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.

Making Ipu Pawehe

We were delighted to have Dalani Tanahy of Makaha come to Makeke Kapolei on November 1 to share her expertise on making ipu pawehe, or decorated gourds.  Dalani is a well-known Hawaiian artist who specializes in kapa (barkcloth) making as well as ipu pawehe. (She's also an awesome surfer!)  Mahalo nui loa to Dalani and to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement for making this Hawaiian cultural activity possible.

Gourds have many uses as vessels to carry things as well as decorative items.

Our customers tried their hand at decorating a gourd, which takes precision and patience. 

To make the final product, the gourd is filled with mud so that the color from the inside emerges on the outside. Isn't that so cool?