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MISSION -------------------------------------------------
CRE8 Magazine is a biannual art publication highlighting individuals, artists and businesses that embody the spirit of creativity, ingenuity and passion!
WE HOPE TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE OUR READERS TO CREATE.
“Consider” by Lori Koprowski : Featured on Pages 44 - 57
Ben Kikuyama
The French Coats
Lori Koprowski
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Jeremy McKane
Lynette Pradiga
Kula Estate Coffee
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p ub lisher
Unique Ar t Hawaii Inc. UniqueArtHawaii.com
editor
Russell Carbonell rustycarbs@gmail.com
crea tive director Jennifer J Stephens info@cre8mag.com
d esig n contr ibutor Stephen Lestch SupaFly Design
wr iter s
Lar issa Treese Lani Morr is
ma r keting consulta nt Kr ystle Alcain
photog r a p her Amity Mason
amity@amitymason.com
www.CRE8Magazine.com facebook.com/cre8mag Instagram @cre8magazine
ON THE C OVER
“ Ga rden o f Sensu a l Tho u ght s� B en Ki ku yama - Page 10 CRE8 Magazine, its publishers, its staff and its advertisers are not responsible or liable for any misinformation, misprints or typographical errors in any ads or articles which may appear in this publication. Readers are required to do their own due diligence before relying upon any information provided or advice or opinions given by CRE8 Magazine, its publishers, staff and advertisers shall not be responsible or liable for reliance upon the information provided in this publication. The contents of CRE8 Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Publishers. By submitting materials to CRE8 Magazine our advertisers warrant and represent that they are (a) the sole, legal owner or licensee of all rights or licensee of all rights including copyright, to each copyright, trademark, service mark, trade name, logo, statement, portrait, graphic, artwork or photograph of any person or any other intellectual property included in such design, (b) will hold CRE8 Magazine harmless from any claim that any portion of the design infringes upon or constitutes wrongful use of any copyright, trademark or other right of any third party.
C O N T R I B U TO R S •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Amity Mason Photographer Amity Mason received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Photography, and since that time has been photographing anything and everything that inspires her. www.AmityMason.com
Larissa Treese Writer • Head Aquarist - Maui Ocean Center Larissa is an avid outdoor and environmental enthusiast who is also considered “chef” to friends and family. She has worked in animal husbandry for over 15 years and is currently working at Maui Ocean Center as the Head Aquarist. Larissa lives on Maui with her husband and two dogs, and is always looking for her next challenge in life, country to visit or recipe to perfect.
Lani Morris Beauty Editor and Advisor - Holistic Esthetician Lani is a Holistic Esthetician who has worked at Maui’s top resorts and spas, including: The Four Seasons Lanai and Wailea, The Kapalua Spa and The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas. She is now working at her own practice, Beauty By Nature Maui, where she offers a variety of different modalities. Lani is also an instructor at Spa Luna Holistic School for Estheticians, teaching advanced esthetic workshops.
Krystle Alcain Marketing Consultant • Graphic Designer Krystle graduated with a B.S. in Landscape Architecture, and now focuses her creative energy as a freelance marketing/P.R. consultant and graphic designer/owner of Alcain Design, LLC. She is a lover of miniature things and pitbulls, and has a passion for inspiring others to live a healthy and creative lifestyle.
Alonso Martinez Fashion Advisor - Director of Gucci, Maui Alonso Martinez is a great lover of fashion and the Arts. He has collaborated with many global luxury brands and donates his time to philanthropy, raising money for several non-profit organizations over the last 20 years. His greatest achievement continues to be the raising and support of his two children.
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INSPIRE
CRACKED CRACKED THE WORKS OF
BEN KIKUYAMA
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I love those times when nature and man overlap one another; moss growing on an old wooden bench, vines taking over a cracked concrete wall, a tree growing over a wire that had been attached to its trunk. There is a kind of aching poetry in these things.
