Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 9, 1 November 1984 — Kupuna Artisans Show How its Done [ARTICLE]

Kupuna Artisans Show How its Done

The third 'Aha Puhala ine. conference and first on a statewide basis Aug. 22-25 had a typical Hawaiian atmosphere to it. No where else but in Hawaii would you see kupuna lauhala artisans arriving at the Maui Airport from all points of the island ehain ladened with luggage, boxes, crates, bags and a host of other puolo in every size, shape and description.

Friends and ohana enthusiastically greeted one another in true Hawaiian style — with lots of honi honi, affection and aloha. Shortly after settling down at the Maui Beach Hotel whieh served as the conference headquarters, out eame the rice cookers, coffee pots, electric skillets and such ono food as sardine, poi, Spam, corned beef, Maui onions, sweet potatoes from Molokai and saloon pilot crackers, a heavv favorite of islanders.

Never has there been a buffet spread like the one laid out by 'Aha Puhala directors and artisans who prepared fried aku bones, poke fish, laulau, ake, oama, ophi, bananas, oranges and mountain apples. This, then, is how some Hawaiians hung loose, talked story and enjoyed good fellowship.