Under the mentoring of Lloyd Harold Kumulāʻau Sing Jr. and May Haunani Balino-Sing, the haumāna of Nā Akua Ākea Oʻahu Pāʻieʻie II made personal commitments to perpetuate ʻieʻie style basketry by learning to weave various forms of hīnaʻi, hīnaʻi iʻa and the kiʻi akua hulu manu; the finale project that integrates all of the knowledge and skills they have acquired during the year-long cohort while learning and integrating new cultural skills and mediums not commonly used today.
Inspired from nineteen existing kiʻi akua hulu manu artifacts around the world today, our students created their own representation of Hawaiian deities.
No feathers were affixed to these contemporary images of Hawaiian deities to highlight the workmanship and artistry of each haumāna, and the beauty of ʻieʻie style basketry.
It is with great pride and humility that we welcome you to enjoy this multi-sensory experience,
Nā Akua Ākea.
E Komo Mai!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Kalani Akana
ʻO Anahola me Hāna nā kulāiwi. ʻO Kāheakulani, Kekaula, Kaluna, me Koiʻi nā kūpuna. ʻO Kāheakūlani lāua ʻo Iola nā mākua. ʻO wau kēia ʻo Keith “Kalani” Kalaniakāhekūlniuamālokulokuokeliʻimaikaʻi. Aloha kākou.
Ua hoʻomaha au mai ka hana ma OHA a eia au ke paʻu nei i ke aʻo ʻana i ka hula a me ke oli. Ua aʻo ia i ua mau mea Hawaiʻi ma kahi o 50 makahiki. ʻO kekahi mea aʻu e hana nei i keia manawa, ʻo ia ka hoʻōla ʻana i ka hana hei.
Ua piʻi ka hoihoi i loku oʻu e hoʻi a aʻo mai ka ka ulana ʻie me Kumulāʻau me Haunani Sing, no ka mea ua hele i kekahi hālāwai aʻo hopena pule me Kumulāʻau 10 a ʻoi makahiki aku nei a ua makemake au e aʻo i ka hana ʻana i ka mahiole. Maikaʻi no naʻe ke kurikulama a lāua i hoʻolālā ai a me nā pāhana i koi ai ʻo ka hīnaʻi poepoe, ka hīnaʻi hinalea, ka hīnaʻi ʻoʻopu, ka pāpale piko ʻole, a me ka pāhana hope loa ʻo ke kiʻi kū. I kēia makahiki, e hoʻokō ana koʻu ʻiʻimo e hana i ka mahiole, akā ma ka hiʻi kua, hiʻialo au e ʻike i ka waiwai o nā pāhana naʻu i kēlā makahiki aku nei.
Leona Kamaile Seto-Mook
Aloha! I am Leona Kamaile Seto-Mook. I was born and raised on O’ahu, and Hilo is now my home. My grandparents were born in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, when King Kalākaua ruled. They lived through Queen Liliʻuokalani’s rule and overthrow, and I remember seeing their scrapbook with newspaper clippings of her funeral. So much taken and so much lost. But it warms my heart to see the many pieces being put together again.
I am a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Class of 1971 and subsequently earned business degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi. After decades of working in both corporate and non-profit settings, I’m glad to now be able to pursue other interests, including ulana ʻieʻie.
Mahalo nui to Kumulāʻau and Haunani for their work and dedication to rediscovering and perpetuating ulana ‘ie’ie!
