Hokulea voyagers talk story tonight at new ‘Under the Kona Moon’ location
“Under the Kona Moon” Welcomes Chadd Onohi Paishon and Pomai Bertelmann to share tradition of Hawaiian sailing canoes, navigation, and world travel
Join kupuna, Hawaiian entertainers and kumu hula who will bring the past to the present with mele, dance, and storytelling every month on the Friday of the Mahealani Moon (full moon) at a new location: the lawn of the West Hawaii Community Health Center, 74-5214 Keanalehu Dr.
This is a free event open to the community. The performance runs from 5:30-7 p.m. Seating begins at 5 p.m. Attendees should bring their own halii and chairs. Coolers are permitted.
Today, Chadd Onohi Paishon and Pomai Bertelmann will share their extensive experience with navigation and sailing traditional Hawaiian canoes like the Hokulea.
“Our goal for Under The Kona Moon is community binding through the art of storytelling,” said Lehua Bray, Chair of the event.
Pomai Bertelmann was born and raised on the island of Hawaii. She was born into families who helped to establish the ranching legacies of Waimea, as well as the Ohana Waa, the organization of the canoes of Hawai’inuiåkea since its inception in 2006.
Chadd Onohi Paishon was born and raised on the island of Oahu. Onohi became involved with the voyaging canoe, Hokulea, when he was invited to become a crew member following the Voyage of Rediscovery in 1985-87 and making his first long distance crossing in 1992 from Hawaii to Tahiti aboard Hokulea.
The mission of Under the Kona Moon is to be a gathering place for Hawaii Island ohana and kupuna to bring the past to life.
Ukulele Construction Class starts
Waipahu Community School for Adults – Kona Campus, will be offering Guy Sasaki’s ukulele making course. The spring 2020 session begins Jan. 28 and ends on May 12. Classes are each Tuesday, except holidays, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Registration fee is $120 (cash or money order), plus $100 for materials, which is paid during class. A list of required tools and supplies will be provided during registration.
Registration will be from Monday until Jan. 24 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The office is closed on weekends and Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Day. Registration must be done in person and is open on a first come, first served basis (payment and registration) until the class size of 12 students is reached.
The office is located on the campus of Kealakehe Intermediate School, 74-5062 Onipaa St., F-2.
Info: 313-3032.
Hawaii Ukulele Ensemble puts on show tonight
A new approach to ukulele music will be showcased when the Hawaii Ukulele Ensemble (HUE) hits the Hale Halawai stage today. With their own arrangements of familiar compositions, from classical to classic rock, HUE creates a rich, layered sound playing multiple parts in precise harmony. It’s a complex sound that is not usually associated with ukuleles but one that has astounded and delighted their audiences.
Kailua-Kona residents Tom Russell and Shirley Pratt founded the Hawaii Ukulele Ensemble in 2018 after asking themselves a simple question: After strumming and picking and kanikapila, what’s next?
Both Tom and Shirley grew up playing musical instruments and performing with groups. In addition, Russell had a formal music education, studying Music Composition and Theory, and Music Instruction. Pratt also played piano competitively as a soloist. Together, they knew they had a solid foundation to add something unique to the Big Island music scene.
Today’s Hale Halawai performance begins at 6 p.m. and is free.
Info: HawaiiUkuleleEnsemble.org or email HUE@hawaiiukuleleensemble.org.
Iolani Luahine Hula Festival Jan. 24-26
The 18th annual Iolani Luahine Hula Festival will be held Jan. 24-26 at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay. The Iolani Luahine Festival was established in 2003 with a vision to perpetuate the hula, and it also serves as a way to honor the memory of Iolani Luahine and her contributions to the preservation of hula and Hawaiian culture.
This year the festival will again include hula presentations, and a challenge to kumu hula with a prize for the one who best demonstrates the values of Iolani Luahine: education and Hawaiian culture. The festival will feature hula workshops.
Registration, fees and information for the workshops are available at www.iolaniluahinefestival.org.
Hula presentations will begin at 4 p.m.Evening musical entertainment on Friday will begin at 6:30 p.m. featuring Na Hoa. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the festival and at the door, which helps support the festival.
Info: www.iolaniluahinefestival.org.
New yoga benefit class starts
A new class is starting Monday at New Thought Center at Pualani Terrace C302, at 81-6586 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua (makai, next to the red Antiques and Ice Cream).
The class will benefit the center’s friend, a yoga teacher who was in ICU here and in Queen’s Medical Center for two weeks and is now recovering.
Info: Ambika Rose, 430-2620.
Lecture on tracking tiger shark tonight
An adult tiger shark is a beautiful and majestic animal — but most of our knowledge of the species’ life cycle comes from a large culling program that killed sharks en masse.
Large sharks are difficult to observe and sample, but we can use non-lethal methods like satellite tags and ultrasound machines to learn about their biology.
Professor Kevin Weng’s research group is searching for gravid female tiger sharks using an ultrasound machine, which allows them to see the embryos inside the mother’s uteruses. In the future they aim to study the movement and habitat use of gravid females using satellite tags.
Kevin Weng is a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William &Mary. He has an oceanography degree from UH Manoa and a biology degree from Stanford University.
His lecture is scheduled from 5-7:30 p.m., today at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Energy Center (73-4485 Kahilihili St., Kailua Kona). It includes time before and after the presentation for questions, answers, and networking opportunities. The program is part of a monthly pau hana series for people interested in technology in West Hawaii.
A potluck is included with the event. Bring pupu and non-alcoholic beverages to share; reusable plates and cups are encouraged.
Info: Rod Hinman at rod@auroraresearch.com or 989-0977. The event web site is www.konasciencecafe.org.
Grand Celebration held Saturday at Tiffany’s Art Agency Gallery
Welcoming in the New Year, Tiffany’s Art Agency Gallery in Hawi is offering up a show titled Celebration for the month of January. A Grand Celebration Collectors Reception will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The gallery’s featured artists will be available to talk story with art lovers during the Grand Celebration event. To share the joy of the creative process, plein air painter, Christian Enns will be working on one of his beautiful, original oil paintings and artist Mary Spears will be creating one of her unique, hand-painted paper collages.
The show explores the theme of celebration with works that range from the story of women supporting women, to an abstract take on festive fireworks, to the unveiling of a sculptural work of art–and even retirement. Of course there are birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate, too (the gallery recently celebrated its third year in its current location).
Tiffany’s Art Agency Gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Info: tiffanysartagency.com.
SKEA Annual Membership Day &Gallery Show
Join in an afternoon at SKEA from 2-5 p.m. Jan. 26, 84-5191 Mamalahoa Highway in Honaunau, for an art show by South Kona Artists Collective (SOKO).
The free event will feature entertainment with Aloha Mahina’s Hula Halau with live music by Aloha Moon, silent auction, pupus and beverages, brief meeting and kanikapila at 4 p.m.
Info: 328-9392 or email skea@hawaii.rr.com.