We will feature kalai pōhaku, stone-on-stone carving, by Pokiʻi Magallanes of Waiʻanae. This cultural practice is used to create a variety of Hawaiian tools and art. Come on down to watch Pokiʻi in action and even try your hand at carving.
(photo courtesy of Hawaiialive.org)
The event will be on Thursday, Feb 7, 4-6 pm and is FREE and FAMILY-friendly, thanks to funding support from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority administered by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. This is our last event under this grant so please don't miss it!
A bit of background on our cultural practitioner:
Elton Magallanes, known to many as Poki`i, was born on August 19,1975 in Honolulu. Poki`i is the son of Kenneth and Yvonne Magallanes, great grandson of William Humehume Kaniho and descendant of the Holoa`e priesthood.
Poki`i was raised in Wai`anae, O`ahu. As a child he was blessed with an innate talent of being artistically inclined. From grade school to high school, he received numerous art awards at different mediums, ranging from acrylic and oil painting to photography and sculpting.
At the age of twenty, after surviving a few hurdles, Poki`i made a choice to immerse himself into his Hawaiian cultural self-identity. He studied `oli (Hawaiian chant and protocol) under the late Kumu John Keola Lake. Along his new path he discovered a hidden talent to carve wood and stone.
In 1999, Poki`i began his training in the disciplines, principles, and philosophies of Lua (Hawaiian martial arts) under `olohe Jonah Ke`eaumoku Kapu of Na Koa Kau I Ka Meheu O Na Kupuna. Since then, Poki`i took a new interest in weapon making. Another student of this class was master artisan Hanale Kila Hopfe. Hanale took Poki`i under his wing as his apprentice carver.
As an apprentice carver under Hanale, Poki`i’s skills grew as a young up and coming artist. In 2004, Poki`i was a featured artist at the Mamo Art Festival and was also recognized by the Pa`i Foundation as a Hawaiian artist. Poki`i has been involved with many art events and hosted numerous implement making workshops.
Today Poki`i works as an educator at ALU LIKE, Inc., he is a co-founder of Ka Lima O Punana`ula, he is a Kumu Ha`a (Hawaiian `ai ha`a instructor) of Mua O Ule Hawa, and the Wai`anae Regional Representative of the O`ahu Island Burial Council.
Poki`i continues to expand his talents of carving as a freelance artist and is on a personal mission to preserve and instill the next generations with traditional cultural values and positive labor practices.
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