A Birthday Gift for Mom

On my birthday last week, my son sent me a copy of a paper he wrote for one of his classes:

In every person’s life, there is someone who is a huge influence in their character and

personality. A person can have a positive influence on another, changing their lifestyle or

changing their life. This positive influence can be anyone, a teacher, a parent, a grandparent, a

friend, or someone on TV. A positive influence is someone who influences your behavior in a

positive way. A good influence can change your life and help you become a better person. For

me the most positive influence in my life is my mother.

My mother always had a positive influence on me throughout my entire life. She is the

one that made me who I am today. My mother’s name is Gayle Miyaguchi and was born and

raised on the island of Maui. Growing up my mother was very hard working, making a living

on my grandfather’s farm. Nothing in her life came easy which made her very independent;

she had to work hard in order to get what she wanted.

While attending college at the University of Hawaii my mother got pregnant with my

older brother and decided to put her education on hold. Four years later I was born and she

decided to once again put her education on hold. As a single parent my mother needed to take

care of two boys. She raised two boys all by herself and still was able to manage a job in order

to feed us. Growing up I watched my mom struggle to take care of us, we didn’t have much

money and we lived on my grandfather’s farm. As little kids my brother and I always had

something to do, although we didn’t have money, we lived happy lives. My mother would

always make time for my brother and me raising us to be hard workers. As I got older I

watched my mom change her life as well as mine. My mom wanted a better life for us and she

wanted to put us through college to get the education she never got to finish. Some years later

my mother decided to open her own business realizing her personal potential. I watched my

mom put together her own business and make her business a success. She had put together her

own hula supply shop, called Na Kani O Hula. At first business was slow, but with hard

work and help from my brother and me Na Kani O Hula become more popular. Several years

later my mother was able to buy our own house and we were living a life we never could

before. Her business kept growing and she was now able to put me through school.

For so long I observed my mother’s behaviors and personality, watching how she lives

life. Just from natural observation my mother has influenced my life in every way. All her

personality traits I want for myself, I’m influenced by her optimistic view on life and her hard

working character.

If not for my mother my life would not be the same, nor would I be the person I am

today. My behavior, personality, and character reflects my mother, she is the most positive

influence in my life. I am so proud of my mom that she was able to accomplish what she

always wanted to do, giving me an education. I have such a strong mind set to finish school

only because I got my mother’s positive influence to help me.

In the future I hope to pass on my character, behaviors, and personality to my children

becoming the positive influence in their lives.

I have to admit, my boys turned out all right ;)

Byebye Brown-one

Remember those baby chicks the neighborhood girls brought over?
The Brown-one grew into a handsome rooster. Very tame with lots of personality....so sassy. Only problem is his habit of crowing at 4:30 every morning right outside the window!! (oh, the other problem is he likes to pick fights with Koa, our old rottweiler.....if he only knew he would be dog food if Koa wasn't so nice!)
Well, Brown-one is going to go live up the road at Uncle Reggie's house with all the other roosters. Then we can enjoy his singing from afar and maybe he'll even find a girlfriend there.

Lauhala 'uli'uli kit

Due to popular demand, we have put together this style 'uli'uli kit. It includes photographic instructions and everything needed to make a single traditional 'uli'uli with lauhala handle.
For more information, click here.

From our Japanese customer Yumi:
"We had the ‘Uli’Uli workshop with 20 Japanese people in Numazu city, Shizuoka, Japan, last Wednesday.






After they made their ‘Uli’Uli, they enjoyed a chant and hula with them, they loved it!
Mahalo!!!







We love your supplies.
Aloha,
Yumi"











And speaking of lauhala.......

Fresh in from Tahiti, are the long awaited kuka'a (lauhala rolls....which have not been available for over a year). These are large rolls consisting of approximately 80 leaves. You will notice that lauhala from Tahiti is similar to that of Hawaii in quality and color. Perfect for your weaving projects!

We do also have available at this time, a good supply of Samoan lauhala. A favorite for it's light color and soft quality.

With all this talk of lauhala, don't forget that we are still offering the Kuka'a and koe special....for those of you motivated to get started weaving. Here's an awesome source for Lauhala Weaving.

Auwahi

It's been awhile updating the blog and much has happened since February. As usual, we have been busy working and surfing. In between that, I've also been dealing with some minor health issues which included anemia and fatigue but all's well now and hope to start getting back into shape and doing some down wind paddling next week.

And then there was the Merrie Monarch last month.....as always, many late nights preparing before, then enjoying seeing old friends and meeting new ones there at the craft show. Mahalo to everyone who stopped to see us there.

Today we had a fun time with the kaikamahine and parents of Halau Kekuaokala'au'ala'iliahi making puniu. It makes us feel good to see how happy the keiki (and parents) are to have completed a challenging project to end up with something they can use and treasure. We wish them good luck at Keiki Hula in July!!

Yesterday we had the opportunity to do some planting up at Auwahi. Where once lived a thriving native dry land forest is now dry pasture with many invasive plants and animals.

In the photo above, you can see the dark green patches where the native reforestation efforts are taking place. The drive out to our destination was an adventure and the views spectacular.

Once there, we put on our backpacks, picked up an 'o'o, plants and hand shovels and began our hike past the fence line and into the new forest. Our leaders pointed out special trees and plants, explaining the roles each will play in the forest, much to think about.

Some of the native plants: 'a'ali'i, 'ulei, koli'i, lama and 'alahe'e.

Kent and I were partners, he dug the holes with the 'o'o while I came in behind and planted. Our group consisted of a few canoe paddlers and the other group was the graduating Hawaiian Immersion class of Kekaulike High School.

Hele maua 'o Kent i ka papa 'olelo no laila, hau'oli no a'u i lohe ai i ka 'olelo ana o na 'opio. Kupaianaha maoli no.......

We had lunch under this 'ohi'a tree with the misty fog approaching. After a short rest it was time for a few more plantings before pau hana.

This turned out to be such a pleasant and fulfilling experience......one that we look forward to doing again and again. And I encourage anyone who can, to do the same.

For more information see Malama Koa.