KOHALA — What happens when you have creative people who lack the space or the tools to practice their crafts? And what about people with the desire to create, but not the skills?
These two needs are being met in North Kohala by Old School Hawaii, a facility that provides workshop space and education for the local community.
Co-founded by Hap Tallman and Jenna Benz, Old School Hawaii’s mission is to revive craftsmanship and vocational arts in a space where the community can learn woodworking and other lost trade skills. In operation for less than a year, Old School Hawaii has gotten a lot of support and positive feedback from North Kohala residents.
Tallman came to the Big Island in 1987 from Mendocino, California, where he spent 15 years perfecting his woodworking craft. He has lived in North Kohala for the last 28 years, making tables, rocking chairs, cabinetry and a variety of furniture out of indigenous woods for locals and tourists like.
“I have done what I wanted to do as a professional, and wanted to pass it on. Working recently with a group of university students confirmed for me that it was time to transition from doing to teaching,” Tallman said.
Benz is relatively new to Kohala, having moved there last October. As a student at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, Jenna was one of 10 students who traveled here to study sustainability, and spent time working with Tallman.
“I found North Kohala to be so welcoming and supportive. I knew right away that this is a community I want to be a part of,” Benz said.
Moving into the old Sunshine Hardware building on Akoni Pule Highway in Kapaau, they quickly agreed that the primary focus in this space would be on woodworking and metalsmithing, with an emphasis on hands-on experience. The intention of the school is to instill a sense of self discovery and pride in workmanship.
The two main components of Old School Hawaii are education and open shop hours. Educational workshops that have been hosted thus far include making wooden shoe racks, creating mirror or picture frames and tool sharpening. Future classes being planned involve blacksmithing, joinery, garden furniture and jewelry boxes. In addition, there has been an interest in learning to build tiny houses and repurposing classes.
The open shop hours enable community members to design, prototype and create pieces that wouldn’t be possible with resources available to individuals working alone. They provide a creative, do-it-yourself space, with some supplies and tools available. Old School adds a seasoned craftsman to the mix to consult with and mentor participants.
Some of the items that have already been created during open shop hours include a food safe to keep bugs and critters out of harvested fruit,a spear gun, a large table base and shoe racks. Other pieces that could be built through open shop might include bee hives, fruit stands, chairs, bowls, compost bins and raised garden beds.
Open shop hours are 9 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday. Old School is offering membership options that allow participants to use the space for an hourly fee. Weekly and monthly membership options are also available. Safety is a high priority at the facility, so equipment and workshop safety courses are required for all who wish to use the space.
While current offerings are in the woodworking arts arena, the co-owners are looking to expand to ceramics, metalworking, sewing with industrial machines and paper making. Tallman and Benz are also considering a regular Women’s Wednesday program, Saturday seminars and birthday party events so attendees can each make a small craft item.
Old School Hawaii is a fiscally sponsored project of North Kohala Community Resource Center.
Info: Call 987-6888, go to www.oldschoolhawaii.org or email buildingoldschool @gmail.com
