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians). The hale was school for children and teenagers of South Kona who had a challenging time within the public school system.

A forerunner to the Hawaiian immersion schools of today, Kamehameha Schools provided a place where the displaced

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students of the community could learn in a way that suited their disposition and educational needs. Under the direction of the kumu (teachers) along with cultural practitioners and kūpuna (elders) of the community, the children began to learn traditional as well as everyday life practices.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Volunteers learning how to lash during the restoration of Hale o HoĂżoponopono. photo courtesy of

Rafael Ramirez

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ColettesCustomFraming.com Haumana (interns) raise and set a pouÿalo (front post). photo courtesy of Rafael Ramirez The original hale was a pu‘uhonua (safe place) that provided many activities and opportunities for the young Hawaiians who grew up there during this time. In 1984 the school closed, and for 30 years after, the structure gave way to the elements of the environment, making it uninhabitable.

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A Canoe Club Gives Life to the Hale Established in 1974, the Keōua Hōnaunau Canoe Club was formed by students and paddlers who worked on the original Hale o Ho‘oponopono. The canoe club’s mission is to perpetuate the ancient art and culture of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling as traditionally practiced on historic Hōnaunau Bay. The club members are also dedicated to promoting awareness of Hawaiian culture and responsible stewardship and management of our ahupua‘a (district) resources.

Rafael shares, “We were all paddlers and have taken care of this land for years, clearing it by hand, getting rid of the invasive species and planting native plants … By 1993, we began to take the original hale apart for safety … [with the vision] that someday we’re going to rebuild this hale.”

With only the original foundation, the ‘ili‘ili (waterworn stone) floor, some salvaged wood and upright ‘ōhi‘a poles left standing, the restoration of the hale was a daunting task, however the idea was kept alive in conversation for more than 20 years by the members of the canoe club and community.

In 2014, a canoe club member applied for a grant to fund the restoration of this significant structure that contributed so

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Team of volunteers thatching the roof of the hale. photo courtesy of Rafael Ramirez

Foundation finished and pou (side posts) in place, ready to erect and lash olokea (scaffolding). photo courtesy of Rafael Ramirez

Olokea is complete, ready to raise pouhana and poumanu (four center posts). photo courtesy of Rafael Ramirez

much as a former Hawaiian school and had the potential of being of equal or greater value in the future.

After submitting the grant application to the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) and being turned down three times, the Hale o Ho‘oponopono grant was approved in 2015.

Rafael said, “After each time of being turned down, they [ANA] would tell us why the grant wasn’t approved. Is it achievable?

How are you going to do this? Who is going to do it? We learned from this each time.” The canoe club members worked with 14 community project partner organizations to create what would be the final proposal to the ANA. The grant, as submitted and approved, had two components: the restoration of Hale o Ho‘oponopono as a hale hālāwai (meeting place) to include a training program and career path for haumana (interns) and an ahupua‘a boundary marker system for the project area. The development of a website for education about the area was another goal. As the project began, additional funding and donations came in from donors who had a heartfelt kuleana to the mission at hand.

One of them, Uncle Jeff Anderson, donated all the ‘ōhi‘a for the project.

Restoration of Hale o Ho‘oponopono With funding in place, it was time to gather the workers and a leader to develop the process of what would be a two-year restoration project. Walter Wong (Uncle Waltah) of Waimea, one of the most experienced hale builders in the state, was called upon to lead the project in Hōnaunau. Walter was taught hale building by Kumu Francis “Palani” Sinenci of Maui and they have worked together on 42 hale projects in the past 10 years.

The overall building plan was developed using Hawai‘i County’s building code for traditional and indigenous structures, a standard that was proposed by Kumu Francis and adopted in 2000 by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Management.

The restoration development took form with a small team of core hale builders, their haumana, and members of the community and school students who participated in eight monthly workshops led by Uncle Waltah and the building team.

Uncle Waltah speaks about Joe Tassill, one of the kūpuna from the original hale, at the blessing of the grounds. “After the formal protocols, we walked onto the site and Uncle Joe was on the platform. He grabbed my hand, squeezed my hand

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

A pule (prayer) led by Uncle Waltah (in orange shirt), with schoolchildren before an educational and training workshop at Hale o Hoÿoponopono. photo courtesy of Rafael Ramirez

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Coming Full Circle On July 30, 2017, Puna Kihoi of Waimea officiated the blessing of Hale o Ho‘oponopono. Puna was a teacher at Hale o Ho‘oponopono in the 1980s. Randal Kahele, a haumana on the core hale building team, was one of Puna’s students at the original school. A circle completed, their reunion at the hale blessing was one of many emotional reconnections.

Kumu Francis Palani, master builder, was present along

The Hönaunau ahupuaÿa marker on Highway 160. photo by Gayle Greco with Uncle Waltah, Rafael, the hale building team, volunteers, members and ‘ohana (family) of the Keōua Hōnaunau Canoe Club, and residents of the Hōnaunau community. A special tribute was held for Uncle Joe Tassill who passed away the day the last pole was put in place.

Ahupua‘a Markers The second objective of the ANA grant was to identify the ahupua‘a of Hōnaunau by creating an educational boundary marker system for the area. “We’ve lost the place names and our language from lack of use,” says Rafael.

A research team headed by Leinani Navas-Loa, a cultural practitioner with deep Hōnaunau roots, identified the various ahupua‘a between Hōnaunau and Nāpo‘opo‘o. This project was modeled after similar work done by the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club in Kaneohe, O‘ahu who mentored and sponsored the Keōua Hōnaunau Canoe Club members to accomplish their mission.

The outcome of the study was that four ahupua‘a markers were placed on historic Keala o Keawe Road (Highway 160), identifying the ahupua‘a of Hōnaunau, Ke‘ei Nui, Ke‘ei Iki and Kahauloa. A fifth as yet unmarked ahupua‘a, Kalamawai‘awa‘awa, begins at the entrance to Nāpo‘opo‘o.

The carving and setting of the markers became a family event. Uncle Clarence Medeiros had carved the ki‘i at the original Hale o Ho‘oponopono (two of which are still standing 63 at the hale). Lolana Medeiros, one of Clarence’s sons, KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

and said, ‘You are the hale builder’ and I said, ‘Yes, I am the hale builder Uncle Joe’. He asked me to bend down and he put his hands on my shoulders and said, ‘You feel this squeeze?

That’s the kuleana that I’m passing on from me to you’.” Uncle Waltah continued, “I felt the weight of responsibility come down on my shoulders. And Uncle Joe said, ‘You promise me that this hale will be restored?’ and I said, ‘I promise you Uncle Joe’.”

At the beginning of each day, the core team and their haumana met with Uncle Waltah to pule (pray), talk about the work of the day, and along with Uncle Joe’s words, they set out to accomplish their goals. Five days a week, for two years, this was the protocol for the restoration team.

As part of the overall mission, the restoration project involved the community in the building of the hale through a series of workshops. In the beginning, the teaching was as basic as clearing the property and pulling weeds, to sorting rocks for walls and bundling loulu palm leaves for thatching.

Uncle Waltah offered his acknowledgement of Rafael’s humble determination, “He’s very concerned that someone is groomed to mālama (care for) the hale after him.” Uncle Waltah continued, “It was a big plus for me to have Lit by the sunset, the kiÿi carved by Uncle Clarence Medeiros that dictionary for the original hale. photo courtesy of Jos Wheeler from (Rafael) on the Aÿotearoa side of me. Uncle Rafael was there for everything from before and now today too.” The traditional, historical knowledge combined with the hale building standards would make the modern-day structure stronger than before.

During the monthly workshops, Uncle Waltah would work with the core team to plan the activity and task that could be learned by the aunties, uncles, and all who came to the workshops. “Whatever they were learning made them hungry to come back again. The project was completed because of the many hands working. It was done with so much aloha,” says Uncle Waltah.

volunteered to carve the new ahupua‘a markers for Keala o Keawe Road. Rafael’s son Camilo, who owns Hawaiian Rockscaping, volunteered his time to build the rock ahu (mound/platform) for the markers.

When the hale was blessed in the summer of 2017, the finished carved markers were stacked in the hale to also receive the blessing. In October 2017, the markers were

Side view of the restored Hale o Hoÿoponopono. photo by Gayle Greco

Restored Hale o Hoÿoponopono as seen from Hönaunau Beach Road. photo by Gayle Greco installed at their permanent homes along Highway 160. Rafael says, “We would love to see this [the markers] spread around the island to educate people and mark the history of the land.”

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

A Source of Education Another component of the grant was to develop a website as a central source of information for Hōnaunau and Kona Hema (South Kona). The website, named Hōnaunau Ola Mau

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Loa: Hōnaunau: Forever Healthy and Life-Giving, currently provides information and history about Hale o Ho‘oponopono, nā ahupua‘a, Hōnaunau, and Ke‘ei.

The goal is to include information for visitors about how to protect the coral, sea life, and other marine resources, and also to share the oral history of the community about the kūpuna and people who have made a difference in the community.

The entire Hale o Ho‘oponopono project has far-reaching benefits for the community and will serve to strengthen the cultural landscape of Hōnaunau Bay in remembrance of the ancestors. ■ For more information: honaunau.org

Mahalo BMW of Hawaii – Art Story Sponsor

William McKnight Ambivalent Artist, Passionate Sculptor

By Paula Thomas

W

illiam McKnight has cultivated a deep

relationship with stone. From the lengths he may go to get a rock from the ocean, a quarry, or on a hillside, to the passion that engulfs him when his creative energy is in the driver’s seat, he gets “in the zone,” attentive to his vision, his tools, and what the stone is telling him. According to William, his work is a two-way exchange between man and rock.

The Learning is in the Doing “I never wanted to be an artist,” says William. He did not have a drive to do art until he was an adult. “I did know that I wasn’t a great student,” he explains. “I don’t read. I am dyslexic. Never did well with things academic.” As a kid, he made puppets and designed clothing. Anything in 3D. After finishing high school in 1971, William obtained an associate’s degree in design engineering from State University of New York

at Purchase. “Never cracked a book there,” he quipped. Three years later, after a stint at a nuclear power plant followed by training as a European chef in New York City, he still lacked direction. His mother got him into Sarah Lawrence College where she worked, and he eventually earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1981.