ACHING POETRY
Life is impermanent. Every living thing grows older and at some point passes on. By accepting
the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death, we then start to notice the melancholy beauty that lies subtly hidden within it. For some reason, I’m drawn to this, and I often find this hidden beauty in the weathering and distress of man-made objects. They are markers of time and reminders that we, as well as the material world around us, are all in the process of returning to the dust from which we came. My newest series of mixed media paintings explores the crack as a motif and medium. We all encounter cracks in one form or another. They appear in our possessions, our bodies, our relationships. Cracks allude to many things. They can be viewed as a weakness, an intrusion, or a signal of impending trouble. But for every yin there is always its opposite, yang.
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“Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen
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AS WE PASS
As we pass through life, we often get nicked or damaged along the way. It is part of our nature to pick ourselves up and move forward. It is this perseverance that shapes who we are. It is mirrored in nature, as well. The tree growing over an embedded wire, is the yang that presses against the yin. Thus, we’re introduced to the second major element of the series, the stitches. In these works, the cracks are lovingly looked over and repaired by a network of meticulous stitching. Some of the stitches become undone over the strain of time, but as the cracks progress, so, too, does the caring repair. It is this balanced dance of nature, with all of its tension and resiliency that I wish to express.
THROUGH LIFE 18
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+ SERIES The + (plus) Series explores combining separate, disparate and/or unexpected elements together to create something wholly new.
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Pg. 11
BASKA acrylic, sinew, wire, board 48” x 48” x 2” Pg. 12
DELAWARE acrylic, sinew, found object, wire, board 12” x 12” x 2” Pg. 15
AXLE acrylic, sinew, wire, board 13.75” x 13.75” x 2” Pg. 16
WALLFLOWER oil, acrylic, sinew, wire, board 16”x 16” x 2” Pg. 17
KUMA acrylic, sinew, wire, board 12” x 12” x 2” Pg. 19
ZAGREB acrylic, sinew, wire, board 14” x 14” x 2” Pg.20
TESLA acrylic, wire, board 46” x 46” x 2” Pg. 21
FIGMENT acrylic, sinew, wire, board 14” x 14” x 2” Pg. 22
LOOK BUT DON’T SEE oil, acrylic, enamel, found objects on board 40” x 32” x 1” Pg. 23
GARDEN OF SENSUAL THOUGHTS oil, acrylic, enamel on board 32” x 32”
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BEN KIKUYAMA Born to working-class parents in Lahaina, on the island of Maui, Ben spent much of his youth like most of the other kids in his neighborhood; fishing, bodysurfing and enjoying the nature of his native land. His parents did not indulge Ben and his three younger brothers with much material things, especially toys or other playthings. They were left to their own devices. They would create forts, toys and go-carts out of discarded stuff found in his backyard. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, for it prompted him to learn how to create things out of materials and objects that he found or scrounged up, which in turn nurtured and stimulated his creativity and imagination. Ben’s drawing skills emerged early. He eagerly copied characters from Marvel comic books and Mad magazines borrowed from friends, dreaming of being the next John Buscema or Jack Kirby, two of the great comic book artists of the day. He even tried to develop his own comic book, but gave up after only finishing “one or two pages.” Toward the end of his senior year of high school, Ben was surprised to learn he had won an art scholarship from the Lahaina Arts Society. On a last-second whim, he decided to apply at Chapman College, a small school in Anaheim, California known for its excellent art program. To Ben’s surprise, he got in. Leaving Hawaii for the first time, this marked a major turning point in his life. At first overwhelmed by his new environment, Ben soon found a home with his fellow art students and professors. One of the most significant lessons he learned during his time at Chapman was the importance of finding his own style or “voice.” Technical skills made you a craftsman. To become an artist, he needed to find the essence of who he was as an artist and convey that in his own unique way. Moving back to Hawaii, Ben quickly established his presence in the burgeoning local art scene. He explored different media, teaching himself the rules each one imposed. He liked juxtaposing unlikely elements: charcoal with acrylic and found objects. Japanese precision with off-beat whimsy. Faces painted blue. A horse sculpture fashioned from musical instruments, kitchen utensils, and other found objects. And in recent years, real live human beings, ˜living mannequins” in Kikuyama’s performance installations. “The essence of my art is creating juxtapositions, the unexpected combination of ideas and materials,” he says. “Where do my inspirations come from? I don’t know…anywhere. Garage sales. Something I’ll see in a shop window. A conversation. Stuff I might find on the street. Ninety percent comes out of this weird pocket in my head. I will glimpse something and it will go into my brain, a door opens and this thing comes out.” Ben currently lives and works in Kula, Hawaii. He represented Maui in the 2001 Biennial Exhibition of Hawaii Artists at The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu and was also featured in a Hawaii Public Television segment of Spectrum. Kikuyama’s works are included in many prominent collections, including those of the Stanford Children’s Hospital, the OPI Corporation, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson (developers of The Venetian Hotel), Merrion Oil & Gas Company, the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and the Hawaii State Museum. www.BenKikuyama.com
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habit รก la franรงaise THE FRENCH COATS Styling and Makeup: Dusty James Bolyard and Richard Blayne Walsh Wardrobe: Alonso Martinez Photography: Amity Mason Photography Models: Richard Blayne Walsh and Alonso Martinez Location: Kaupo, Maui, Hawaii
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The rise of Louis XIV
French Coats date from 1600-1800’s Baroque/Rococo The rise of French King Louis XIV and his palace at Versailles signaled the dawn of the Classical Baroque era in Art, Architecture, Music and Fashion. The style is defined by natural, curving silhouettes, flowing lines, gold filigree, rich colors and overall voluptuousness.
