Celebrate the Season of Peace, Tribute, Harvest, and Giving

Celebrating the Season of Peace, Tribute, Harvest, and Giving...... In Hawai'i, the Makahiki season encourages us all to express our gratitude and connect through what we call the Spirit of ALOHA.

ALOHA:

Akahai (kindness expressed with tenderness);

Lokahi (unity expressed with harmony);

'Olu'olu (agreeability expressed with pleasantness);

Ha'aha'a (humility expressed with modesty); and

Ahonui (patience expressed with perseverance).

When Makaliʻi (the constellation Pleiades) rises in the east, falls in sync with the setting of the sun in the west, the positioning of celestial bodies marks the beginning of the Makahiki season the closing of the year and the dawning of the new year in the Hawaiian calendar. The time of Lonoikamakahiki, honors the earth and the heavens that give us so much to be grateful for and shifts our perspective and transforms our feelings from feelings of scarcity to feelings of optimism, abundance, satisfaction and the values of true wealth that change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

Makahiki is such a special time of year. For many it means a time of thanksgiving, connecting with friends and family leading up to the holy birth and the joyful time of our Christmas. This year Thanksgiving also fell on Lā Kūʻokoʻa, Hawaiian Independence Day with an assertion of deep aloha ʻāina (patriotism), we celebrated with a luau at Kahalu'u cultural park.

For me, November is also the month that I first met Cyril and this moment of seasonal transition marks his passing at 6:00pm November 17, 2018. So grateful and blessed to have been a part of his life.

Mahalo nui to all of you who have been a part of our year. We appreciate all of you who have come out and supported our events and activities. We sincerely appreciated you, your aloha and your continued support...

~ Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! May you find happiness in the New Year

This remarkable picture with mānana as a backdrop, crossed my path just as I was beginning this newsletter. Worth a thousand words.... I just had to share it (Aloha Kai, please excuse any copyright transgression).

Celebrate Giving Tuesday and Make a Difference for our Youth

Giving Tuesday began in 2012 to encourage people to celebrate community and bring people together to be part of the good works of the non profit sector. As giving Tuesday arrives, fund-raising continues for our youth in music, theater and creative arts mentorships. We invite you to join us in this effort. Your donations make this possible and all funds raised will be matched by our State Foundation on Culture and the Arts grant.

At Na'alehu Theatre, we believe that music and the arts are renewable resources and that high quality art, educational experiences, and mentorship sparks creativity, improves self-confidence, enhances our enjoyment of the present moment, inspires positive change, strengthens our living culture and preserves historic works and contributions.

The first Steel Guitar workshop held this past week, the kids and teachers were excited to have music coming back into the schools.

We invite you to join us in this life changing effort

As we move into the giving season, please add your name to the supporters of this and our other youth outreach programs in Music, Theater, and the Creative Arts. We have an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact!

Our SFCA grant proposal requires a 100% cash match. For a limited time, every dollar you contribute through this newsletter will be matched 100% by a State Foundation on Culture & Arts Matching Grant, effectively doubling your support. Matching support must be received by us before December 31, 2024.

All funds raised through this newsletter directly benefit our Music & Creative Arts Youth Mentorship Program, empowering our keiki with invaluable experiences in music, video production and editing, sound and lighting, theater and creative arts. Let's nurture the next generation of local artists and storytellers together! Some of the ways you can contribute include:

Support the Music & Creative Arts Youth Mentorship Program

Support our keiki by contributing to our creative video mentorship program! Through our partnership with Hilo High School and KVIKS Media, students gain hands-on experience in sound and lighting, video live streaming, production, and editing. Your support makes a direct impact—click above to watch the incredible video our students produced for Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight programming and make a donation.

SAVE THE DATE: 18th Annual Waimanalo Kanikapila / April 19, 2025

Mark your calendar and plan to join us live at Waimanalo Beach Park or livestreaming on Cyril Pahinui FB and Youtube. The 2025 t-shirts are now in design and will be released in January 2025 and available at www.cyrilpahinui.com.

WAIMANALO BEACH PARK UPDATE: CCoH is wrapping up the testimony and planning for building the new pavilion at Waimanalo Beach Park. We are happy to have been a part of the process. This facility is valued and is important to the community as a gathering place for many activities and events that range from athletics to canoe paddling, craft workshops, Summer Fun programs, and other festivities including our Waimanalo Kanikapila music festival. We look forward to the completion of the project and appreciate the time and effort that has been taken to assure that the construction is completed with as much sensitivity to the conservation location and to the Hawaiian community and the cultural concerns that go along with construction.

Limited Edition Cyril Pahinui 2024 Tee Shirt – Now Only $15!