William spent the first year at Sarah Lawrence at its La Costa campus in southern France. “I was bad, so my mother sent me to the south of France,” he notes wryly.

That experience changed his life—more because of whom he met than what he learned. He kept company with luminously talented photographers, sculptors, gallery owners, and was

William with his sculpture of Father Damien in adz grade basalt. photo courtesy of Joseph Ruesing

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Collaboration sculpture of basalt and aluminum by William and Elizabeth Miller in front of the East Hawaiÿi Cultural Center, Hilo. photo courtesy of Joseph Ruesing

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taught by Japanese/American master printmaker, Ansi Ucima, who loved William’s work.

William carved stone in a quarry with fellow students and, without a clue of what to do, on impulse he sculpted a kanji in stone as his first piece. No one could fathom it was the tall (6’5”) kid from America who had made the kanji. The Italian master stone sculptor told his students in the quarry, “Just wait. You will fall in love with stone, with your soul and your heart.” William balked at the notion at the time, however it proved to be a prescient statement.

Julian Levy, a New York City gallery owner and an art dealer, was William’s art history professor. Julian became a seminal influence on William. The two spent a lot of time together, visiting Julian’s artist friends and meeting in cafés with people like French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, Jon Pier Miele, and American photographer David Douglas Dunkin. Yasuo Mizui became another good friend of Williamʻs. They felt as though they had always known each other, and William let himself be a sponge. “It was like getting life coaching and I wasn’t yet 22,” William says.

He learned techniques for clay, stone, and wood, gained perspective, and began to hone his sensibilities. “Mizui taught me to work on everything at the same time to get the proportions figured out,” he shares. “Yeah, sure, it’s about six heads for the body, but you work on the whole thing at once— front, back, all the time,” he says. “I don’t sketch stuff out; I just carve.”

Following his year of transformation, William returned to Sarah Lawrence’s New York campus, happy for the experience, insecure about his work, overwhelmed by all the history of art and artists that he didn’t know, and surprised by people’s reaction to his work. “It took years for me to feel that I was good,” he admitted.

William melting basalt back into lava with his 5,000 degree flame thrower. photo courtesy of Joseph Ruesing

Listen and You Will Hear The budding artist could be called a stone whisperer for the way he feels about what the rock wants to become. The listening starts at the very beginning, in the selection of the rock. As spiritual teachers will tell you, if you want to remove something from its place, it has to want to go. So if a big rock doesn’t budge, William knows it is not the right rock. “You ask the rock if it’s willing. Permission is the key to collaboration.

William’s sculpture Life Taken Away is a woman lamenting the loss of her children in front of the Pacific Tsunami Museum on a rainy Hilo day. photo by Paula Thomas

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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William with sculpture Infinite Love, black granite with bismuth on white marble base, at the Wailoa Center. photo courtesy of Hollyn Johnson Asking permission establishes that connection right from the get-go,” says William, “so the relationship is founded on respect and reciprocity.”

The stone tells him what it wants him to do and he listens.

What happens if he doesn’t listen? “The project doesn’t work out,” he says. “The stone will crack, or crumble, my tools break, it will just be a mess.” As he was carving a commissioned statue of Father Damien, William’s grinder caught on fire, and blew up because the stone was so hard.

He had another grinder on hand and it caught on fire too.

Rather than give up, he changed tactics. Cutting in a different direction, a vein of olivine in the shape of a heart appeared in the patron saint’s cheek and one in the shape of Hawai‘i Island in his hair. “These are the little gifts you get when you listen,”

William affirms. In the end, he went through seven grinders.

It is the hard basalt from Hawai‘i that William loves to work with even though he carves granite, coral, bismuth, and works with concrete. With the basalt he can play with the surface, leaving some areas rough and others highly polished. The contrast is a central element in his abstract pieces.

His deep sensibility cuts beyond convention, patterns, and practices. He tunes into the heart of things, drilling down to the feeling he seeks to evoke. When he carves, he is capturing a moment in time: a sad woman with child, a priest in a warmhearted gesture. His abstract work, on the other hand, is all about evocation and texture. William believes that art should make you feel something.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Make Things Work Out As a personality, William feels easy-going, undemanding, and unpretentious about himself even as he is confident. His strong moral compass and deep beliefs come through in his stories about friends, patrons, and making art. He enjoys people who live their word as he tries to live his. “It’s about doing what you say you’re going to do,” he says. So when he engages with a patron, it’s more a verbal exchange with the proverbial handshake than a contract, paperwork and signatures. “I like dealing with people who stand by their word.”

Pressure also motivates him. When William is scheduled to do a show, he is likely to wait until the eleventh hour to get started because the race against time gets his adrenaline going. He can finish a piece in a few hours, a day, or 15 years.

It depends.

Sometimes, things do go awry—not just with the stones, but with patrons too. This happened with the commission of the Father Damien statue. William received a down payment and started working. The agreement for the statue went bad a little 69

Wave of Sorrow, the 4,000 lb basalt sculpture in front of the Pacific Tsunami Museum. photo courtesy of Joseph Ruesing

more than a year into the project, which took three more years to complete.

The fall-out did not faze William. He did, however, experience some mild stroke activity as he was carving the massive piece, and that affected his dexterity. On a whim, he appealed to the statue for healing help and he feels the rock responded. The 7-foot, 5-ton statue is in his backyard, waiting for its new home.

A Passion for Creativity About the craziest thing William admits to is walking along the edge of cliffs. He is not a daredevil and not one for stunts that don’t involve his sculptures, his boulders, or big trucks.

He mentions that people think he is crazy. They hear his stories about blood dripping from his stone block (because he unknowingly cut himself), and instead of stopping and patching himself up, he just blots up, applies any disinfectant (alcohol, tea tree oil, or bleach), and slaps on some duct tape or super glue so he can keep going. ‘Crazy’ is a word people use to describe him, however he doesn’t own it.

William relishes the sculpting because there is always a struggle. “Inner conflict always happens when you’re working Chasing the Sun Moonscape is made from black granite and bismuth.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

photo courtesy of Joseph Ruesing

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on a piece. You want to go one way, the stone tells you something else, your idea and vision is asked to embrace a new direction. That internal struggle—you gotta get into that battle. You do the best for your art, for you … if you aren’t looking inside and questioning, you can fall into the trap that you think you know everything,” he explains. “You start to think you’re the artist and it’s all about you.”

“My art is not about me,” William insists. He doesn’t often sign or title his pieces, nor does he track patrons, chart sales, or feature awards and exhibits.

The fact that William never wanted to be an artist, and never aspired to be an artist, helps him separate who he is from how other people see him. He is a preternaturally talented artist in love with stones, a man descended from a line of blacksmiths, Irish knights, and the Senecas on his father’s side. Not one to wait for a commission before he works on a project, he has several projects going at any one time and isn’t about to stop any time soon.

“Sculpting,” he declares, “is what I do.” ■ For more information: eyecarve@yahoo.com

William at the blessing for the sculpture Life Taken Away in front of the Pacific Tsunami Museum. photo courtesy of Joseph Ruesing

To See William’s Abstract Sculptures in East Hawai‘i: Tsunami Wave is outside the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Life Taken Away, an abstract of a woman lamenting the loss of her children, is near the north corner in front of the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Another of William’s abstract sculptures is near the corner of Haili and Kamehameha Ave. His collaborative work with Elizabeth Miller, basalt and aluminum, is in front of the East Hawai‘i Cultural Center.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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Mahalo, Hawai‘i Sail Hōkūle‘a and her crew arrived in Kailua-Kona on March 26, 2018 to begin their visit to Hawai‘i Island as part of the Mahalo, Hawai‘i Sail.

Next, Hōkūle‘a and crew traversed the island and arrived in Hilo on April 2 to be present for the Merrie Monarch celebrations. The original (1976) Hōkūle‘a crew was honored at the Merrie Monarch Ho‘ike event with makana (gifts), mele (music), and hula (dance).

Hōkūle’a remained in Hilo until the end of April, then sailed to Kawaihae Harbor, where they are docking until May 10. Tours will be held in Kawaihae on May 5, from 9am to 2pm.

While on Hawai‘i Island, the canoe and crew have been participating in many cultural and educational events around Hawai‘i Island that include presentations, school visits, school field trips to the canoe, and community dockside tours.

Our July/August 2018 issue will feature a story highlighting the four-year Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage and the conclusion of the Mahalo, Hawai‘i Sail to Hawai‘i Island.

Höküleÿa docked at the Grand Naniloa Hotel arrival ceremony in Hilo. photo courtesy of Aaron Miyasato

For the most up to date information of the Mahalo, Hawai‘i Sail visit: hokulea.com

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Ti leaf baskets left as offering gifts on the Höküleÿa. photo by Gayle Greco

72 Hoÿokupu (offerings) for Höküleÿa at Kailua-Kona Pier. photo courtesy of Suzanne Winquist

Hilo Küpuna Share Hula with Aloha

By Karen Valentine

Getting ready to perform are, standing, from left, Richard Tangaro, emcee Kuÿehu Mauga of Destination Hilo Hula Days, and Lawrence Ichinotsubo. Sitting: Penny Madamba and Lei Ichinotsubo. photo by Karen Valentine

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Long-time volunteers in the Alu Like program and musicians for Hilo Hula Tuesday, in their 90s, are Leilani and Clem Malani. photo by Karen Valentine

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

ong before the program is set to begin, Clem and Leilani Malani, both in their 90s, are sitting in their car, waiting in anticipation. They are dressed in their finest Hawaiian aloha wear with color-coordinated red and gold holomū (dress) and aloha shirt, plus kukui nut and Ni‘ihau shell lei.

The occasion? It’s Hilo Hula Tuesday at the historic Mo‘oheau Bandstand in downtown Hilo. Clem and Leilani are two of the long-time, active volunteer musicians in the show sponsored

by Destination Hilo, where the kūpuna (elders) from Alu Like’s Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna elderly services program gather to perform twice a month, dancing and playing for the visitors.

