INN HAWAI`I

We have hosted a feather workshop for the last three years here at Kalaekilohana in October.  This year was no exception and lei hulu were the focus for the weekend.  We just returned from a deserved break for a few weeks to find several very large boxes in our dining room after the house sitter had left.  Clearly, these boxes were the components of a new kahili, or feather standard as we have shared on this blog previously.  Puzzled, we thought, “Why or who are they making a kahili for?”.  As the day turns into evening, the groups kumu asks for all the components and we comply.  Shortly thereafter, we receive visitors we believe that are simply dropping in to say “aloha”.  Little did we realize that they were visiting to participate in the making of a new kahili for Kalaekilohana.

This new kahili stands 12 feet tall.  We thought ourselves unworthy, were speechless, surprised, honored, and awestruck by its height, beauty, and majesty.

Kenny secures lashing with assistance from Kawika who rotates the kahili

This kahili was prepared on O’ahu and all it’s components were assembled at Kalaekilohana.  The preliminary work included bundling feathers and securing them to the wire prongs, while the men did all the wire welding, and the wood work for the base and the staff.

The staff is made with Tiger wood and the base is of koa.  Remember that this stands just over 12 feet completed.

Our greatest task was naming the kahili.  There were some  regal names initially going around and we personally felt they were too strong with high expectations and too lengthy.   We discussed the new kahili’s name throughout the weekend at length and felt comfortable with Pi’imauna which we translate as ‘ascending’.  Literally it means to ‘climb mountains’, and to us it implies that there are things out there that are larger than we are and although we do not know what they are, this kahili, Pi’imauna,  whose height and majesty remind us that what we do at Kalaekilohana for our guests, visitors, and for our groups that join us for cultural retreats;  is a very good thing. This very tall, beautiful, amazing kahili  Pi’imauna,  who commands a prominent place in our home knows this too.

Pi’imauna represents  something much larger.  What that materializes as is not clear now but is just over the ridge.  We are proud to be its home and realize that its current residence at Kalaekilohana may perhaps be temporary.  Does this mean that we will build another Kalaekilohana? Does Pi’imauna wish to lead us to the next big thing?  He is truly amazing to gaze at.

Pi'imauna stands 12' tall

The crew who made Pi'imauna a reality

Pi’imauna’s feathers are the hackles from various varieties of rooster.  The vision created represents the snow-capped mountains of Hawai’i Island at the top and the colors gradually darken to the lower portions to represent the honua (earth).  The long feathers were bundled and then attached onto chicken’s- foot shaped wires and then inserted into the staff and lashed securely.  The crown and the skirt and bow is a dark forest green velvet that adds a rich tone to him.  Pi’imauna’s current place in Kalaekilohana is at the center of the stairwell – the piko- of the house adjacent to the baby grand piano.

Absolutely stunning.

A crew of  22 created and assembled two feather kahili during the weekend of October 29th to November 2 with  Paulette Kahalepuna at a  workshop held at  Kalaekilohana B&B.  The team included residents from O’ahu, Maui, and Hawai’i Island.  Participants were couples whose partners did woodwork for the stands and poles that the kahili were attached and lashed to.  Other team members included National Park Service personnel from Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical.

the crew poses with the finished kahili

Kahili are standards of the ali’i.  They accompanied the chief and reminded his people of his presence.  They would be seen at gatherings, processions, ceremonies, funerals and while he was at state functions.  They would be made a variety of sizes, with their heights anywhere from 12 to 20 plus  feet.  The poles were made as simple or   ornate according to ones tastes,  and the feathers  for their hulumanu or cylindrical feathered tops often included the tail feathers of sea birds, like the koa’e ‘ula (red-tailed tropic bird), the ‘iwa (frigate bird), and the ka’upu (laysan albatross).

The pair of kahili made at this workshop were made using Canadian geese feathers.  Groups gathered to bundle goose feathers in fives using floral picks in preparation for them to be joined into ‘au (branches).  These branches were then inserted by rows onto the prepared posts and lashed onto it.

The goal of the kahili workshop was to learn the process from start to finish.  It was also the intention of Paulette Kahalepuna, the kumu (teacher), to donate the pair of kahili to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.  Paulette has family in the Honaunau area where the part is located and having the kahili hanau (born) in Ka’u and then hanai (adopted, fed, raised) by the National Park Service was an honor for her and  respectfully and graciously accepted by Pu’uhonua o Honaunau. These kahili were given names by the Park Service personnel after a brief and emotional ceremony of chant and words of gratitude, honor, and pride.

Aunty Paulette Kahalepuna

November 1, 2009 these two kahili joined family at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.  It coincidentally happened to be the 20th anniversary of Na Lima Hulu No’eau, the feather shop in Honolulu that Aunty Mary Lou and Uncle Paul Kekuewa started.

The 'twins" arrival at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau

These “twins” arrived  and their umbilical cords were severed on arrival.  They were offered, honored, and received and then named.    Please meet Kaleonahenahe and Kalakoho.

October 29 to November 2, 2009 -  Our second Kahili workshop starts Thursday Oct. 29.  We are expecting a full house – very good news, that  people are excited to work with Paulette Kahalepuna to build two new kahili.  Some of the preliminary steps have been made to expedite the process so we can complete both of them in a weekend -  task that involves many hands and lots of time.

For those of you who may not know – kahili or feather standards were the markers of ali’i (Hawaiian royalty).  These feather standards in large and smaller hand-held versions, led processions, held court,  and reminded the commoners that these were indeed ali’i that needed to be respected.  They were exclusive of the ali’i’s  place in Hawai’i's society and are symbols that deserve  honor and respect.

Auntie Paulette will be making two standard size kahili – as they are usually made in pairs.  They will be on 8′ custom made poles with mallard duck feathers. The workshop will cover the entire process and the hope is that we will be able to photograph, document, and review – how to make a kahili from start to finish.

Auntie Paulette and her late mother Auntie Mary Lou Kekuewa are premiere artists in the art of Hawaiian featherwork and their book on that is a unique resource on feather lei.   This kahili workshop will take that one step further and eventually produce a small book on building feather kahili.

The two kahili that this weekend will produce will be gifted to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park.  Paulette’s  ‘ohana is from the Honaunau area and it will be an appropriate gift for the park.

A beautiful kahili in the red 'ohi'a blossom color.

A close view of a small kahili lele of rooster hackles

They will  be showcased during festivals and special events there often.   Look forward to follow-up photos of the new kahili in November along with pictures of them being made.

April 24-26, 2009

The first Ka’u Coffee Festival kicks off with the  Miss Ka’u Coffee 2009 Pageant on Friday evening at  the Pahala gymnasium.  Saturday’s free Ho’olaule’a includes food and farm booths, a Ka’u coffee recipe contest in which one of said innkeepers is a judge,  along with famed Honolulu chef  and  Ka’u coffee supporter, Alan Wong.  There will be live entertainment and a  Ka’u coffee song competition.  Sunday’s coffee college day includes workshops for farmers and farm tours.

It will be exciting to meet all the farmers who have shown great success with coffee.  Many of these new coffee farmers are former sugar plantation workers who decided to accept leases to farm coffee and have taken the leap and  made exceptional impressions on the coffee circuit.  Two years ago Will and Grace Tabios’ The Rising Sun coffee ranked #9 internationally and this year Bull and Jamie Kailiawa’s coffee ranked #7.  Simply amazing!