Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 7, 1 July 2011 — The wood whisperer [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The wood whisperer

By Cheryl Corbiell Determination, patience and inspiration have daily rewards for Thomas "Toma" Barboza as his sturdy fingers transform wood into art on his Kamuela, Hawai'i, homestead. Barboza developed a passionate relationship with Hawaiian woods, and like a close friend, wood rekindled his spirit. "The wood whispers to me and images appear in the wood. Wood ignites my imagination," says Barboza. Barboza was introduced to woodworking when he was sent from O'ahu to live on Maui with his tūtū kāne. Barboza says he was a mischievous boy, and his grandfather taught him discipline. At his grandfather's side, Barboza learned to repair koa canoes and carve bowls and platters. "My fondest memory is my tūtū kāne's pig platters. The hand-polished platter was not complete unless Tūtū carved the customer's family genealogy on the platter's underside. These special platters heeame family treasures to over 30 families," said Barboza. At 12 years old, Barboza was an accomplished woodcarver. His first project was a small tiki. Next, he won a ribbon at a school craft fair for an intricately carved leafshaped platter. By high school, Barboza was winning woodworking trophies. Other people recognized Barboza's talent, and he was employed part-time after school at a trophy shop carving bowls and platters. After high school graduation, Barboza was hired by a tree-services company, and a benefit of the job was a bountiful wood supply. His woodworking knowledge included curing wood, turning richly colored bowls on a lathe and carving elaborate tiki. Woodworking was his evening and weekend passion. However, life turned sour one day when Barboza fell 30 feet froma tree. The prognosis was life in a wheelchair. "I thought life was over, but a wheelchair-bound friend convinced me that woodworking would save me," said Barboza. After five months of rehabilitation therapy, determination and teaching woodworking, Barboza was walking. Woodworking ignited his spirit to live. Barboza worked intermittently at Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau Nahonal Historical Park on the Big Island for seven years restoring wood artifacts at the City of Refuge. Long hours of daily woodworking resulted in exhausting back pain. Barboza needed flexibility in his work schedule. Taking a Ananeial risk, Barboza started his own business. But he needed help. Technology was a costly solution. Living off the grid meant Barboza needed an electric generator for his power tools, a ehain saw for free-form cutting and other precision tools. These tools

would free his time for delicate hand carving. Laek of funds for the equipment meant long hours of frustration and back pain in his fledgling woodworking business. Friends encouraged Barboza to apply for Hawai'i First Federal Credit Union's OHA Individual Development Accounts program that matches saving accounts for starting a small business. Today, having benefited from the program, whieh the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supports with a grant, Barboza is working diligently with his electric generator and tools and completes wood projects faster and with reduced back strain. Barboza perpetuates his craft by sharing his extensive woodworking knowledge and skills with children at Kanu O ka 'Āina Puhlie Charter School. "Children need to be introduced to woodworking. If we don't share our knowledge, woodworking will be a dying part of the Hawaiian culture," said Barboza. Barboza's 30-year relationship with Hawaiian wood endures as he savors the pleasant smell of wood, rubs the delicate grain of the wood, marvels at the rich earthy colors revealed in the wood, and whispers to the wood. As a team, the wood and Barboza transform the wood into Hawaiian art. ■ Cheryl Corbiell is an Instructor at the University of Hawai'i Maui College-Moloka'i anel a reading tutor at Kaunakakai Elementary School.

I J W V Thomas "Toma" Barboza wilh a carving he made from kiawe titled "Hale He'e." Barboza gifted it to the OHA Board of Trustees in appreciation for its support of the OHA lndividual Development Account program on Hawai'i lsland, of whieh he is a beneficiary. - Photo: LisaAsato