Before the show, Aunty Penny arrives with her music and colorful mu‘umu‘u. She is happy to explain how much they love doing the show every few weeks—sharing aloha, dancing hula and playing and singing their favorite kanikapila (jam-session) songs. Also dressed in formal aloha attire with fresh flowers in their hair, musicians Aunty Lei and Aunty Cissy take their places. The rainbow of colors builds on the stage.

A van pulls up and Dinnie Kysar, president of Destination Hilo, steps out and carries an armload of anthuriums and palm leaves gathered from her yard to decorate the bandstand.

More colors are unveiled, red, green, and white.

Dinnie explains that Destination Hilo, which is supported by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research and Development, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance visitor satisfaction in East Hawai‘i and create visitor experiences, especially those involving Hawaiian culture. She is especially proud of

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Colleen "Haunani" Medeiros is program specialist and manager for the Alu Like Native Hawaiian nonprofit’s elderly services department, Kumu Kahi. She also serves as kumu hula for the hula outreach program. photo by Karen Valentine their weekly “Hawaiian Greetings Program,” which provides music, entertainment, and information to thousands of visitors (annually) arriving at Hilo Pier and in downtown Hilo.

Setting up at a table nearby is a trio of volunteers from the

Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna program. They arrange ti leaves on the table in anticipation of teaching the visitors how to make ti leaf lei. Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna, which means “Good Health and Living for the Elderly,” is funded through special grants for Native Hawaiians under the Older Americans Act. The program provides nutritional and supportive services for Native Hawaiians age 60 and older.

“We want to show the visitors a uniquely Hawaiian experience,” says Dinnie. “I’ve just come downtown from the Hilo Pier, where the Pride of America cruise ship docks every week on their Hawaiian Island cruises. We perform there, too.”

Cruise passengers from Canada and China are beginning to arrive at the bandstand, perhaps not realizing they are about to witness one of the most authentic Hawaiian cultural experiences of their entire trip. This experience is like visiting a real Hawaiian family event, with kūpuna playing ‘ukulele, keiki (children) running around, laughter and smiles all around. The aloha surrounds them, and the show is about to begin.

Emcee Ku‘ehu Mauga takes the microphone and welcomes the audience. The kūpuna hula dancers perform old Hawaiian favorites, like “E Huli Makou,” “Laupahoehoe Boy” and “Ulupalakua,” that they have been dancing since hanabata (kid-time) days. The dancers share big smiles, while winking and coaxing smiles from the crowd.

One of the dancers is Colleen “Haunani” Medeiros; program specialist since the early 1990s for the Alu Like nonprofit’s elderly services department, Kumu Kahi. Alu Like has offices in Hilo, Pāhoa and Kailua-Kona and is a statewide initiative. In addition to the Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna program with its enrichment activities, the division provides caregiver support

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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for those family members and others who help the kūpuna.

Prior to joining Alu Like, Haunani worked for Hawai‘i Island Adult Care for 14 years, and before that she took care of her great-grandmother who passed at age 111. “It is an honor to do what I do now. This group are all able-bodied, all Hawaiian,” says Haunani.

Haunani, who is part Hawaiian, learned hula as a keiki on O‘ahu. “In hula I learned how to be humble, kind and sincere, as well as learning directly from my great-grandma. Hula is the heart of the kūpuna group.”

Alu Like is a Native-Hawaiian-only organization. Their intent is to preserve the culture, such as hula, from its roots. For these kūpuna, hula isn’t something they are just learning in

Downtown Hilo landmark, Moÿoheau Bandstand. photo by Karen Valentine a class, it is something they are sharing as outreach from ancestral wisdom.

Haunani’s boss, Rayce Bento, who is manager of Alu Like’s many Hawai‘i Island programs for all ages, says, “Our kūpuna also perform at Life Care Center of Hilo, Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center, Hawai‘i Island Adult Care, and Prince Kuhio Plaza. For those who are shut in at the care centers, we visit them, do the hula, go around, give leis, and talk story with them.”

Alu Like earns a donation through their programs from Destination Hilo; however, Haunani says, “It’s not the money, but people seeing what the kūpuna do.”

During the early days of the kūpuna hula programs, there were some 42 participants. “Kumu Hula Paul Neves at the time

Above: Dancer Rose Manuia-Kuamoÿo charms the crowd with her hula interpretations. photo by Karen Valentine

Below: Under the direction of Kumu Hula Paul Neves, küpuna from Alu Like took home 2009 first place wahine honors in the Hawaiÿi Kupuna Hula Festival. photo courtesy of Alu Like

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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Sharing ti leaf lei making with the visitors are Barbara Manuwa and Maryalice Matsumoto. photo by Karen Valentine

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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was a member of Malia Puka ‘O Kalani Church in Keaukaha where our Alu Like program met, Monday through Friday,” said Rayce. “The site coordinator was Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Publico and she was responsible for bringing Kumu Hula Paul’s talent to our program. He volunteered to come in and teach our kūpuna.

It blossomed from there to the point where they entered the Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival and came home with the first place award for the wahine group.

The next year we got a men’s group together. It was so awesome. Our group has been going ever since.

We owe a lot to Kumu Hula Paul for sharing his awesome talent with our kūpuna.”

On Hilo Juanita Nuÿumea McKeague and program coordinator Tuesdays, “They all of the Alu Like küpuna program, Colleen "Haunani" dress up with their Medeiros. photo by Karen Valentine beautiful mu‘umu‘u and lei,” says Haunani. She related that new members are coming in to join the program. “Our program is more than just the hula and music. We provide service coordination, information, inter-generational activities with children, health and nutrition classes and other cultural activities such as making fishing nets and headdresses; they teach one another.

Through the years, we’ve grown to love each other. I have the best job in the world. The kūpuna themselves help me a lot. The best thing for me is going to work knowing I have a wonderful job that takes care of me and that I can give all my love and my talent to the people of Hawai‘i.”

Come down to the Mo‘oheau Bandstand in Hilo on Tuesdays from 11am to 12 noon to see the hula and music performances. ■ For more information: alulike.org

Mahalo Island Naturals – Local Agriculture Story Sponsor

The Compost King of Hilo UrbFarm

By Brittany P. Anderson

A

Michael Pierron, founder of Hilo UrbFarm.

photo by Brittany P. Anderson

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

s the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and this couldn’t be more true for Michael Pierron, founder of Hilo UrbFarm, as he spins organic waste into garden gold. The Hilo UrbFarm, founded in 2016 by Michael, serves the community and the island at large by promoting sustainability through diverting organic waste, growing food-bearing and native plants, and building a sense of community.

It was in a package of imported basil that Michael, a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management, found the inspiration to develop the UrbFarm. “The Big Island is the agriculture center, why are we reaching across the ocean for something so basic?” he wondered and from there the idea to create UrbFarm blossomed.

As Hawai‘i Island focuses on sustainability as a means for thriving into the future, Michael believes that composting is one of the most important and perhaps the easiest first steps for Hawai‘i Island. “Compost is the foundation of everything. Our consumer mindset is linear: something is grown, it is used, and then it is thrown away. But once something is thrown away it should be broken down to be used again,” he explains.

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Behind East Hawaii Cultural Center (EHCC), in a forgotten back alley space surrounded by fencing and parking lots, Hilo UrbFarm’s nursery and composting operation thrive. The UrbFarm transforms organic compostable waste from area businesses into “magic compost” to grow a variety of native and edible plants, as well as medicinal herbs.

What is Composting?

Composting is the natural process that turns organic materials, dead plants and plant waste into a rich soil-like substance. Michael utilizes office paper waste and adds food scraps from local restaurants. Businesses seeking to decrease their impact on Hawai‘i Island’s near-capacity landfill look to the UrbFarm as their solution.

The mixture is allowed time to decompose and is frequently turned over to allow proper aeration before it is used for planting. The addition of compost to gardens and yards can help feed plants, making them bigger and higher producing.

Hilo UrbFarm’s process creates rich soil and also encourages a sense of community. The gardens at the East Hawaii Cultural Center are cultivated with native and edible plants. Michael and his gardening army of volunteers help beautify historic EHCC on their monthly “Mālama EHCC Day” to honor the place the UrbFarm has called home for the past two years.

Every Monday and Wednesday, Hilo UrbFarm opens at 9:30am for volunteers to come help turn compost, pick herbs, and plant seeds. Keoki and Kelly, volunteers from Hale ‘Oulea, Hawai‘i Island’s Adult Mental Health Department, are dedicated to both the plants and the vision of the UrbFarm.

“This wouldn’t be possible without their help,” Michael says as Kelly and Keoki beam. A dream partnership, Hale‘oulea

Kelly picks clove basil at Hilo UrbFarm. photo by Brittany P. Anderson

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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asked if Michael would like to receive volunteers as part of the department’s regular community engagement program.

Overwhelmed with managing the UrbFarm alone, he welcomed them with open arms.

“I like working with my hands out in the sunshine,” Kelly says smiling. Keoki agrees before describing his process for tending to the compost pile. “At the end, you have to sift it twice to get all the big pieces out,” he explains. Kelly and Keoki glow with pride as we tour the secret garden, pointing out plants they have cultivated. Keoki works on an experiment to see how well seeds grow in varying percentages of compost when compared to seeds grown in just soil. “The seeds with the most compost are doing the best,” Keoki and Michael, looking at each other, agree.

The UrbFarm operation is one of synergistic love and respect for nature, Hawai‘i Island, and a passion for community, which is why it comes as a shock that vandals have broken into the nursery several times since its creation. One major incident left the UrbFarm completely in ruins. “Tables were flipped, pots were turned over, everything was just destroyed,” Michael recounts. He posted pictures of the damage on Facebook with a call for help, and within 20 minutes he had an outpouring of support from the community.

“You just keep your head down, working, not realizing that you’ve touched all these people,” he continues, “It was really heartwarming.” Keoki suggested a car wash/plant sale fundraiser to raise money for security cameras for the UrbFarm and it has been their most successful fundraiser to date.

Green Waste and Recycling With our islandʻs landfills near capacity, diverting refuse that can be used to support a more sustainable island is critical. Changing the way people view waste, essentially turning kitchen scraps and yard debris into a commodity, has become the inspiration behind several composting endeavors throughout Hawai‘i Island.

