WOW- Holiday Decorations made from Natural Materials

Reduce your holiday waste!

This month Instructor Malia Lagaso shared with us how to create holiday decorations and gifts from natural materials like leaves, twigs, and berries. We had fun making wreaths, ornaments, and more for the holidays!

Mahalo Malia for sharing these fun and beautiful decorations!

WOW- Making Earth Ovens Workshop

Earth ovens are a simple and natural way to cook food using what may already be available in your backyard. This month we were so lucky to have Uncle Eric Enos share with us the basics of building with earth at the Cultural Learning Center at Kaʻala on November 5, 2011. People all over the world use earth to build houses, walls, and ovens. 

 During the workshop we constructed the base of an earth oven that can be used to cook breads, pizzas and all sorts of deliciousness!! First, we lifted heavy rocks and created the base of the oven. We insulated the inside of the base with layers; rock and soil, cinders, glass bottles, sawdust, a slurry of water and cinders and dirt, and more cinders. With our hands and feet in the mud, we learned to mix and create basic cob; three parts cinders to one part clay and a few handfuls of hay. Then we carefully leveled out the top and placed firebricks, which will be the oven floor when we finish building the oven.

Last, we had a delicious surprise lunch cooked in an imu, a perfect ending to a fantastic workshop. We can't wait to come back and finish the top part of the oven!!

Mahalo Uncle Eric and the Cultural Learning Center at Ka’ala for sharing so much useful knowledge and yummy food!!

Introduction to Aquaponics

"Introduction to Aquaponics" at Opelu Project on October 1st. We discussed new findings in aquaponics and Eric Enos of Ka'ala Farms and Charlie Palumbo of Aquapono introduced participants to the many different ways to set up a backyard aquaponics system.









"Introduction to Aquaponics" at Opelu Project on October 1st. We discussed new findings in aquaponics and Eric Enos of Ka'ala Farms and Charlie Palumbo of Aquapono introduced participants to the many different ways to set up a backyard aquaponics system.

WOW- Lauhala Weaving Workshop

This month, on September 10, 2011, we were so fortunate to have Kumu Umi Kai present a hands-on workshop about the basics of weaving lauhala. We had a great time learning about hala; what a hala tree looks like, how and when to collect the lau, and then we got weaving!

Mahalo Umi for the knowledge to create simple lauhala  pieces of art, stars bracelets and even a rose.  Also, mahalo to our volunteers Asia, Natalie, and Chelsey, who are always such a great help.

WOW- Natural Dye Workshop

Ms. Bernice Akamine presented a hands-on workshop on August 6, 2011 about the Hawaiian plants and naturalized plant species that may be used in making beautiful dye colors.  We made beautiful purples from java berry and haha and yellow from ma'o hau hele. Bernice even taught us about using indigo from the plant to beautiful blue dye!

  

Mahalo Bernice for sharing your mana'o.