2012 Gift for Kokua

making a rafia wrap lei

Several weeks ago, I was busy making prototypes for a hula show (took place last weekend ) and took these photos... didn't end up sending the photos out to performers, as planned, but I thought they were nice and thought I'd share!

KOKUA means "help"

I designed and hand-printed these totes for the front desk staff at the dance studio, as a thank-you (or "Mahalo") from all the teachers and students that they help keep sane.

Hula Dancer Block Print

I cut this one from two smaller blocks (the seam runs horizontally through the hole in the ipu heke gourd drum) to make a congratulatory card for our Kumu Hula (hula master), Mahea Uchiyama, who's taking a year sabbatical from the hula school to work at World Arts West (the organization that produces the Ethnic Dance Festival).  This will be a transitional growing time for my hula family and myself... wish us all luck in 2011!

Ka Ua Tuahine says "'Aue!" ("Oh my!") on the dance floor

saucy photograph courtesy of Frank Chuang!