According to the County of Hawai‘i, their green waste facilities have successfully recycled over 267,000 tons of green waste in the past seven years. However, 185,000 tons of yard debris was being dumped in the landfills during this same time period. These numbers also don’t account for compostable kitchen waste that ends in rubbish bins all over Hawai‘i Island.

Seeing an excess of plant-based waste going into the landfill gave Michael inspiration to create a new business, Compost Hawaii. Partnering with Hawaii Green Earth, he created a

Keoki turns the compost over. photo by Brittany P. Anderson compost collection service for homes and business in the Hilo area. Compost Hawaii offers weekly organic material collection services for a nominal membership fee. “This business overlaps with Hilo UrbFarm naturally,” he says.

Material that is picked up from homes and businesses will be placed back into the nutrient cycle. The service is convenient, easy, and efficient. Members are supplied five-gallon buckets with a list of accepted materials. Each week filled buckets are swapped out for new empty buckets, decreasing the amount of usable organic waste that ends up in the landfill.

“It empowers people to make one small step to contribute to a ‘big picture’ thing,” he explains. Michael hopes that Compost Hawaii and Hilo UrbFarm can serve as a model for other communities.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Urban Farming From New York City to Portland, Oregon urban farming has taken the US mainland by storm. Urban farms can take on many forms from composting and plant nursery operations like Michael’s to rooftop honey operations. One underlying constant unifies all these urban farmers—a desire to improve an overall quality of life. Once thought to be a “fad” among city planners, it is clear this local food movement of urban farming is here to stay as a new generation of farmers learn you don’t need a whole lot of acreage to call yourself a farmer.

Michael recently teamed up with Connections Public Charter School, located in downtown Hilo, to inspire the next crop of agriculture enthusiasts. After being invited to teach composting to a grant-funded summer camp in Kurtistown, Michael was contacted by the camp organizers. They had funds left over and wanted to use the money as an endowment to Connections Public Charter School for a fifth grade garden program—with Michael at the helm. Elated at the opportunity, he accepted.

At first, the 30 fifth graders started on a few raised beds at Hilo UrbFarm, and they quickly ran out of room. The class then moved to planting native and fruiting plants of kalo (taro), naupaka (native Hawaiian plant), and poha (cape gooseberry) 79

Sign marking the entrance of Hilo UrbFarm. photo by Brittany P. Anderson

around EHCC. “You can only do so much with a tiny space,” Michael chuckles.

In true UrbFarm fashion, Michael reached out to Eric and Paul of Papa‘a Palaoa Bakery to see about using the strip of barren land behind their business on Kilauea Avenue, and once cleared by the property manager, the children started prepping the land for planting.

“At first the kids didn’t want to get dirty, but now they look forward to getting their hands in the dirt,” Michael laughs. “You can hear their excitement as they walk down the street to the garden.”

The school garden is planted with kalo, bedded in the rich compost and soil the students created at the UrbFarm.

Tying the whole experience together, the intent is to produce and harvest enough kalo so the class can create a laulau fundraiser to keep the project running. From discarded organic materials to tasty laulau, the children learn to participate in their community creating a sense of belonging. “When they walk down the street they can say, ‘I did that!’,” Michael says passionately.

Michael’s vision is of small-scale composting operations in each neighborhood providing jobs and volunteer opportunities for residents within the community. Alone, one person cannot make a significant impact on the sustainability of our island. It takes a collective effort—a societal shift in seeing our waste as something that can feed the soil that grows our food, brings neighborhoods together, and in turn nourishes our island community. ■ Kalo planted by Connections Public Charter School children around East Hawaiÿi Cultural Center. photo by Brittany P. Anderson

For more information: hilourbfarm.com

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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Dreams Do Come True

By Denise Laitinen

K

ris Fuchigami is a study in perseverance. After picking up the ‘ukulele at age 13, the Hawai‘i Island native readily admits he dropped out of band class in school because he struggled with reading music at the time.

“I didn’t do well in my ‘ukulele class and pretty much failed at everything that had to do with music,” says Kris. Listening to his music that ranges from hauntingly beautiful to electrifying, you would be surprised to know Kris had a hard time with music classes.

Since that time, in addition to performing at ‘ukulele festivals in Hawai‘i, Kris has toured the US mainland and across Asia in Japan, South Korea, Guam, and Tahiti. His performances on the HI*Sessions YouTube channel have garnered more than 1,000,000 views.

A two-time finalist for a Nā Hōkū Hano Hano award, Hawai‘i’s version of the Grammy awards, he was nominated for Instrumental Composition of the Year in 2016, and his latest album, More Than This, is a 2018 finalist for ‘Ukulele Album of the Year.

Growing up in Puna, where he still lives, Kris was bored one summer afternoon when he was 13, so he picked up an old, beat up ‘ukulele and taught himself to play a Jake Shimabukuro song in a single day. That is not to say music came easy to him; however, he persevered. He drew inspiration from a variety of musical influences ranging from Tommy Emmanuel to Carlos Santana and Kris says many people might be surprised to learn that his biggest musical influence is the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

In time, Kris learned to compose music and play the guitar, drums, bass, and piano in addition to the ‘ukulele. Of all the musical instruments he plays, Kris says the ‘ukulele is his favorite. He affirms, “I just love the sound that it creates. [It’s] truly an instrument of peace and happiness.”

In 2005, two years after learning to play ‘ukulele, Kris won the Hāmākua Music Festival Annual Scholarship Competition.

His hard work and dedication began to pay off. After graduating from Kea‘au High School in 2008, he balanced his dreams of a music career with the realities of earning a living, getting a job at KTA’s central warehouse facility (a job he still has to this day).

The Musical Journey of

A rising musical star, Kris Fuchigami performs at the ÿUkulele Picnic Festival on Oÿahu. photo courtesy of Dave Golden

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

A two-time Nä Hökü Hano Hano award finalist, word is spreading about Kris and his music. Kris and his mother Keiko (second from right) are pictured with the KHON 2 Wake Up Today team after Kris’ performance on the news show. photo courtesy of Krystal Fuchigami

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A couple of years after high school Kris started touring, playing at venues both on the mainland and in Asia. Whether he plays a local event on the island or a large festival overseas, Kris says the audience is his favorite part of performing. “I love the audience. The audience is always number one to me. I love seeing their smiles and I always enjoy seeing them happy and having a great time.”

Performing is a family affair for Kris. Both in his music videos and at his shows, Kris’ mom Keiko is frequently onstage with him playing the keyboard. “Up until we started performing together, my mom would play the piano for our church,” says Kris. “We would jam at home and we just loved the way we sounded together and so we brought it onto the stage. I love having her by my side for all my tours and performances.”

Kris notes that the rest of his family is also very supportive of his music career. “They always come to my performances that are on island and help sell CDs, take pictures, and videos.”

A Turning Point in Tahiti A 2015 concert in Tahiti proved particularly memorable for Kris and led to his composing a song that resulted in his first Nā Hōkū Hano Hano award nomination.

“Moemoea” is a song that I wrote to thank the people of Tahiti for treating us so well,” says Kris. “After we got home from our tour in Tahiti, I was just so blown away by the aloha that they showed us. I really felt as if they were my family.

I wanted to put all my feelings for Tahiti into a song and composed ‘Moemoea.’ [It’s] my thank you to Tahiti.”

“Moemoea” was well received later that year when it was released as a two-track single. It also included a cover version of a Tahitian song “Mihi Au Ia Oe” written by Tahitian singer Andy Tupaia. “Moemoea” went on to be named a finalist as Instrumental Composition of the Year in 2016 at the Nā Hōkū awards.

While Kris enjoys playing a wide variety of material—in numerous YouTube videos he can be seen covering everything from Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” to Carlos Santana’s “Europa”—he also enjoys composing his own material.

“I love composing music so much. It’s a beautiful way to express one’s feelings. A place where you’re the artist and you create whatever you want to create and it will always be right

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Performing is a family affair for Kris. Both in his music videos and at his shows, Kris’ mom Keiko is frequently onstage playing the keyboard. photo courtesy of Sonia Martinez

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Inspiring the Next Generation In addition to working, performing, touring, and composing, Kris teaches ‘ukulele lessons at Hilo Ukulele and Guitar and online. Kris says he shares his love of music by mentoring about 15 aspiring musicians a week with one-on-one instruction.

Helping the next generation of musicians isn’t the only way Kris gives back to the community. For the past five years, he has organized the Kris Fuchigami Ukulele Contest. Held every November at the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo, the contest enables children to perform on stage and compete for prizes in two divisions: ages 5-14 and 15 and up.

“I wanted to give the Hilo community something fun and positive to look forward to,” says Kris. “Every year I love watching everyone gather with ‘ukuleles in their hands just smiling so big and having a great time with family and friends.”

‘Ukulele manufacturers and local sponsors donate ‘ukuleles as prizes for the young musicians.

Kris also performs during the festival and often invites fellow musicians to join in as well. Last year, multi award-winning musician (and fellow Hawai‘i Island native) Mark Yamanaka served as a contest judge and performed as part of the ‘ukulele contest.

Balancing it All As Kris’ musical career takes off, he says his life becomes more of a balancing act. “I work from 7:30am to 4:15pm, teach ‘ukulele from 4:30 to 8pm, rehearse from 8:30 to 9:30pm and finish off my day managing my music career, replying to emails, scheduling performances, etc. I sometimes don’t get to sleep until 1am so I can get everything done, but I love it!”

Life has a way of making room for Kris’ passion for music.

A co-worker inspired him to compose his newest album, More Than This.

“One day, as I was working at my day job, I had a conversation with my coworker and talked about how blessed we are to have a good job and a comfortable life. As I thought more about it, I thought to myself, ‘What if there was more to life than this?’ I found the answer to that question is that there is more if you set a goal for yourself and do all the work. But itʻs not gonna be easy.

“For me, Iʻve lost every single ‘ukulele contest that I ever entered. Yet I never let that get me down because I always had that vision of where I wanted to be and I set a goal for myself to keep pushing forward.

“That’s my message that I wanted to share with this album.

Go for your dreams. Never give up. Because one day, those dreams will become a reality.”