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Long Coats Long coats were handmade, lined with fine silks and featured large buttons. Long coats often had braided trim button holds (Brandenburg style) and large folded sleeves. The coats were all things French with fine ribbon and lace, elegant embroidery, rich silks, bright colors, and lots of gold.
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Life or Death With a clearly defined social class structure, clothing became a sign of wealth and status, and one could be murdered for wearing such a lavish coat unless they were nobility. Nobles were also the only ones that could wear jewelry. France would greatly influence popular fashion all over the world for several hundred years.
View more images from this shoot on our website CRE8Magazine.com
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C R E AT E
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La Femme THE WORKS OF
LORI KOPROWSKI
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“Pele’s Itch” oil on canva s 3.5’x 5.5’
“Gues s” oil on wood 12”x 12”
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“Bond” oil on canva s 3.5’ x 5.5’
“Art is about
ADVENTURE
and
RISK which only add to my development no matter where that may be.”
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“Twilite” oil on canva s 4 0”x 30”
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“Pieces” oil on canva s 4 0”x 30”
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“Water- s hallow” oil on wood 1’x 4’
“Water- deep” oil on wood 1’x 4’
“Magma” oil on canva s 4’x 5’
“You may not always see the
FEMALE form,
however its influence and every day life in the islands has allowed me to create this composition.”
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“Cherry (blos som)” oil on wood 12”x 12”
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“Orchard” oil on wood 12”x 12”
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“Relis h” oil on wood 12”x 12”
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“Blu” oil on canva s 4’x 4’
“xo - lucky” oil on canva s 4’x 6’
LORI KOPROWSKI Lori Koprowski grew up in Louisiana at tending Magnet Schools - focusing on the arts and diving competitively, and spending the af ter-school hours around water. She received her BFA in 1991 from Louisiana State University (School of Art and Design) and soon af ter moving back to Maui, Hawaii, having spent a summer/semester there windsurfing and printmaking at the Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center. These experiences furthered her infatuation with island culture and lifestyle. Her travels throughout Asia and living and exhibiting in Australia, Fiji, Louisiana, Los Angeles, New York and Hawaii have influenced Koprowski’s rich contemporary style. Her dynamic original oil paintings depict the exaggerated female form with a mix of representation and abstraction, at times interlocking shapes and form. The addition of but terflies and the circle and xo symbolism (hugs and kisses, yoga balls, and the female anatomy) have become a playful and provocative element in her current work, as well as Hawaii’s mountainous “landscapes” and cloud formations. “You may not always see the female form, however its influence and every day life in the islands has allowed me to create this composition.” She paints with oil paint, oil sticks, brushes and her fingers on canvas, wood, and paper. “Art is about adventure and risk which only add to my development no mat ter where that may be.” Internationally exhibited from New York to Australia and in private and corporate collections around the world, Lori Koprowski resides in Haiku and the upcountry town of Makawao in Maui with her husband Carter and daughters Lola and Olivia. w w w.LoriKoprowski.com
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MOTIVAT E
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THE WORK OF
JEREMY McKANE Inter view by Lani Morris
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B R I G H T O R LU M I N O U S, S H I N I N G This definition of lucid can also be used to describe the feelings conveyed when experiencing the photographic work of Jeremy McKane. Suspended in water and surrounded by the beauty and grace of his subjects, you can find him creating dynamic scenes below the surface that have a fascinating and dreamy quality. From the deep blue Pacific Ocean which surrounds our Hawaiian Islands, to a private island near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and beyond, the ocean and its conservation is Jeremy’s passion. We had the great pleasure of meeting Jeremy through a mutual friend and creative here on Maui, and are so inspired by his work and message that we simply had to share it with you. It is such a gift to meet someone so incredibly creative and talented, and who also feels a personal responsibility to educate others and help create change for the better. While catching up with Jeremy for this article, our conversation was initially centered around his images, but it always came back to ocean conservation, his mission, and how important the ocean is to all of our lives. The image of the man with the violin, for example; Jeremy explained: “He is a representation of who we are as humans. I’m bringing