PO‘IPU — Aunty Janet Kahalekomo almost never runs out of coconut fronds. But she did yesterday when an overwhelming number of guests at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa wanted to learn how to create novelty items and baskets
PO‘IPU — Aunty Janet Kahalekomo almost never runs out of coconut fronds. But she did yesterday when an overwhelming number of guests at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa wanted to learn how to create novelty items and baskets from the leaves.
Kahalekomo and 14 other vendors participated in a craft fair of a different variety at the Hyatt — one that emphasized interaction over commerce.
“I always felt that craft fairs should be more than selling,” said Stella Burgess, the Hawaiian culture coordinator at the Hyatt who orchestrated the event yesterday.
“This is not just for visitors,” Burgess said. “You’d be surprised how many local people are working with Aunty Janet to learn how to make things out of coconut. They come out with something they didn’t know.”
Kahalekomo brought her daughter and grandchildren, who shared the Hawaiian culture with the guests. Chelise Kahalekomo, one of the mo‘opuna, or grandchildren, demonstrated how to make poi, while Brandee Kahalekomo manned the exhibit on Salt Ponds and the process of making salt from sea water.
Chelise Kahalekomo lost little time picking up the poi pounder made of stone. “This is just because I like to eat,” she said, assembling cooked pieces of taro on the wooden platform.
Burgess added that the participants who like to talk about their culture get guests interested in learning more, whether the subject is jewelry, basket weaving, salt making or ‘ukulele.
“There are a variety of interactive things guests can do,” Burgess said. “They can make anklets, bracelets, lei and even Ni‘ihau shell earrings.”
Heifara Aiamu of Island Style Kaua‘i made jewelry while listening to the music of the entertainers. Tish Hopkins-Aiamu, who manned the table while Heifara worked on various crafts, said people are always interested in the folklore surrounding the items.
“It’s always nice to talk about how things came about, and people are always interested in seeing some of the recycled items,” Hopkins-Aiamu said, pointing out a sculpture with a black pearl that she said originally was just a piece of coral off Shipwrecks Beach.
Burgess said this was a perfect example of how people don’t just say “aloha,” they live aloha.