As for what the future holds, Kris says he plans to continue building on those dreams, touring and performing, while sharing music that he loves. He is active on social media, where he has a strong following and says he loves interacting with friends and fans on Facebook and Instagram. “Social media makes it a lot easier to connect with fans.”

“In the next five years, I would like to continue touring. I want to share my music with the world and bring them the same joy this instrument has brought to me.” ■

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May–Jun

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Hawai‘i Island’s

Community Magaz

May – June Mei – Iune

2018

Mei–Iune 2018 KeOlaMa gazine.c om

r nate Sculpto rk ght—A Passio Historical Pa William McKni unau National ARTS uhonua o Hōna h Foundation Pu‘

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Featured Cover Artist: Trina Jezik “When I’m printing, I play with the inks to give each print its own unique color and design.” Trina’s products include printing on canvas bags and cotton clothing.

Living near South Point, Trina has found the perfect thriving art community throughout Hawai‘i Island to enhance her artistic journey to new levels. Trina says, “I want to keep learning new art forms, there are endless possibilities of potential.”

Trina’s silk-screen and woodblock art, along with her paintings and giclées are available on her website, at many of the island’s farmers’ markets, and at Aloha Jewelry and Gems in the Kingsʻ Shops, Waikoloa Resort.

For more information: Pakelecreations.com

Table Of Contents Photographer:

Don Slocum

Don Slocum, a professional photographer, has called Hawai‘i Island home for over thirty years. Beginning his career photographing fashion, performers, and commercials, Don gravitated to landscape photography, inspired by the natural and raw beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. He says, “With its rich assortment of locations and wide diversity the Big Island may be unmatched on planet earth.

“My time spent in Hawai‘i has been a spiritual journey and this has greatly influenced my art. As a trained intuitive many times I receive internal information about where to go and when. This nearly always results in spectacular images.”

Don’s prints are available at the Glyph Art Gallery and Volcano Garden Arts, as well as online at donslocum.com

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Trina and her husband, Rhys, moved to Hawai‘i Island in 2015 from British Columbia, Canada. “From one beautiful place to another,” says Trina. She had been to Hawai‘i 13 years before and dreamed of a time they would live here. When her husband received a job offer on-island, they jumped at the chance.

A self-taught artist for 10 years, Trina creates art full time and enjoys experimenting with different media. Painting primarily with acrylics, Trina has ventured out to silk-screening, watercolors, art on reclaimed wood, and most currently to Japanese wood block prints.

The front cover painting, Manta Dreaming, was inspired

by Trina’s love of snorkeling and her encounters with the manta rays in the blue waters surrounding Hawai‘i Island.

Trina discovered the majestic nature of the manta rays off the coast of the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Known for her blend of surreal and realistic styles, along with her use of vibrant colors, Trina says she was moved by the way the manta rays glide through the water and their unique anatomy.

She captured both in this painting, Manta Dreaming, Trina does extensive research when she is painting an animal new to her collection. As a trained massage therapist, Trina studied the human anatomy and finds her education helpful as she translates the composition to her painted subjects.

Trina’s mentors range from traditional to eclectic. Drawn to the work of Czech artist Alfons Mucha, Trina says, “I like his blending of his subjects with beautiful patterns and flower designs.” Equally important in Trina’s work is the influence of a Canadian street artist, Ken Foster. “Ken can pick up anything and make it art,” says Trina. Watching Ken work, Trina has stretched her creativity as an artist to cross over into various media and is pleased with the results.

Trina says, “Now my whole house is my studio. It’s controlled chaos with multiple projects in process.” For her paintings, Trina makes her frames and stretches her own canvas. For the other art forms she is exploring, Trina finds herself consumed in the creative process from start to finish.

In creating silk-screen pieces, Trina explains, “Each one of my silk-screen prints is completely unique.” She believes in the entire art process, stretching the silk, and using her own hand drawn (not computer generated) art designs. Trina shares,

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Crossword Puzzle | By Myles Mellor

Enjoy this crossword that tests your knowledge about what you read in this edition of Ke Ola Magazine, including the ads, while learning about Hawaiian culture and our island home!

Some answers are in English, some are in Hawaiian. Feel free to use the Hawaiian reference library at wehewehe.org. Answers can be found on page 89.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Your feedback is always welcome.

HIeditor@keolamagazine.com

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Across

Down

1 Kris Fuchigami’s instrument 6 Go out with 10 Hawaiian word for fire or match 11 Made sharp 12 Much-loved Aunty at the Hilo Hula shows 13 Sowed 14 Not famous 18 English word for Hale (Hawaiian) 19 Hawaiian word for companion or associate 20 Hawaiian word for spreading as vines 21 Earnestly requests 24 “___ live and breathe”- 2 words 26 Hawaiian word meaning he or she 27 Moray or conger 29 Cat sound 31 Raise, as the spirits for example 33 Printing measure 34 ___ (Alonzo) Rosen who made the documentary Mau Voyager 36 That man 37 Colorful Catholic Church in Captain Cook with many murals, 2 words 40 Hawaiian word meaning a period of time 42 William McKnight’s medium 43 Michael Pierron is the founder of the Hilo ____

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 15 16 17 22 23 25 28 30 32 35 36 38 39 41

Hawaiian word for jam sessions Set (down) What?

Cup edge ___ Ho, famous Hawaiian singer Popular Hawaiian flower Golf equipment Small whirlpools Hawaiian word for the value of humility Hawaiian word for a safe place Word of rejection Hawaiian word meaning to press or squeeze The English word for ihu Waters from the sky Up until now Go fast Hawaiian word for sun Musical beat Skirt fold It gives food choices Cooking plant Knot together Hawaiian word for to pry with a lever Hawaiian word for a group of feathers

Sugai Products, Inc back to his roots in Kona to take over the farm and family business. It’s a testament to their strength and commitment that this family has taken so much pride and extra care to raise, process and roast this coffee grown exclusively on their family farm. All of our coffee is handcrafted, including picking, roasting and hand labeling each bag of coffee.”

Sugai Farms offers coffee sampling, roasting demonstrations and custom roasting, as well as retail and wholesale sales from their roaster and farm office in Hōlualoa. They also sell their commercial label (Kona Grove) in all of the KTA grocery stores on Hawai‘i Island, plus most of their products are available online through their website.

Sugai Farms offers flavored coffees such as Amaretto, Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Raspberry, Coconut Cream, Hazelnut, Irish Cream, Kona Cappuccino, Kona Cream, Macadamia Nut, and Vanilla Macadamia Nut. You can also receive your favorite Sugai Kona coffee on a regular basis by joining the Sugai Kona Coffee Club. You can order how often you would like to have your Kona coffee shipped, including which grade and the package size.

Youʻll even receive a 10% discount for participating in their automatic shipping program. Your Kona coffee or treats will arrive automatically without you having to remember to place an order. What a deal!

Sugai Products, Inc. 808.322.7717 Toll free 800.566.2463 Kona@kona.net Sugaikonacoffee.com

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

What’s in a name? You might not know until you’ve tried award-winning 100% estate grown Kona coffee grown by the Sugai Family on their Hōlualoa farm for three generations.

It all began in the 1890ʻs when Grandma Omotoʻs parents emigrated from Hiroshima, Japan and farmed Kona coffee while living in a grass shack and using primitive equipment. Grandma Omoto married Grandpa Omoto in 1930 and they farmed Kona coffee intensively. Life as a coffee farmer was a struggle, as the price of the coffee was down more often than it was up.

During the down times, they weaved lauhala baskets and sold produce as well. Their second daughter, Hilda, married Fusao Sugai in 1956.

Fusao also had a history in Kona coffee farming. His parents Kurakichi and Seiki Sugai arrived around 1900 from Japan and raised Fusao working on the coffee farm. Hilda and Fusao worked on the family Kona coffee farm for many years while raising their family.

They passed down the business to Lee, their youngest son, in 1989. Lee has attended many schools, acquiring a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Lee married Mimi Kim and they have two beautiful children, Marshall and Dana. Lee has invaluable knowledge of farming and roasting coffee that was passed down to him from previous generations.

Kay Dixon, coffee roaster and longtime staff member shares some of the Sugai Farm history. “The Sugai family have been growing award winning Kona coffee for three generations.

Lee grew up on this farm, and then left for service in the Air Force. After serving our country, he came

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Hawai‘i Island Happenings Wondering what’s happening around Hawai‘i Island? Visit these businesses and organizations websites for the most up-to-date event calendars.

365 Kona

365kona.com hawaii-island@hvcb.org Julie@Ziemelis.com

Akamai Events

AkamaiEvents.com aloha@akamaievents.com 808.747.2829

Aloha Theatre–Kainaliu Aloha Performing Arts Company ApacHawaii.org info@apachawaii.org 808.322.9924

Basically Books

BasicallyBooks.com bbinfo@hawaiiantel.net 808.961.0144

Donkey Mill Art Center

DonkeyMillArtCenter.org 808.322.3362

Downtown Hilo Improvement Association DowntownHilo.com 808.935.8850

Food Hub Kohala

FoodHubKohala.org karla@andreadean.com Karla Heath, 808.224.1404

Friends of NELHA

FriendsOfNelha.org 808.329.8073

Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hāmākua hccoh.org info.HCCOH@gmail.com 808.494.0626

Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network HawaiiHomeGrown.net editor@hawaiihomegrown.net

Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art/ EHCC EHCC.org arts@ehcc.org 808.961.5711

Holualoa Village Association HolualoaHawaii.com

Honoka‘a People’s Theatre HonokaaPeople.com hpt@honokaapeople.com 808.775.0000

Hulihe‘e Palace Wilhelmina’s Tea DaughtersOfHawaii.org info@daughtersofhawaii.org 808.329.1877

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i ImiloaHawaii.org vrecinto@imiloahawaii.org 808.969.9703

InBigIsland

InBigIsland.com tony@inbigisland.com 808.333.6936

Kahilu Theatre–Waimea KahiluTheatre.org 808.885.6868

Kailua Village Business Improvement District HistoricKailuaVillage.com kailuavillage@gmail.com 808.326.7820

Kalani Oceanside Retreat Kalani.com 808.965.0468

Kona Historical Society KonaHistorical.org khs@konahistorical.org 808.323.3222

Kona Choral Society

KonaChoralSociety.org 808.334.9880

Island of Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau gohawaii.com/hawaii-island hawaii-island@hvcb.org 800.648.2441

Love Acupuncture?

