Holiday Crafts Using Natural Materials

Malia Lagaso, a local educator in the early childhood education community, taught this eye-opening workshop that helped participants learn how to reduce holiday waste by creating decorations and gifts from natural materials.  They made mini wreaths, ornaments, and more from materials gathered from backyards and side streets. Malia's mother, two sisters and many other extended family members share a great love for working with their hands to create crafts that showcase the use of natural materials in unusual and creative ways. 

Weaving Lei Using Gathered Plants, November 6, 2010

Experienced practitioner, Leandra Wai with the Cultural Learning Center at Ka‘ala, led this session and shared her mana‘o of how to incorporate many different kinds of plants, native and non-native, into lei making. Each participant learned how to "take their garden for a walk" by creatively weaving plants from their home areas into beautiful creations.  They also learned how to use laua‘e to make a fragrant and stunning lei.  Everyone came out of the workshop with a greater respect and appreciation not only for the art of lei weaving, but for the everyday plants surrounding them.

Conserving Water at Home: Rain Barrels and Other Tips, October 2, 2010

Carolyn Sawai and Amy Tsuneyoshi of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply taught families how to create their own rain barrel catchment system for their homes.  An estimated 50% of a household's water consumption is used outdoors, so families were able to learn how to save water and save money on their water bill!  Carolyn and Amy explained how a rain barrel system should be customized to each home.  They brought examples of how to create a siphon system to use more than one barrel.  After the workshop participants picked up their own 53 gal rain barrel!

Making the Hawaiian Instrument Ipu hō‘ki‘oki‘o (gourd whistle), September 4, 2010

Mahi La Pierre, an artist, educator and conservationist, led this very hands-on session where participants learned how to fashion a traditional, Hawaiian instrument, the ipu hōki‘oki‘o (gourd whistle). Only reaching 2 to 3 inches in height, the ipu hōki‘oki‘o are delicate instruments that make an enchanting sound. Mahi explained the history of this instrument and demonstrated playing techniques. At the end of the session, everyone took home a decorated gourd whistle practicing a tune along the way home.

Making Preserves from Local Fruits and Vegetables, August 7, 2010

May Hasegawa, long time cook and expert gardener, shared simple recipes that her family has used for generations making good use of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Using  mangoes picked from her friend’s backyard, May made delicious mango-pineapple jam, and using daikon (Oriental radish), she demonstrated making pickled daikon with umeboshi (salted plum). She also shared stories of growing up just outside of Hilo, Hawai‘i. One story in particular mesmerized the group – surviving the tsunami (tidal wave) with a newborn baby!

Making Natural Dyes from Traditional Hawaiian Plants, July 10, 2010

As a follow-up to the previous workshop on kapa making, Bernice Akamine, a native Hawaiian artist, explained how native and naturalized Hawaiian plants have been used in dye-making. After a quick introduction to the concept of dye-making, Bernice had the class busy working in groups to prepare dyes from different plants:  ma‘o hau hele, kūkaenēnē, Delissea, ‘ākala and African Tulip. Everyone went home with sample strips of dyed cloth. What a fun day!

Introduction to the Art of Kapa Making, June 5, 2010

Ka‘iulani de Silva, a contemporary kapa maker, opened a new world of appreciation for the art of kapa. Kapa was an integral part of every part of life in ancient Hawai‘i, for birth, marriage, daily apparel, and burial. Ka‘iulani masterfully spoke of the plants, tools, and history of kappa making. Then everyone got their hands busy by stripping the wauke plants for the fiber, beating the fiber, and using ‘ohe kāpala (stamps) for decoration. Mahalo nui loa to Ka‘iulani for this inspiring workshop.