a piece of our culture and creativity to the ocean where other intelligent life forms exist. It’s a story concept, much like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, except that we need each other to share our planet. The oceans are so valuable to the ecosystems and to our lives, as well as those that live within them. In each set of images you will find something that pushes the mind to connect to clean water. I want to tell this story without depressing imagery, making the point by positive energy as opposed to negative.” All of Jeremy’s experiences and work are tied into his exciting new interactive digital art project installation titled “LUCiD” which is an interesting concept using special technology to analyze a person’s brain waves while viewing his underwater work. Ultimately, he hopes to better understand the power we have as human beings when we focus collectively on a subject, more specifically, Jeremy’s vision of helping to save the oceans with his work. This amazing project will be shot in the magical waters just off of Maui, where there is excellent clarity as well as an abundance of wildlife. You can learn more about Jeremy’s LUCiD project in his upcoming Kickstarter campaign. He is also diligently working with several groups to remove plastic debris from our oceans, and ultimately plans to convert ocean trash into useable goods. We are so excited and happy for Jeremy, and look forward to checking out and supporting all of his current and future projects.
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Jeremy McKane Artist • Dallas Texas
I’m an artist from Texas, my medium is underwater photography / videography. My work takes on 2 forms; that of still framed limited edition fine art photography, and large scale underwater digital projection which is often public and seen on large buildings. I wasn’t always an artist, I spent the beginning part of my life in the tech industry. I worked for a company that in a short period of time became the worlds largest web host. After spending time in that world and selling off my business I decided to create career suicide and become an artist. I just did landscapes in the beginning. I’d take my motorcycle out west with my dad and photograph the West Texas sky. It was nice but there was something else out there and I just didn’t know what. That’s when a friend of mine asked me to shoot a fashion show. It was my first runway show and I was nervous because he said there were other photographers. When I got there, I was the only one. I thought it was great but felt runway photography was boring and that I might be able to offer another alternative. At first the designers I talked to were a bit apprehensive of the idea because very few people at the time were doing it. Elisa Jimenez had just won Project Runway, and a friend of mine Gia Madrini reached out to her and got me a dress. I had met another model in one of my fashion editorial shoots for a local magazine. She was keen on modeling this dress underwater. She later went on to America’s Next Top Model. Her name is Kyle Gober. I just kept changing things up to the point that I just kept trying new things and pushing the envelope of what I thought might be possible.
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What’s your favorite piece of work that you have created? I don’t really have any favorites per say. I do have a favorite shoot. I frequent a private island on the Great Barrier Reef between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and the first time I was there I met this lovely lady, Mell Thompson, who really got me into the island life. Some might call it the simple life. We were all gathered for dinner and she found out through my mate I was an artist specializing in underwater fashion. She said “It’s too bad you leave in the morning, I’ve always wanted to shoot yoga poses underwater.” I had a little wine in me and said that we had plenty of water and I had lights, let’s do it now. Well as most things happen when you have already been drinking, they don’t work out as planned. I couldn’t get my strobes to work. So I used the sand as a reflector and illuminated the sand with my focus lights. Granted it’s not at all what I wanted for my lights but I knew something magical would happen. To this day I think of that shoot and how dreamlike it all felt. Then the wine must have wore off because I remember asking Mell who was modeling for me,“Wait, are there sharks still in this water?” and in typical Australian fashion she replied: “Oh yeah mate, heaps. you’ll be right.” Sure… The next morning I was trying to get my gear on to the boat so I could catch the plane on the adjacent island’s airstrip. The tide had come in, so I stripped my bottoms off and made it to the boat in my undies. As I took off I looked through my images, and I couldn’t believe what I saw. It was breathtaking and mostly just to me because I knew it wasn’t a dream. It all really happened. It was this shoot that started me thinking about the balance of the human factor in our environment and this underwater yoga concept made it look as if we were no different than the animals that reside within. It was our own version of appreciation for this beautiful mass that covers 70% of our Planet Ocean.
