The hula dancer in this picture is Taizha Keakealani Hughes-Kaluhiokalani. She won Miss Aloha in 2019 at the Merrie Monarch hula festival. I remember watching her hula back in 2019 and I'll admit, I was at work (my students watched it too - let's chalk it up to cultural enrichment lol). But never have I had a couple dozen or so students who had never seen hula like this just watching silently in awe of her.
We all sat and watched her, listened to her chants, listened to the ipu and the mele until it was over. We didn't stand up and scream and cheer when it was over. No one made a huge scene about it, but almost every single one of my students left giving some kind of a compliment to her.
Her mele may not have specifically been about the ōhiʻa tree or lehua blossoms nor even about Pele or her sister, Hiʻiaka. But for some reason I thought it fit as a pua (flower) that grows out of seemingly nothing. Here is the link to learn more about Hughes-Kaluhiokalani and her mele: https://kawaiola.news/moomeheu/songs-of-discovery/
Product Details:
- Printed on 260g/m^2 semi-gloss paper
- Printed and cut to size in-house
These prints are available in the following sizes:
- 4 x 6 inches
- 5 x 7 inches
- 8 x 10 inches
**Larger prints sold as a separate drop ship listing**
-- ABOUT KAUʻI'S STUDIO --
🌺 INSPIRED by Hawaiʻi: All of my products are designed by me in appreciation of my Native Hawaiian culture. Many of my products highlight the natural beauty of my home including the language. Hawaiian is an endangered language, and while I am not fluent, I also refuse to let the language die. E ola ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, long live the Hawaiian language.
♻️ SUSTAINABILITY: I source the best eco-friendly alternatives for my products, and do a lot of research to ensure high quality and sustainability. I always aim to source my products from companies who share these values as well. Most of my products are recyclable or compostable especially my packaging. Our goal is to be 100% plastic free by 2026!
💚 ALOHA: Everything I make, I make with plenty of aloha. I want my customers to feel what makes my home so special. Hawaiʻi has a complicated and traumatic history, and sometimes it feels like that aloha spirit has been lost. In between the rising housing costs, the extreme cost of living and the climbing poverty rates as a result, and the disparities and displacement my lāhui feel (myself included), I want to make sure they - you - feel seen and loved.
📦 SHIPPING & DELIVERY: Expect about 2-3 business days for processing, and an additional 2-5 business days for shipping. I use USPS to fulfill all of my orders, so tracking information is shared as soon as it is available (do wait up to 24 hours for the tracking information to be updated).
International delivery times vary.
❓QUESTIONS: I am happy to answer any questions you may have! Please have hōʻihi (respect) and ahonui (patience) when reaching out to me ♡ I am working and attending university as I run this little shop, so especially in the busy weeks, I may need a little extra time to get to your message. But I will always try my best to respond as quickly as possible to resolve any wonderings you have!
🫶🏽 MAHALO NUI LOA for supporting my small business!
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