Resort and Shopping Center Cultural Events

Log onto websites for event calendars

Keauhou Shopping Center KeauhouVillageShops.com 808.322.3000

All Natural Kigelia Skin Care Serum & Moisturizer with MANY Benefits

Kingsʻ Shops–Waikoloa KingsShops.com 808.886.8811

Kona Commons Shopping Center KonaCommons.com 808.334.0005

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Kona International Marketplace

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KonaInternationalMarket.com 808.329.6262

Prince Kuhio Plaza

PrinceKuhioPlaza.com/events 808.959.3555

Queens’ MarketPlace–Waikoloa QueensMarketplace.net 808.886.8822

The Shops at Mauna Lani

ShopsAtMaunaLani.com/events 808.885.9501

808-854-5063 • 465 Hinano Street, Hilo Book online: HawaiiCommunityAcupuncture.org Walk-Ins Welcome

Hawai‘i Island Happenings Wondering what’s happening around Hawai‘i Island? Visit these businesses and organizations websites for the most up-to-date event calendars.

Kona Stories Bookstore

One Island Sustainable Living Center

West Hawai‘i County Band

Konaweb

Palace Theatre–Hilo

West Hawaii Dance Theatre and Academy

Lyman Museum

Society for Kona’s Education & Art (SKEA)

KonaStories.com ks@konastories.com 808.324.0350

KonaWeb.com shirley@konaweb.com Shirley Stoffer, 808.345.2627

LymanMuseum.org membership@lymanmuseum.org Liz Ambrose, 808.935.5021

Nā Wai Iwi Ola (NWIO) Foundation NaWaiIwiOla.org kumukealaching@nawaiiwiola.org Kumu Keala Ching

North Kohala Community Resource Center NorthKohala.org info@northkohala.org 808.889.5523

One-Island.org hawaii@one-island.org 808.328.2452 HiloPalace.com info@hilopalace.com 808.934.7010

WestHawaiiBand.com westhawaiiband@gmail.com 808.961.8699 Whdt.org vh2dns4@ilhawaii.net Virginia Holte, 808.329.8876

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS

Skea.org 808.328.9392

Volcano Art Center–Gallery volcanoartcenter.org Director@volcanoartcenter.org 808.967.8222 UH Hilo Performing Arts Center ArtsCenter.uhh.hawaii.edu artscenter@hawaii.edu 808.974.7310

Waimea Community Theatre

WaimeaCommunityTheatre.org 808.885.5818

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

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To submit volunteer information for your nonprofit go to: kokua@keolamagazine.com

Community Kökua

AdvoCATS

Kona Vistas Recreational Center 75-6350 Pualani St, Kailua-Kona 3rd Saturday, 1pm Trap, neuter, spay, community education, colony feeding, management.

Contact Stephanie or Nancy advocatshawaii@aol.org 808.327.3724 advocatshawaii.org

Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island

Hilo, Kea‘au, Pāhoa, Pāhala Oceanview, Hāmākua Monday–Friday, 2:30–5pm Volunteers needed for after-school youth programs 808.961.5536 Bgcbi.com

Calabash Cousins

Hulihe‘e Palace Grounds, Kailua-Kona 2nd Thursday of the month 1–2:30pm Men and women who support the mission of Daughters of Hawai‘i.

Contact Geri Eckert hulihee@daughtersofhawaii.org 808.329.9555 DaughtersofHawaii.org

CommUNITY cares

Kailua-Kona Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm Saturday, 9am–2pm

Volunteer Opportunities Community suffering from cancer, medical hair loss, domestic abuse.

Contact Tiana Steinberg communitycareshawaii@gmail.com 808.326.2866

Contact Peter 808.323.3318 or 808.936.6457 kaluulu@hawaii.rr.com Facebook.com/Friends-of-Amy-Greenwell- Ethnobotanical-Garden-761479683986161

Donkey Mill Art Center

Friends of Lili‘uokalani Gardens

Hōlualoa Hōlualoa Foundation for Arts and Culture Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–4pm Volunteers help in arts education program.

Contact Anne Catlin donkeymill@gmail.com 808.322.3362 DonkeyMillArtCenter.org

East Hawai‘i Cultural Center/HMOCA

Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–4PM Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm Volunteer in the art galleries, performing arts, classes, workshops, festivals. admin@ehcc.org 808.961.5711 Ehcc.org

Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

Captain Cook Saturday, 9am–noon Volunteers needed to help with weeding, trimming and maintenance of the gardens.

Hilo Ongoing Volunteers needed to help with the maintenance of Lili‘uokalani Gardens. kteger@hawaii.rr.com facebook.com/friendsofliliuokalanigardens/

Friends of NELHA

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Keāhole Kona Monday–Friday, 9am–noon Share Ocean Science/Technology using deep ocean water.

808.329.8073 EnergyFutureHawaii.org

Hāmākua Youth Foundation, Inc.

Hāmākua Youth Center, Honoka‘a Daily, Mon. Tue. Fri. 2–5:30pm Wed. 1–5:30pm, Thu. 2–8pm Serving Hamakua’s school-age kids.

Contact T. Mahealani Maiku‘i HamakuaYouthCenter@gmail.com 808.775.0976 HamakuaYouthCenter.wordpress.com

Use provided contacts for information (Listings provided on a space available basis)

Hawai‘i Care Choices (Formerly Hospice of Hilo)

Serving East Hawai‘i since 1983 Seeking volunteers to provide staff support and care to patients and families.

Contact Jeanette Mochida jmochida@hawaiicarechoices.org 808.969.1733 HawaiiCareChoices.org

Hawaii Literacy/Kona Literacy Center Bougainvilla Plaza, Kailua-Kona Ongoing at various times Kona Literacy provides free, one-to-one tutoring for English speaking adults.

Contact Lisa Jacob lisa.jacob@hawaiiliteracy.org HawaiiLiteracy.org

Hawai‘i Island Humane Society

Kona Shelter, Kailua-Kona Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm Need volunteers 16 or older, parent/child team 6 or older.

Contact Bebe Ackerman volunteer@hihs.org 808.217.0154 Hihs.org

Hawai‘i Plantation Museum

Pāpa‘ikou Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–3pm Greet Visitors, assist with tours.

i n c

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

The most complete art and art glass supply in Hawai‘i

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Art makes you smart 808.334.0292 73-4976 Kamanu St #108, Kailua Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 in Hale Ku’i Plaza, mauka of Home Depot

To submit volunteer information for your nonprofit go to: kokua@keolamagazine.com

Community Kökua

Contact Wayne Subica plantationmuseum@gmail.com 808.964.5151 hawaiiplantationmuseum.org

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund

Wai‘ōhinu Coastline, Ka‘ū SE Hawai‘i Island beach cleanups.

Ongoing 7:45am Contact Megan Lamson meg.hwf@gmail.com 808.769-7629 WildHawaii.org

Hope Services Hawaii, Inc.

The Friendly Place Resource Center, Kailua-Kona Ongoing Volunteers help our community members who are experiencing homelessness.

Contact Joycelyn Cabal volunteer@hopeserviceshawaii.org 808.217.2830 hopeserviceshawaii.org/getinvolved/

Hospice Care

North Hawai‘i Hospice, Waimea Monday–Friday, 8am–4:30pm Care for families facing serious illness.

Contact Catrinka Holland volunteer.coordinator@northhawaiihospice.org 808.885.7547 NorthHawaiiHospice.org

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i

Volunteer Opportunities Hilo Tuesday-Sunday 9am–5pm Assist with tours, shows, education programs and membership.

Contact Roxanne Ching rching@imiloahawaii.org 808.969.9704 imiloahawaii.org

Kamuela/Kona Shopping Area Saturdays and/or Sundays, 11am–4pm Volunteers needed to assist with pet adoption events.

Contact: Deborah Cravatta pets@kohalaanimal.org 808.333.6299 KohalaAnimal.org

Kahalu‘u Bay Education Center

Kona Choral Society

Kahalu‘u Beach, Kailua-Kona Daily 9:30am–4:30pm ReefTeach Volunteers educate visitors on reef etiquette and protection.

Contact Rachel Silverman rsilverman@kohalacenter.org 808.887.6411 KahaluuBay.org

Kailua-Kona Seeking volunteers for help with box office and ushering at our concerts.

Contact John Week info@KonaChoralSociety.org 808.334.9880 KonaChoralSociety.org

Kalani Retreat Center

Kailua-Kona 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 6pm Lynn Bell contact@konatoastmasters.com 808.989.7494 KonaToastMasters.com

Kalapana Varied Schedules Seeking volunteers: skilled trades/ maintenance, housekeeping, kitchen, horticulture.

Contact Volunteer Office volunteer@kalani.com 808.965.7828 Kalani.com/volunteer

Kohala Animal Relocation & Education Service (KARES)

Kona Toastmasters

Ku’ikahi Mediation Center

Hilo Ongoing Become a volunteer mediator via Basic Mediation Training and apprenticeship. info@hawaiimediation.org 808.935.7844 HawaiiMediation.org

Lions Clubs International

Various Locations, Kailua-Kona 2nd Tuesday, 5:30pm “We Serve” is the motto of Lions Clubs International.

Contact Lani 808.325.1973 lanika@hawaii.rr.com

Make-A-Wish Hawaii

Ongoing Granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. info@hawaii.wish.org 808.537.3118 Hawaii.Wish.org

Malama O Puna

North Kohala Community Resource Center

Kohala Welcome Center, Hāwī Daily 9am–noon or noon–3pm Greet people to North Kohala with aloha.

Contact Juanita Rivera juanita@northkohala.org 808.889.5523 NorthKohala.org

Paradise Ponies, Carousel of Aloha Hilo Coffee Mill, Mountain View Ongoing

Seeking volunteers to create the Carousel of Aloha Pavilion.

Contact Katherine Patton carouselofaloha@gmail.com 808.315.1093 CarouselOfAloha.org

Parrots in Paradise Sanctuary

Kealakekua Flexible hours Monday–Friday Sanctuary for displaced parrots.

