More Fun with Natural Dyes

Continuing on the theme of using natural dyes, this week's Makeke Kapolei featured dyes made of native and Polynesian-introduced plants.  For example. 'uki 'uki made a soft blue and 'olena made a bright yellow. We dyed t-shirts and other fabrics with these easy-to-make dyes, free of synthetic chemicals. If you want to learn how, feel free to ask us!

We've got a new video!

Here's a short video about Makeke Kapolei made by students at Kapolei High School's video production class taught by Victor Salazar. It features our market manager, Sayo Costantino, and others. Hope you like it!

http://youtu.be/IXZ0Fm3xMyU

It's almost Easter and time for natural eggs!

Today, thanks to the hands of many, we had a fun activity for kids and kids at heart. We dyed Easter eggs with natural dyes.  Blueberries, turmeric ('olena), hibiscus, and coffee were just some of the dyes we used.  Aren't these au naturale eggs beautiful?

Hula and aloha at Makeke Kapolei

Mahalo to the students of Halau O Ka'ululaua'e for performing at Makeke Kapolei!  We love seeing you perform to share your aloha with all of our customers.

Special thanks go to Kumu Mikiala Kanekoa for preparing her students so well!

Makeke Kapolei . . . where you'll always find smiling faces!

We just want to feature three of our cheery volunteers who come every week to spread their warm smiles and kind hearts.  Mahalo to Bella, Tiana, and Jewel for making everyday so bright at Makeke Kapolei.

Fresh kalo for sale!

We just had to show these freshly picked kalo (taro) corms grown by Kahumana Farms. These organically grown beauties will make some delicious poi or table taro, or whatever you want to make with them.  Yum!

Bonfire Pizza is the Bomb!

We're so happy to welcome Bonfire Pizza Company to Makeke Kapolei!  You know they're in town when you smell their freshly baked pizzas in their brick oven, which is brought direct to the market.

Their delicious pizzas are reasonably priced and super delicious. Just ask this little guy!

Ku'i Kalo Videos

Here are two videos of Anthony Deluze and his kalo demonstration at Makeke Kapolei (last October). His pa'i'ai was so 'ono!  Can't wait to have him back at the Makeke!

Learn to Carve Stone at the Makeke

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.

Let's BOKASHI!

Don't let your food scraps go to waste!  Turn it into a great soil conditioner fast and easy!  Made of natural ingredients with care and aloha by members of the Hawai'i Green Collar Institute, we are selling bokashi in quantities of  32oz ($5) and 64 oz ($8).  Larger quantities can be made available by special order.  

Using bokashi is really simple and we can teach you how. It takes only a few weeks to ferment and break down in the soil, and your plants will love it!

Come by Malama Learning Center's booth at Makeke Kapolei to check it out!

Kahumana's Got Organic Produce!

Welcome back, Kahumana Farm, to Makeke Kapolei!  We were so happy to see you with a wide variety of organically grown vegetables from the fertile soil of Lualualei Valley in Wai'anae. And those fresh eggs were gorgeous!

Lei Making Made Easy

Mahalo nui loa to Tevi Tolentino for making lei wili so easy to learn!  He brought beautiful clippings of ferns, juniper, and flowers from his home and taught our customers how to make wristlets and hair decorations. As they say, "so u'i (beautiful)!"

We hope you were able to join us for this free event made possible by a grant from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

 

Learn to make lei wili

We are pleased to welcome Tevi Tolentino to the market on January 4 from 4 – 6 p.m. to demonstrate the art of lei wili (a style of lei making). Here's a bit about Tevi and how lei making has changed his life:


"At a young age I remember my tutu calling my sister and I to sit at the table with all the aunties to wili (a style of lei making), and she wouldn't let us leave the table until we finished.  Thats pretty much how it all began, but back then I didn't I realize it would be such a important part of my life on so many levels.   Although  I was exposed at a young age to lei making, I really didn't become immersed in the art until I started to dance hula, and it was that point that I had learned many things about my culture, and myself as a Hawaiian. I got to learn more as I mingled along side to the likings of Ainsley Halemanu, Randy Akau, Kamuela Kepo'o, Gina Gingao, Bill Char, and many more. Today, I work with many hula halau, pa'u units, florists, and private events as well.  I can remember my tutu telling me that making a lei is an extension of yourself, so the importance of being in a pono (of good or correct) state of mind was essential because the recipient could feel if it came from the heart or not - I could also remember that being so deep for me to understand at the age. Finally, I can say that its therapuetic value has been a source great healing, and I would recommend everyone to learn just for that reason alone."

This event is FREE and FAMILY-friendly, thanks to funding support from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (administered by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

Decorating with nature's beauties

We brought our popular "making natural holiday decorations" workshop to Makeke Kapolei on Thursday, December 13. Crafter and educator extraordinaire, Malia Lagaso, taught students and shoppers how to make simple to elegant decorations made out of things right from nature. Everyone got to make something special and take what they learned to inspire others. By using nature's materials, we can reduce waste and recycle materials that are safe for the environment.

Mahalo nui loa to Malia, the Hawaiian Electric Company, and the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center for making this program possible.

What can you do with cordage?

We had a great time with Mahi La Pierre, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner who makes tools and other implements. Many of the tools made use of cordage made in a variety of ways. Mahi taught many students who visited our booth from a Wai'anae after school program, as well as curious shoppers.

Mahalo nui loa to Mahi, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and Queen Lili'uokalani Childrens Center for assisting with this program made available free of charge.

Meet farmer Alice

Makeke Kapolei is happy to welcome Alice to our market. She brings farm-fresh produce that she grows herself at her farm in Wai'anae. And she follows organic principles, which makes so many people (and her plants) so happy!  Isn't her booth beautiful?  Please stop by and give her produce a try!

Make Natural Holiday Decorations at the Makeke

It's that time of the year when we get extra festive and sometimes extra wasteful. How about having nature provide all the materials you need for your holiday decorations and wrapping?

Come to Makeke Kapolei on Thursday, December 13, 4-6 pm for a special activity led by educator Malia Lagaso. She and her family have made it a tradition to make natural decorations out of nature's wonders.

This free hands-on presentation is made possible by donations from the Hawaiian Electric Company and the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center.

Live Christmas Trees for Sale

You've probably heard about the problems caused by importing Christmas trees . . . the slugs, insects, and now . . . frogs that are hitchhiking on the trees are not good for Hawaii's environment. A great alternative is to have a real tree that is grown in Hawai`i (and still growing)!

Buy your tree at Makeke Kapolei and use it year after year.  Trees available are 1' - 3' tall and cost only $7 - $12.  What a bargain that's good for the environment, too!

(These trees are available only during December.)

We're Closed One Day a Year . . .

  . . . and it's for Thanksgiving (November 22). Please enjoy your day of thanks with your 'ohana. We'll see you next week!

Learn to Make Braided Cordage

Join us on Thursday, December 6 (4-6 pm) to learn how to make braided or twisted cordage.  Cordage and rope was essential in almost every aspect of Hawaiian life. Come talk story with native Hawaiian artist Mahi La Pierre, try your hand at making cordage and see some modern versions of these items up close and personal.

This activity is free and family-friendly. It is made possible by a grant from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, administered by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.