In the presence of our elder sibling, how can we be anything but awed? Inspired? Energized? ACTIVATED? Saturday December 11th saw a group of Native Hawaiians being inspired, energized and reactivated in the ancient practice of creating pa`i `ai from kalo. With its roots in our past, this cultural practice is alive and well right here in Utah. Slowly our people here are reconnecting to what is inherently ours and what better way to start than with our elder sibling Haloa? Typically there is at least one community ku'i a month, and you are ALL invited to come and participate, even if it's just by observing and enjoying the immense aloha that is always present when we gather. Make sure you follow us so you're always updated!
Here are some photos of our most recent ku'i, mahalo nunui to all of those who were present, both seen and unseen, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the next ku'i. Until then, ho'omau e na 'oiwi!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Check out our new online store for shirts and stickers: click here
COMMUNITY KU`I FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE IMPENDING BLIZZARD. WE WOULD LIKE TO RESCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW FROM 6:00 - 9:00 PM IF THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST. CALL US AT 801-987-0755 IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RESCHEDULE!
For ease of ordering, feel free to download the tshirt order form here. We encourage you to come out to our upcoming ku'i on November 23td at the Hawaiian Cultural Center. Potluck, please bring your favorite dish to share! Enjoy some poi or pa'i 'ai for the holidays!
Here is the design for our new shirts. If you wish to have this your shirt ready by the next community ku'i, please have your order form turned in by Nov. 11th. Mahalo!
Aloha!We have our date set for the next ku'i. Please save the date of Nov. 23rd from 6-9 at the Hawaiian Cultural Center. Also, we are excited for our shirts! We have 4 shirts available right now in XL (Brown and Black) for $10. Our next batch will be a little different and will pre-order for $15.
Contact us at 801.987.0755 if you would like to purchase one of these shirts or pre-order for the next! So, keep your eyes out for event invites and ACTIVATE YOUR ROOTS!
Mahalo Nui to na kupuna, na makua, a me na opio who attended our community ku'i held at the Hawaiian Cultural Center last night! It was nice to see the new faces, along with the old. We missed those that could not make it and hope to see you folks at our next ku'i.
There are a couple of things that we would like to mention, however, we would like to mahalo a few key individuals for allowing us to make these community ku'i available!
Mahalo to:
Daniel Anthony from Mana 'Ai: Without Daniel's help, we would not be able to have local grown kalo from local Hawaiian farmers. Daniel takes the time to ensure that we get the best options available and understands our efforts in making kalo sustainable.
Kyle Help: Kyle is a key individual that helps us with our shipping needs. With Kyle's help, we are able to keep the price of kalo low. We hope to set up something in the near future to help keep the shipping costs low.
The Hawaiian Cultural Center, along with Tina Cabiles-Carden and Aunty Kathy Madsen: With the winter months approaching, we need to help the seed that has been planted and make sure it grows. With the help of Aunty Kathy and Tina, we are able to have a beautiful place to hold our community ku'i.
Geno and Chad Hew-Len: A lot of you have had the opportunity to ku'i and have worked with some of the pohaku ku'i 'ai. Geno and Chad have spent some of their extra time making some of these pohaku for us to use here. As was proven last night, these pohaku know how to work and work hard when put in the hands of activated kanaka!
Reny Hew-Len and 'ohana: Reny has been a strong supporter of Malama Haloa `o Utah. They were so kind in donating some funds that was used to buy a new pressure cooker and storage supplies!
All our supporters who come and consistently order. We would not be able to bring kalo up if there was not a demand. This demand is growing and it is a beautiful thing to see our kanaka come together for such a great purpose. We hope to see the old faces return and the new ones become the old!
We have a date for our next community ku'i! So, save the date for Nov. 23rd from 6-9 pm at the Hawaiian Cultural Center in Midvale.
We also have stickers that can be received for a small donation of $4.00.
Mahalo to Jake Kongaika for the design and Krista Dougal for making these stickers for us!
Again, mahalo to everyone and your support! We hope to see you and your 'ohana at our next ku'i on Nov. 23rd! What a perfect time to make traditional hand pounded kalo for your Thanksgiving meal!
Mahalo nunui to all that came out to the community ku'i last night, and whose positive energy and excitement helped serve to make it a success! Mahalo piha to Lei Aloha O Ka 'Ohana for their support, and always, to Daniel Anthony and Mana 'Ai for providing the example for Malama Haloa 'o Utah to humbly follow. Below are some photos from that night, please enjoy! We will be posting a slideshow soon so make sure you check back with us!
Just a quick post to all who've not yet been out to a community Ku'i. We invite you all to come on out to activate your roots through reconnecting with Haloa. Most of us are used to Taro brand poi. We hoard it, we treasure it, we bring back big bags of it when we visit family and friends back in Hawai'i.
Now, I'm not saying that I have anything against Taro brand and any other commercially produced poi, but I will say, that it doesn't hold a candle to poi made in the traditional way. Good, Fresh, Kalo, steamed, and cleaned. Pounded on on boards, some ancient and some new, by folks some ancient, and some new (haha) to produce fresh, pure, pa'i'ai, is something that you have to experience for yourself.
For all those of you who sometimes wish for things to be "like they used to be", for all those yearning to reconnect with your roots, or for anybody who juss like eat poi. This is some of the best you'll ever have, and we can show you how to make, and produce for you and your own family. Even here on the mainland. Perpetuate culture, Rep your roots, Malama Haloa!
With the way technology is and how NOT tech savvy I am, a great idea was given to make a blog of our perpetuation of na mea Hawai'i through Haloa! We understand that not everyone has access to certain social networking sites, so, this is our attempt to reach all that we can.
So, we welcome everyone to Malama Haloa where ever you may be. Feel free to post pictures and videos of past events. Also, be sure to check back often for information regarding future community ku'i!
