Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 8, 1 August 2009 — Beauty inside &out [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Beauty inside &out

I I By Francine Murray | Ka Wai ūla L ■ m m m ■ ■ L* ■ the luxurious / I ljgift of nature, » I smells and feels incredible. More than 20 years I ago, when someone told Paul Mitchell that Hawaiians wash their hair with 'awapuhi, it was the start VI of a revolution in the beauty industry. Now, Paul

■I Mitchell boasts over 90,000 salons, the internation- p ■I ally known hair-care products are best sellers and all y ■I the 'awapuhi used in them is grown on

II the Big Island. Native Hawaiian business owner ■I loannie Rossiter brought some of ■I Mitchell's magic to Hawai'i when she partnered with John Paul DeJoria to I open the first and only Paul Mitchell [II School here in Hawai'i, called Ulupono ■l Academy. It's in pedestrian-friendly Kaimukī, whieh is great for shopping.

dining and getting glamorous. As you walk into the Ulupono salon/academy, you feel the aloha. It's part of the culture at Ulupono, whieh means "growing excellence." They believe in putting the customer first. ■I What's their foimula for success? Simple. A few good people ■I combining the values of a great culture with a great industry. The ■I salon also teaches their future professionals to strive for excel■I lenee in their creativity. Rossiter says, "We praise in public, and II reprimand in private .' ' II Ulupono Academy believes in giving back to the community i II through fundraisers that raise money by cutting hair, with pro[VI ceeds benefitting the community or special projects. They also

give back by offering the lowest prices in town. Currently offering a haircut for only $10 and a perm for $35, the full-service salon also does hair straightening, color, bleaching, waxing, facials, manicures and pedicures. In the current economy, Ulupono Academy's biggest challenge is finding financing for its students. One reason is the higher credit scores now needed to

qualify for loans. One young Hawaiian received the first Mālama Loan from OHA to go toward tuition at Ulupono Academy. Despite this good

news, Ulupono, a school entrenched in Hawaiian values, has enrolhnent down 40 percent since December, unlike the University of Hawai'i community eolleges with enrollment up more than 20 percent. The academy's prestigious instructors offer an innovative approach to the cosmetology curriculum, including

detailed instruction, extensive hands-on clinics and business ethics. The positive learning environment has full-time or part-time classes with start dates several times a year. Upon eomplehon and passing of the state board exam, Ulupono provides job placement through Paul Mitchell's network of salons. Rossiter has wanted to teach since she was in school and, she says, opening Ulupono Academy helped her fulfi.ll another dream, "To be able to provide a plaee for the kids." ■ For information about this Pau! Mitchell Partner School, eall 734-7007 or visit UluponoAcademy.com.

Ulupono Academy Joannie Rossiter, president and dean 1123 llth Ave. Honolulu, Hl 96816 734-7007

www.oha.org/kwo MO'OLELO NUI ■ C0VER FEATURE KA WAI OLA | ĪHE LIVING WAĪER 0F OHA

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