*This story was originally published on Mar. 17, 2020. It is another warm Saturday morning in downtown Honolulu. Gentle streams of light pour through the windows of ‘Iolani Palace’s former archives building and into the cool, air-conditioned room. Dozens of women are busily setting up space amongst the tables and chairs, arms full of […]
While attending the famed Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona Weaving Conference nearly a decade ago, weaver Kā‘eo Izon realized his kuleana (responsibility). The weaving club president asked his then 12-year-old protege, Kaha‘i Chan, to stand and be recognized. The crowd acknowledged her presence as a poignant first: Chan was among the youngest participants to ever attend
While the action onstage at the Merrie Monarch Festival is revered as a visual masterpiece, the experience is a truly immersive one. Close your eyes for even a moment on ʻauana night in the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium and youʻll smell palapalai and pua mēlia (plumeria); you’ll feel the movement of fierce hula steps; and you’ll
We chat with former Miss Aloha Hulas Natalie Ai Kamauʻu (1990), TeHani Gonzado (2000), Malia Petersen Arakaki (2002), Māhealani Mika Hirao-Solem (2010) and Manalani (English) Souza (2013) as the 2021 Merrie Monarch Festival competition airs today through Sunday. When the 2020 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival was officially canceled last March, the impact on the
When I first met Simply Sisters’ owner and designer, Regina “Lola” Miller in 2014 at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, we instantly bonded over our shared love of hula, the festival and supporting Hawaiʻi’s thriving creative community. It was Merrie Monarch, after all, and I was making the craft fair rounds for all my Hawaiian
On a crisp Saturday morning, people begin arriving to rural Pukalani for the weekly open-air Upcountry Farmers Market. Here, rain showers often yield morning rainbows, adding to the breathtaking view that spans lush Haleakalā and the serene Maui coastline. Family and community are central to this market, with children proudly manning stalls alongside their parents and greeting
Island-born locals like Alana Kysar know all too well how homesickness can tug on the heartstrings when they move away, but a comforting dish of mochiko chicken can often soothe the ache. What began as a means of easing homesickness for the Maui native and her Oahu-born boyfriend became a journey into the world of
There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh island pineapple here in Hawaii, and on the Valley Isle one brand reigns supreme: Maui Gold. Previously hailed as the largest pineapple grower in Hawaii, longtime farm company Maui Land & Pineapple closed its doors in 2009 after 97 years. But rather than see their prized pineapples
Island-born locals like Alana Kysar know all too well how homesickness can tug on the heartstrings when they move away from home, but a comforting dish of mochiko chicken can often soothe the ache. The Maui native grew up in the kitchen with her parents, learning to cook and bake from her mother and channeling
While leaving Costco one day in October 2016, Mitzi Toro looked down at her phone to see her website had crashed and her Instagram account was flooded with hundreds of messages—all because of a personal Instagram endorsement by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on one of his buzzworthy “cheat days.” “This is 16 ounces of handmade, hand
After the birth of her first son, Kaiea, Amber Thibaut set aside her career to dedicate herself wholly to her baby. Or so she thought. Inspired by the unparalleled bond of motherhood, she began dreaming of outlets to express her creativity, wrestling with the desire to fulfill both her role as a mother as well
In the era of modern hula, organized competitions such as the Merrie Monarch Festival have increasingly become the standard by which the reputation of halau hula (hula schools) are measured. After all, the spirit of competition is one that inherently encourages passion, unity and ingenuity. But 40 years after the first dancer graced its stage,