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What are you working on at the moment? I have a new installation that I’m doing called LUCiD. It’s very similar to my digital projection installations in public places. The difference is that the user controls this with their thoughts. I’ve partnered with a friend named Aliaksai Rubanau from the Ukraine. We have joined forces to use Wireless EEG readers to analyze brain activity and process what the user is experiencing. If a user is able to meditate while watching, they literally control the show simply with thought. If they are unable to keep in constant meditation then the video will go back to some ambient state. The message is clear, we have destroyed our oceans and we have the possibility to clean them up by a number of initiatives that I am announcing on my KickStarter. We have already made enough plastic and we should be able to harvest the plastic in the oceans to make the products we need. The first and biggest obstacle is getting people to care. If a person can hold a meditation they will see a harmonious balance between what man loves and what animals are believed to enjoy. One is with music. In one image you see a man performing underwater with a violin to play for the inhabitants of planet ocean. In another you see humpback whales singing in harmony while beautiful human forms dance to the music. Then, driving home the idea that what we have is something very special and something that can go away. If it does, then we all die. Of course I want to keep it on the positive, I’m tired of seeing negative imagery hoping for positive outcome. I honestly think that if done correctly we can reverse the plastic pollution problem in our oceans over a period of decades.
What are your goals for the future, both work wise and in life? I have some ideas for new work, both fine art and projection based public art. I really want to be able to help create awareness and clean up our oceans. I think in Hawaii it’s well known how bad the problem is. Those not living around the water are aware of the issue but it’s not a priority. I want to work with a gallery that will allow me to work from any part of the planet.
What are you doing when you’re not creating? What (other) hobbies do you have? I practice balance of life. I realize that sometimes life isn’t always about business. I was on Maui recently and I just decided that I was going to sleep under a tree because I had been working too much. So I did. All day. When I’m at home I try to keep detached from things that can easily distract me. I have two daughters that I’m responsible for bringing up. I teach them everything I can because I want them to be grown adults who make their own decisions. I read the Bible to them, I teach them about history, about other cultures and things that I think they will need to know as they grow up. I’m also always trying to find ways to better myself. A couple years back, I took flight lessons. I still have a few things I need to accomplish before I can tell you I’m a pilot but I really enjoy the freedom of grabbing the keys to an airplane and flying wherever I want. I love scuba diving, surfing… just about anything to do with the water. :) I love to travel. I’ve travelled all over Australia with the exception of anything in WA. It’s like a giant island the size of Texas so that’s pretty awesome.
What would people be surprised to learn about you? I don’t think I’m that interesting. Maybe that I really do live quite simply. I like nice things but I dont feel attached to any of them. Perhaps it’s one of the reasons I like visiting my friend’s island. Wake up with the sun, fall asleep to the sun setting, fish only what you need for that day, enjoy... Repeat. What else is there? It’s how we were meant to be. I love DUB SMASH btw.
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Where else do you sell your work? I’ve been selling directly over Instagram. That’s been all halted at the moment as I’m actively pursuing relationships with galleries in multiple markets. I might sneak one for sale in the meantime. :) You can catch me on Periscope often talking about new ideas and linking people around the world to common goals. My periscope is @mckaneorg.