Contact Dorothy Walsh Dorothy@parrotsinparadise.com 808.322.3006 ParrotsInParadise.com

Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary

Kurtistown Ongoing Volunteers needed to help care for the animals, repairs and maintenance to the Sanctuary, and help with the office paperwork.

Contact Mary Rose mail@rainbowfriends.org 808.982.5110 RainbowFriends.org

Snorkel Day for People with Disabilities Kahalu‘u Beach Park, Kailua-Kona 3rd Friday, 10am–2pm Volunteers needed.

Contact Hannah Merrill snorkelday@deepandbeyond.org 808.326.4400 x 4017 DeepAndBeyond.org

Sundayʻs Child Foundation

Kamuela Serving at-risk youth aged 6 to 17 Volunteers needed islandwide.

Contact Lauren Rainier requests@sundayschildfoundation.org 877.375.9191 SundaysChildFoundation.org

The Pregnancy Center

Kailua-Kona (serves the entire island) Monday–Friday Volunteers needed and appreciated! Free pregnancy testing, ultra sound, and client support.

Contact Matthew Schaetzle, Director tpc@tpckona.com 808.326.2060 TpcKona.com

Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii Kailua-Kona Volunteers are the heart and soul of this program. All levels of expertise needed.

Contact Nancy Bloomfield nannygirl@hawaii.rr.com 808.937.7903 ThhKona.org

Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai’i Island (VASH) Islandwide Ongoing Volunteers need to provide assistance to visitors who experience misfortune while visiting Hawai’i Island. Training provided.

Contact Phoebe Barela west@vashbigisland.org 808.756.0785 Kona 808.756.1472 Hilo VashBigIsland.org

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

15-2881 Pahoa Village Rd, Pahoa Weekdays: 10am–1pm or by appt.

Volunteers needed for outdoor work for our environmental nonprofit doing hands-on projects.

Contact Rene malamaopuna@yahoo.com 808.965-2000 malamaopuna.org

Use provided contacts for information (Listings provided on a space available basis)

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Hawai‘i Island Farmers Markets East

Tuesday 3–5:30pm * Hakalau Farmers Market and FoodShare. Botanical World Adventures, 31-240 Old Mamalahoa Hwy

West

1st and 3rd Friday of the month 4–8pm Mā‘ona Community Garden Friday Night Market 84-5097 Keala O Keawe Rd. Hōnaunau Saturday 8am–noon * c Keauhou Farmers Market, Keauhou Shopping Center, Keauhou.

Saturday 7:30–10am Waikoloa Village Farmers Market, 68-3625 Paniolo Ave., Waikoloa Community Church parking lot across from Waikoloa Elementary School.

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Saturday 9am–noon Hōlualoa Gardens Farmers g Market 76-5901 Māmalahoa Hwy, Hōlualoa.

Sunday 9am–2pm * Pure Kona Green Market g Kealakekua, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden.

Wednesday 8:30am–2:30pm Kings’ Shops Farmers Market Waikoloa Beach Resort Kohala Coast.

Wednesday 9am–2pm Ho‘oulu Community Farmers g Market, Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay.

Wednesday 2–6pm c Kona Sunset Farmers Marketg 92 74-5511 Luhia St (HPM parking lot).

Wednesday–Sunday 7am–4pm Kona Village Farmers Market, corner of Ali‘i Drive and Hualālai Rd.

North Saturday and Tuesday 8am–1pm, Saturdays *c Hāwī Farmers Market, North Kohala, across from Post Office and Nakahara Store under the banyans.

Sunday 9am–2pm * c Hāmākua Harvest Farmers g Market, Honoka‘a Hwy 19 and Mamane St. Sunday 9am–1pm c Laupāhoehoe Farmers Market.

Next to the Minit Stop on Hwy 19.

Saturday 7:30am–1pm c Kamuela Farmers’ Market 67-139 Pukalani Rd, Waimea.

Saturday 7:30am–12:30pm Kūhiō Hale Farmers’ Market 64-756 Māmalahoa Hwy, Waimea.

Daily 8am–5pm Pana‘ewa Hawaiian Home Lands Farmers Market, Pū‘ainakō and ‘Ohu‘ohu Streets by Walmart, Hilo.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7am–4pm c Hilo Farmers Market, corner of Mamo and Kamehameha Ave., downtown Hilo. 30 vendors.

Saturday 8am–1pm c Waimea Town Market g at Parker School, 65-1224 Lindsey Rd., Waimea.

Saturday 7am–noon c Waimea Homestead Farmers Market, 67-1229 Māmalahoa Hwy, Waimea.

Tuesday 2–5pm c Kekela Farms Organic Farmers Market, 64-604 Mana Rd., Waimea. 100% organic.

Wednesday 9am–3pm c Waimea Mid-Week Farmer’s g Market at Pukalani Stables, 67-139 Pukalani Rd in Waimea.

* EBT accepted • c SFMNP Coupons accepted • g Dog Friendly •

Saturday 7:30am–2pm Honoka‘a Farmers Market, Mamane St., Honoka‘a, Honoka‘a Trading Co., Old Botelho Bldg.

Wednesday and Saturday 6am–4pm * c Hilo Farmers Market, corner of Mamo and Kamehameha Ave., downtown Hilo. 200 vendors.

Saturday 7am–noon * c Kino‘ole Farmers Market.

Kino‘ole Shopping Plaza, 1990 Kino‘ole St., Hilo.

Sunday 7am–2pm c Pāhoa Village Farmers Market, Nānāwale Community Longhouse.

Sunday 6am–2pm * c Maku‘u Farmers Market, Kea‘au-Pāhoa bypass road.

Every 2nd Saturday 10am–2pm Orchidland Community Association Farmers Market Community Lot Orchidland Dr. Daily 7am–5pm Kea‘au Village Market, Behind Spoonful Cafe and gas station, Kea‘au.

Wednesday Evenings 5–9pm Farmers Market Kalapana end of Kalapana-Kopoho Rd, (Rte 137), next to Kalapana Village Cafe.

Saturday 7:30am–4pm Keaukaha Pana‘ewa Farmers Market. Railroad Avenue, across from Home Depot, Hilo.

Saturday 8am–noon * Outer SPACE Ho‘olaule‘a at Uncle Roberts ‘Awa Club, Kalapana.

Monday–Saturday 10am–6pm * c Dimple Cheek Farm Hwy 11, Mountain View.

Saturday 10am–3pm Hawaiian Acres Farmers Market 16-1325 Moho Rd., Kurtistown Saturday 9am–2pm * Hilo Coffee Mill, g 17-995 Volcano Rd., Mountain View (on Hwy. 11 between mile markers 12 and 13).

South

Sunday 6:30am–10am * c Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, 1000 Wright Rd., Volcano Village.

Saturday and Wednesday 8am–2pm Nā‘ālehu Farmers Market, Ace Hardware lawn.

Please send info on new markets or changes to sharon@keolamagazine.com

Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser The friendly staff at The UPS Store in Kamuela is eager to help answer any questions you have as well as help provide the services you need. You can rely on The UPS Store for all your packing, shipping (UPS, USPS and DHL), printing, and business needs. It’s the one stop shop for everyone, but especially for small business owners. Starting a new business?

The UPS Store can provide a lot of what you need to get your business off the ground and growing.

Owner/operator Kari Westly Clark grew up in Hilo and spent many years on O‘ahu before returning to Hawai‘i Island in 2010. She opened The UPS Store in 2014 to provide a needed resource for individuals and small businesses in North Hawai‘i, as well as anywhere on the island.

The UPS Store of Kamuela Parker Ranch Shopping Center 808.887.0340 theupsstorelocal. com/6503 Store6503@theupsstore. com

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Kari’s goal is to have The UPS Store in Kamuela be a place where the staff is so friendly that people want to stop by just to say hello. As a small business owner, Kari knows what it’s like to have a lot on your plate. A little extra support and shorter lines can make the difference between a hectic day and one spending time on the things that are important to you.

With their mailbox service, your address is a real street address, so you can keep your home mailing address private.

Forget about missing package deliveries because you are on vacation or out running errands—The UPS Store will receive and hold them until you are able to pick them up.

The staff members are all certified packing experts, so even the most fragile items arrive to their destination safely. With The UPS Store Pack and Ship guarantee, if any damage does happen to occur, you will be reimbursed for your shipping cost, up to the declared value of your item, as well as all packing fees and materials. The UPS Store offers a variety of shipping

options to best suit your need and budget and can advise you with the best way to send your items.

The UPS Store also provides full-service print solutions. With a full array of printing services, they can assist with full-color digital printing, collating, binding, and laminating. Whether you need five copies or 5000 copies, The UPS Store can produce your documents when you need them, and how you need them. The UPS Store can help your business with brochures, business cards, programs, and flyers. They also have a wide format printer that can produce banners, posters, blueprints, and even canvas wraps. They will even frame your canvas prints! Don’t have a design or logo yet? They can assist you with graphic design help as well.

Need name badges, signs for your doors, car magnets?

Promotional items to market your business? The UPS Store can provide these, too, personalized just the way you want them.

The UPS Store also provides freight services, document shredding, notary services, office supplies, packing and shipping supplies, passport photos, faxing, greeting cards, rubber stamps, and much more.

The UPS Store provides the specialized and personal customer service that most small businesses need. Kari and her staff would love the opportunity to speak with you and help with your business needs, so you can concentrate on what’s most important to you, such as managing your business! Stop in the store or visit online from anywhere in the world at theupsstorelocal.com/6503. You can order online and have the products sent directly to you.

The UPS Store is located in the Parker Ranch Shopping Center, near the food court.

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MARKET PLACE BOOKKEEPING

Keary’s Massage

Talk Story with an Advertiser

CATERING SERVICE

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

HOME EQUITY CONVERSION MORTGAGE

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LAND SURVEYING

Keary Adamson has been providing massage services fulltime in Hilo since 2007, when he moved to the island. He attended a Hawai‘i massage school to become licensed here, after originally obtaining his license in St. George, Utah in the early 1990’s.

Keary notes, “As a massage therapist, I have an opportunity to serve the community in a unique and personal way. I’ve spent years learning many tools that go far beyond the skin.

