Pre-Convention Workshops

Today was Pre-Convention Workshop Day. There were 3 sessions with 3 topics in each session. I went to the sessions on Lei Making, Reconnection Through Kapa, & ʻUlana Lauhala. They were all very informative as well as fun activities.

The 1st pre-convention workshop I attended was Lei Making with Uncle Bill Char. You had to pre-register for this one which provided fresh plant materials in order to make a lei kūpeʻe (wrist or ankle lei). Although the workshop description said we were making lei kūpeʻe, Uncle Bill also talked about lei poʻo (head lei) & some people were fast enough they were able to make a lei poʻo. An important thing I learned was to make sure there was enough of a fern base to protect the flowers from the heat of your head so they would not wilt as fast!

The fresh materials.

My finished lei kūpeʻe; it was too big for my wrist but too small for my head.

The back side shows irregular spacing on the wraps; they should be evenly spaced.

The 2nd workshop I went to was Reconnection Through Kapa led by Malia Peoples. Kapa is made using the bark of the paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera); Malia has some growing in Washington as well as in a pot that she brought to show us what the plant looks like. The audience participation portion of the workshop was designing a stamp, creating a stamp, & stamping it on paper. 

Mulberry plant, tools, & bark in various stages in kapa making.

Peeling bark off of mulberry stalk.

Bark after initial beating by hohoa (round beater) on kua pōhaku (stone anvil).

For 2nd beating Malia uses iʻe kuku (square beater) to work bark on kua laʻau (wood anvil).

The ʻupena pattern on an iʻe kuku.

 

Malia displays several ʻohe kapala (bamboo stamp).

I made a stamp of the makaloa part of my kakau (tattoo).

Malia showed us several non-traditional things she made out of kapa that she made. She has also made some non-kapa items. I really like the name tags in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi; I hope to order a bunch to use for Kohala Culture & History Advisory Group events. If you are interested in what she has to offer, go to her website.

The last workshop I went to today was ʻUlana Lauhala led by weavers Hanalei, Maile, Sarah, & Lily from the Keanahala community weaving program; they taught us how to make an apolima (bracelet) out of lauhala, the leaf of the hala tree (Pandanus tectorius). We started with a prepared strip of lauhala that was about 1/2" wide x about 4 feet long. You measure what size bracelet is needed for you by wrapping it around your hand twice. Then you make a 45 degree fold to the left & pull the material through the loop. Now make another 45 degree fold so the lauhala is facing away from you & fold it over on the band. Continue repeating the 45 degree folds until there is only a short tail which you tuck under the other folds. I made 3 apolima during the workshop; they gave us lauhala strips to take with us so we could continue to practice.

The 1st 45 degree fold.

The 2nd 45 degree fold.

Fold it back over the band & repeat.

Finished apolima.

The sunrise this morning might have been really spectacular. But due to the logistics of the mobile home I am in I could not see much. Besides having a curtain & blinds, the window is also under the carport roof. 

Fifteen minutes after sunrise.

The lunch break was between the 1st & 2nd workshops. I was eager to try out something from the Ryan's Rez-ipe Food Truck which is run by Ryan who is both Hawaiian & Native American. It was supposed to open at noon, but when it did not look like anyone was there or coming soon, at 12:15 I went in search of another lunch option. Due to the 1 pm start time for the next workshop & the crowd of people making fast service doubtful, I headed for the leftovers from the complimentary continental breakfast. I ended up with a slice of banana bread & a pecan bar for lunch.  

Sounds ono!

Looks ono too!

But I ended up with this.

He opened up about 5 minutes after I returned with banana bread.

 

When the workshops were finished, I picked Kai up from his housesitting job & we stopped at Umami Poke + Sushi Burrito + Tea in Everett to pick up dinner. Kai got a poke bowl though I can't remember exactly what he had on it & a taro bubble tea; I had a Chicken Karaage Bowl. We took it back to the mobile home for another test to see how he would do after even less cleaning. Still having problems with the mold.

I dropped Kai off at where he was cat, dog, chicken, & house sitting in Everett. When I returned, I found Kadydid trying to blend in with things on the kitchen table!

Cat? What cat? Is there a cat on the table?

The next episode of the eruption of Kīlauea is still forecast to begin between the 15th & the 20th. 

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Brandton!