Where else can we find you? I’m systematically pulling things offline. I don’t think people appreciate the work as much when they see it online first so I figured I’ll give them a good reason to come to the gallery. As of now I have a website you can contact me through, but if any images are posted it’s all on Instagram and you can find me at @jeremymckane. Second to that you can find me on facebook at www.facebook.com/underwaterfashion
What else should we know about you and your work? My fine art prints are 72x48 on aluminum and others available are 36x24. I wanted a way to show the work that wasn’t typical photography framing. So I made my first pieces on aluminum and I made it my trademark. My next work (LUCiD) is making the idea of stopping to appreciate art a VERY literal act.
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Do you have any tips or inspiring words for others? Yeah don’t get hung up on ideas and egos. You can’t cash those in any bank I know of. People get paid for execution. I could think about shooting underwater all my life, but unless you do it, no one knows. A big ego just keeps you from growing. I know proclaimed artists in their 50’s that have such big egos, they are holding themselves back from doing any good in this world.
Do you admire any artists / photographers? (Famous or not!) Yeah I think David LaChapelle is someone I’d love to have lunch with. I’ve always been a fan of his work. Salvador Dali because he always pushed the envelope and made you think. Took things out of the norm to make a point. I think my role as an artist is to bring something to the forefront of your mind when you have possibly tucked it away. On the fashion side, Jean Paul Gaultier because I feel he makes wearable art. There is no end to his talent. Favorite Director would be Luc Besson.
What is your favorite… Color: Blue Animal: Whale Season: Summer Movie: The Fifth Element / Brainstorm (1983) / Ferris Buellers Day Off / Joe Dirt Book: I have many but most recent.. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
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“1972”
IN S IDE THE MIND OF
LYNETTE
PRADIGA Mixed Media Artist
“If you were a Carpenter, and I was a Lady”
how to
SING to your bird
FREE
heart fund
wonderful
POWERFUL
univ
rsal
HOW TO
photo YOUR CAT
above
all else I II &
“How to wax your mustache”
LYNETTE PRADIGA I have always yearned to live an artist’s life. Living here on Maui with my sweet husband Eric and our 25 -pound Maine Coon kit ty is bet ter than I could have dreamt. Since childhood, home has meant some variation of “Open Studio.” As the daughter of an artist surrounded by artists, musicians, activists and other colorful people, I spent part of my early years in a nudist colony on the banks of the Navarro River in Mendocino, California. Soon enough, and due to Early Onset Adulthood at 16, I began to work at what would become a virtual cornucopia of jobs including commercial fishing, banking, telephone operating, waitressing, sales rep, dancing and president of my own corporation. This life experience has given me a somewhat quixotic life view, which I hope translates as a kind of intrigue, or at least, ordered chaos in my art. I am passionate about color, experimentation, texture, open-hearted-ness and irony. What I love the most is being free to make mistakes. I’m a breaker of rules, taker of risks… you know, a self-taught artist. I love all kinds of paint and pigments and go through phases working with dif ferent techniques and mediums. These last few years, I have been enjoying using encaustics. Hot wax, Damar (tree) resin, pigment and extreme heat. …YES ! There’s a blow torch involved ! My latest work has included collage, wood burning, much layering with paint and vintage snippets from 50’s, 60’s and 70’s pulp magazines, and my own colored pencil images with and without encaustic medium on top. I’m pushing myself to be courageous and unafraid of covering and uncovering images to achieve an organic piece of art PACKED with energy and fun surprises for those who will stand still long enough to find them. I am also always adding to my line of Functional Art. I make many household items from my original images, resulting in some exuberant pillows, shower curtains, coasters, and more. w w w.Lynet tePradiga.com w w w.facebook.com/MixedMediaArtistLynet tePradiga
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Maui Beans GROWING A LEGACY STORY BY: LARISSA TREESE & KRYSTLE ALCAIN PHOTOS BY AMITY MASON
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The rich aroma of a freshly brewed pot of coffee can wake even the deepest slumberer lost in a dream. Hot and steamy, poured over ice, or flavored with scents of vanilla or hazelnut, a good cup of joe can easily be credited as the “fuel” that powers the to-do list of over half of the American population. It’s estimated that over 2.25 billion cups are poured each day, and it’s easy to take for granted. A true coffee connoisseur knows, however, that the key to the perfect cup of coffee is really in the long journey it takes for the little beans to make it from the tree, ultimately, into your mug. Perched on the fertile slopes of Haleakala on Maui is a small family-owned coffee farm. Melinda Leix inherited the 2.5 -acre plot in 1986 and began planting coffee trees with the help of her husband Carl. Four years later, the land that was once covered with kiawe and cactus was transformed into a coffee farm under the name of Kula Estate Coffee. For sixteen years, they sold coffee to the Maui community and enjoyed raising their family on the farm, but when it was time to retire, the couple decided to move to Georgia where they were expecting a new grandchild. With no one to take over the farm at the time, the family leased the land to other farmers. The fields were left untended, the trees were overgrown, and the building structures that were built by Carl were falling apart. Heartbroken and overwhelmed with the amount of work it would require to revitalize and maintain the property, Melinda came to the difficult conclusion that she would have to let go of the farmland that was passed down to her over five generations.