This body and energy work I provide is deep physically, emotionally, energetically and spiritually for both my clients and me. My goal is to assist them to have life changing experiences that will carry into their daily life.

Or, people can just come in for an unforgettable massage!”

This highly experienced therapist’s interest in massage came from his love of holistic health. When he was in his teens he learned about the power of herbs and proper diet for better health. His curiosity grew and he learned about energy work, emotional processing, physiology, anatomy and various health philosophies. Massage was the natural flow of his passion for healthy living and restoring health for himself, plus a way to help others. Keary uses many gentle modalities, learned from a lifetime of experience. He provides focused touch to heal old injuries, repetition injuries, and auto accident recovery.

Keary’s clientele are from every walk of life. His best clients are those who have been told they have to learn to live with their pain, that nothing can be done. Once their pain has subsided after his treatments, they have expressed their remarkable healing journey with their family, friends, and even in Yelp and Facebook reviews.

Keary’s business is in downtown Hilo, on the corner of Haili and Kapiolani, across from Lyman Museum and Aloha Wellness Center, caddy-corner to St. Joseph Church. This safe location has no stairs and plenty of street parking.

Keary says, “I’m interested in helping my clients heal from injuries and improve their lifestyle by increasing their flexibility and eliminating pain. My business has grown because my clients have a healing experience and refer me to others by giving referrals and gift certificates to their loved ones. My heart is into helping as many people as I can in ways they canʻt seem to help themselves, and to share my gifts in a way that will elevate them to move forward and progress in a healthier way. Let me help you, book an appointment!”

Kearyʻs Massage LMT #10576 74 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (at Balanced Life Massage and Acupuncture) Call/Text: 808.937.9987 kearysmassage@gmail.com Book online: kearysmassage.com

Employment Experts

MARKET PLACE MARKETING HELP

Talk Story with an Advertiser

Employment Experts 145 Keawe Street, Hilo, HI 96720 75-5583 Luhia Street, Ste A-11, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Hilo 808.933.8660 Kona 808.329.9089 Kelley.stillman@employment-experts.com employment-experts.com

REALTOR ®

VETERINARY SERVICES

WHOLISTIC HEALTH

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Need help with your business or looking for a job?

Employment Experts is a licensed full service payroll and staffing agency that offers their clients complete payroll services, along with temporary and permanent staffing. They’re able to offer their candidates and business clients numerous opportunities because of their expertise and community-wide connections. In addition, they will keep you in compliance with all the new laws, which are constantly changing!

Jodi Penn, owner of Employment Experts, was born and raised in Hilo. She graduated from Hilo High in 1993, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in business from San Jose State University.

Jodi found her passion soon after graduating from college.

She worked for numerous staffing agencies, and always felt that was the best way to gain experience. Within one year, she was able to attain six different positions, all in different industries. Jodi says, “I really enjoyed all of them, even though they were all temporary jobs. When I moved back to the Big Island in 2001, I started the Employment Experts.”

After opening her first office in Kona, she opened her second office in Hilo in 2004, and then a third office on O‘ahu in 2013.

Jodi attributes her success to her amazing staff. She takes pride in owning a company that cares about its community, clients and employees. Jodi says, “We are from a small town, but with our award winning staff and service we hope to be the biggest on the island!”

She also credits many others for helping her along the way, “My mother-in-law, Lorraine Shin, is extremely intelligent and has helped shape my career path. Also, my fatherin-law, JD ‘Popʻ Penn has been a huge help and inspiration.

“My mom and dad, Bernadette and Raphael Tomas, have also played large roles in my success. They taught me working hard never hurt anyone and life is about respecting everyone. Family means everything and we treat everyone we meet like family.

“My husband, Jay Dee, is my biggest role model. We are the best business partners and best friends. We have grown together and support each other in every aspect of life. We went to high school together, graduated from college together and are succeeding at life together. We have three handsome, intelligent sons and wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

Contact Jodi and her expert staff, whether you’re looking for work, or help with your business!

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Advertiser Index Accomodations

Island Paradise Inn Kamuela Inn Kïlauea Lodge

Activities, Culture & Event

Aloha Performing Arts Co. Big Island Blues & Jazz Festival Big Island Skydiving FairWind Big Island Ocean Guides Hilo BrewFest Hilo Orchid Society Hilo Ukulele & Guitar Jack's Diving Locker Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona Conference Meditation Retreat with Devaji Palace Theater

Art, Crafts & Jewelry

Akamai Art Supply Barbara Hanson Polymer Clay Artwork Barger Gallery Cliff Johns Gallery/Champions Wood and Fine Art Colette's Custom Framing Dovetail Gallery & Design Glyph Art Gallery Harbor Gallery Holualoa Gallery Holualoa Ukulele Gallery Isaacs Art Center (at Hawaii Preparatory Academy) Ipu Arts Plus Kona Frame Shop Mountain Gold Jewelers Nalu Island Jewelry & Gifts One Gallery Pat Pearlman Designs Puna Gallery & Gift Emporium Simple Elegance Gems Volcano Art Center

Automotive

BMW of Hawaii Precision Auto Repair

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Beauty, Health & Nutrition

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Colloidal Silver Made on Hawaiÿi Island Deborah Ardolf, ND Hawaii Community Acupuncture I Love Kigelia® Skin Care Serum Keary Adamson, LMT Jaiya Spa

57 60 47 70 28 36 8 42 44 83 35 74 64 68 90 62 14 46 60 62 62 76 62 62 64 62 26 54 25 68 62 57 82 40 71 25 95 22 88 88 40 23

Ke Ola Magazine recognizes the use of the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop, as one of the eight consonants of (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakō [ā] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai‘i such as Pāhoa).

Ke Ola Magazine respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses.

Joan Greco, DDS, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery North Hawaiÿi Community Hospital Pahoa Chiropractic & Massage Premier Dental Group HI The Exclusive Hawaii The Exclusive Hawaii

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Building, Construction & Home Services

Colette's Custom Framing 60 dlb & Associates 94 Fireplace & Home Center 47 Hamakua Canvas Co, (Upholstery) 43 Hawaii Water Service Co. 40 Hawaii Electric Light Co. 48 HomeWorld 49 Indich Collection Hawaiian Rugs 27 Kona Frame Shop 26 Plantation Interiors, Teak Garden & Lanai 83 Polynesian Development, Inc. 33 SMART Plumbing Hawaii 67 Statements 89 Tai Lake Custom Furniture 70 Water Works 48 Yurts of Hawaiÿi 18

Business & Professional Services Action Business Services Allstate Insurance, Kris Speegle Aloha Kona Kids American Advisors Group A.S.K. About Travel Employment Experts Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union

Education

Mälamalama Waldorf School

Pets

Maikaÿi Veterinary Clinic, LLC Keauhou Veterinary Hospital, LLC

Real Estate

Beverly Y. Crudele, RS, Clark Realty Clark Realty Coldwell Banker-Daylum Properties Kelly Shaw, RS, Elite Pacific Properties Kimi White, RB, Rainbow Properties Kona Coast Realty Corp.

Lanihoku Designs LLC Lava Rock Realty Parks Realty LLC Savio Realty Team Nakanishi

94 18 82 94 22 55 34 78 95 99 95 51 6 100 33 20 82 2 78 56 54

Restaurants & Food

Ahualoa Farms 43 Black Rock Café 56 Boogie Woogie Pizza 57 Daylight Mind Coffee House, Café & Bakery 24 Food Basket "Da Box" 74 International Grindz 57 Island Naturals Market & Deli 80 Island Naturals Market & Deli - Pahoa 56 Kailua Candy Company 91 Kaleo's 56 Kohala Grown Market 36 Lava Shack 56 Lucy's Taqueria 68 New Moon Food 56 Nicoco 56 Paolo's Bistro 57 Päpaÿaloa Country Store & Cafe 78 Peaberry & Galette 33 SJ's Personal Chef & Catering 94 Standard Bakery 46 Sugai Kona Coffee 62 Sushi Rock & Trio 36 Tin Shack Bakery 56 WikiFresh 84

Retail & Gifts

Ahualoa Farms All Kine Aloha Aloha Grown Basically Books Hawaii Gift Baskets Hawaii Cigar & Ukulele Island Clutter Consignment Shoppe Jeff Hunt Surfboards Jungle Love Kadota Liquor Keauhou Shopping Center Kiernan Music Kings' Shops Kona Boys Kona Commons Shopping Center Mana Cards Pahoa Used Books & Movies Päpaÿaloa Country Store & Cafe Paradise Found Boutique Parker Ranch Store Puna Kamaliÿi Flowers Queens' MarketPlace The UPS Store

43 57 38 97 74 36 23 57 57 26 12 46 16 15 50 14 56 78 46 38 84 3 90

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ife"

Celebrating the arts, culture, and sustainability of the Hawai'i Island

UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘ÄINA I KA PONO. The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Keauhou

Veterinary Hospital, LLC

Are you planning a trip or moving to Hawaii? at Kona International Airport.

Call and ask about this service today!

KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Experience your pet deserves. Experience you can trust.

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KeOlaMagazine.com | May-June 2018

Kelly’s Hawaii Business Magazine Awards: • 2017 Top 100 Realtors To Do Business With, Transactions & Top Sales Honorable Mention • 2014 & 2015 Top 100 Transactions

Celebrating 15 Years as a Realtor!

LOWER PALISADES

ALII LANI

3bed/2bath • Updated tropical retreat with pool MLS 61630

3bed/2bath • Ground oor corner unit MLS 616083

LOKAHI MAKAI

LOKAHI MAKAI

KONA BALI KAI

3bed/2bath Fresh paint and new carpet MLS 614595

3bed/2bath Absolute move-in condition MLS 615068

Studio w/ocean views Cosmetic xer MLS 616293

Kelly steered us through the entire process, and it was obvious our happiness was more important than making a sale.

The price she suggested was spot on, and we ended up selling immediately for more than anticipated. Kelly went out 100 her way to nd old records and even straighten out a tax issue at the tax department. As a Realtor myself, I know how above and beyond Kelly went. Extremely satissed! Source: realtor.com