While supplies last, 100% of your purchase of the collectible Cyril Pahinui 2024 signature t-shirt: No ka poli mai nō 'o Waimānalo - Kanikapila!, created by Artist Leohone Magno will support this SFCA Matching Funds drive. This one-time print commemorates the 2024 Waimānalo Kanikapila event held on April 20th at Waimānalo Beach Park. Supplies are limited, so grab yours for only $15 while they last! Shop early, this shirt makes a wonderful Christmas gift. BONUS! One Cyril Pahinui CD will be shipped along with your purchase.

Grab Your Limited Edition Cyril Pahinui 2022 Tee Shirt – Just $15!

Don’t miss out on the limited edition shirt from the 2022 Waimānalo Kanikapila, available in both long and short sleeves. Supplies are very limited, so act fast to secure yours for only $15 while they last! BONUS! One Cyril Pahinui CD will be shipped along with your purchase.

In Hawai'i November is also the end of hurricane season and a time of year when we are graced with nourishing rains, natures way of renewing its self. Our location in the agricultural belt where the climate and soil conditions are particularly suitable, the land accommodates a range of agriculture abundance. This year, as we develop the structure of the gardens, much of our time has been spent clearing, chipping, planting and mulching. The biggest project creating a pleached Tahitian Lime hedge along the front rock wall in hopes of screening the lower property and deterring the feral pigs that come through to help with the excavations. If only we could train them to dig where it's needed. Auwe!

Mahalo to all of you who have come to stay with us this year at the 'Ohia Cottage on Nahenahe Farm. It is a pleasure to host you and share this special location with its abundance and the best snorkeling in all Hawai'i. For those asking for updates, please watch for the upcoming Nahenahe Farm Newsletter for highlights, offerings and farm news as we aloha ʻāina and develop the project into an astonishingly productive edible, medicinal and cultural landscape yielding agricultural bounty.

Our coffee special below is good until the last week in December and can be shipped direct as a gift or for your own Christmas holiday treat. It has been a great year for Kona coffee and ours is exceptional!

Enjoy 100% Kona Coffee – Only $29.99

(Regularly $39.99)

Savor the rich, smooth flavor of 100% Kona Coffee, hand-picked and sun-dried on our family-run Nahenahe Farm. This small-batch roasted coffee offers a balanced, medium-dark roast with a complex aroma, bright acidity, and a satisfying finish. Now, you can enjoy this premium coffee for just $29.99, regularly priced at $39.99—that’s $10 off! Every purchase supports our Music & Creative Arts Youth Mentorship Program.

As is usual at this time of year, the annual Christmas Nene are in production. Deliveries have gone out to the stores and our own farm designs are in progress. Baskets with coffee and other goodies can be ordered via email. Our two farm featured Nene include graphic and ulu designs.

Add a Christmas nene to your order. Orders of 3 lbs or more receive a FREE handmade, 'ulu wehi or graphic ornament.

In Hawaiian 'ulu wehi represents lush beautiful growth, and festively adorned.

These special ornaments are inspired by Hawai'i's State Bird, the Nene, the only goose endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. Nene are non-migratory and are now classified by both the State and Federal government as endangered species. Remnant populations of Nene on Hawai'i Island are found primarily on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai.

Share Your ALOHA – Donate to the Book Drive Aloha: What it Means to Me

Friends of the Aloha Shirt Festival have already provided120 copies of the ALOHA: What it Means to Me Workbook to kindergarteners. Each student receives their own workbook and participates in our in-school mentorship/instruction from a local artist. They can then design their own Aloha Shirt and submit their artwork in our next coloring contest at the 4th Annual Aloha Shirt Festival and received a custom book-marker for their entry. Our goal is to give a copy to every kindergartener on Hawai’i Island and Two schools requesting to participate on Oahu.

Share your ALOHA—donate $10 to provide one workbook and support our effort. Proceeds also support additional educational programs through the nonprofit publisher, Aloha Movement Kaua’i.

🎶 Winner Announced:

Design Your Own Aloha Shirt 🎶

Mahalo to all of our followers who have supported the drive to raise matching support for our State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Youth Outreach Program. We appreciate you!

We have completed our project model at Holualoa School and a winner has been selected. The 2024 Aloha, What it Means to Me : Design Your own Aloha Shirt competition winner is Kindergartener, Kiri Larrson. Kiri's design was selected from 80 Kinder and SpEd submissions and was awarded a framed, vintage aloha shirt. His mother came to the school for the presentation and he was wearing one of his favorite Aloha Shirts. Congratulations to Kiri!

Aloha Friday with Artist, Kiri Larrson

Mahalo for your support! Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our youth.