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“It was my grandma who taught me about growing things and taking care of plants - that’s what really stuck with me”
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Brandon Kaipalaoa Martin
Stories of the farm spread to Melinda’s grandson, B ra n d o n Ka i p a l a o a M a r t i n . Re c a l l i n g fo n d memories of visiting his grandparents as a kid, he and his girlfriend Lily Solano decided to take over operations to save the farm from being sold. In 2014, as recent graduates from the University of Hawaii, Brandon and Lily moved to Maui and had to learn the steps of coffee farming as they went. The dedicated duo would prune a handful of trees each day af ter working their full-time jobs to get the trees back into fruit yielding condition. Now walking through the property lined with almost 40 0 coffee trees, it’s hard to believe that the orchards were ever overgrown. “It wa s my grandma who taught me about growing things and taking care of plants - that’s what really stuck with me,” says Brandon. He saw how they cared for the coffee trees, tended to the pigs, and harvested their own vegetables from their garden. His grandparents were independent and lived off the land, a way of life that Brandon and Lily sought to adapt and improve upon. Their mission to revitalize the Kula Estate Coffee brand involves embracing sustainable and organic farming practices starting, quite literally, from the ground up. As Brandon explains, the coffee trees (Kona typica) feed off everything on the ground. Pruning the trees and allowing the trimmings to fall (a.k.a. “chop and drop”) creates a layer of humus, a rich organic layer of decomposing leaves and organic matter that retains moisture and provides nutrients to the trees. Organic fertilizers, compost that is made on-site with donated fish scraps from Maui Ocean Center, wood chips leftover from tree trimming companies used for mulch, and repurposed burlap bags for weed mats are just a few ways the young farmers are doing their part to enliven the farm in a sustainable way. Farming in this way, unlike conventional farming, actually “brings life back into the soil” and in the long term increases production over many years.
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Brandon, Lily and Eli
Roaster, Paul Cormaci
Tedious steps are taken when it’s harvesting season. Popularly known as a coffee “bean,” they are truly seeds of the berry. Each berry must be individually hand-picked when they turn from green to brilliant red. Then they are washed, dried and milled. Paul Cormaci, Kula Coffee Farm’s roaster, says roasting takes only 20 minutes per batch, but don’t wait a minute longer; there’s a thin line between medium and dark roast and an even thinner line between ruining an entire batch of coffee altogether. The final process is hand stamping the coffee bags with the Kula Estate Coffee logo and filling them - the bags are 10 0 % compostable too ! As the youngest coffee farmers on the island, Brandon and Lily have been welcomed with enthusiasm by the community and other coffee farmers on Maui for the care they’ve put into cultivating the land organically and sustainably. Coffee can help us get through a long day, or night. But the next chance you get to enjoy hot coffee, take a moment to wrap both hands around the cup and savor the rich aroma before you take a sip. Knowing where it came from and the entire process it took to get to you will make you appreciate it that much more. 97
www.KulaEstateCoffee.com
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Fun Facts about
Coffee Coffee is best 5-10 days after roasted. Coffee is the 2nd most traded commodity…after oil In Ethiopia, goat farmers saw the goats eating the berries and getting energized and that’s how coffee was discovered! The modern version of roasted coffee originated in Arabia during the 13th century. It was finally introduced to America in the 18th century, although it didn’t become popular until the Boston Tea Party in 1773… then it became something of a patriotic duty to switch from tea to coffee.
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