Kīpaepae, ceremonial opening...
Merrie Monarch Festival officially begins!
The Festival honors the legacy of King David Kalākaua, who inspired the perpetuation of our traditions, native language and arts. #Hula #NativeArts #Hawaiian #hilomyhometown #indigenouswisdom 🙌🏾
www.merriemonarch.com

Photo of two #NoKings signs in Hilo, Hawai'i: Woman in yellow top with "No ICE Fascist Occupiers" Woman in white shirt a cap with "Stay WOKE. Resist: Fascism. Racism. MAGA. Greed. Oligarchs."

Photo of #NoKings signs in Hilo, Hawai'i: Woman in yellow top with "No ICE Fascist Occupiers" Woman in red shirt and blue shorts with "Stay WOKE. Resist: Fascism. Racism. MAGA. Greed. Oligarchs." Woman in green dress with "I am AUNT-IFA" Inflatable dinosaur! Woman in clown mask with "Due Process. Save our Democracy"

Photo of two #NoKings signs in Hilo, Hawai'i: Woman in red top and straw hat with "No ICE Fascist Occupiers" Woman in white shirt a cap with "Stay WOKE. Resist: Fascism. Racism. MAGA. Greed. Oligarchs."

My hand painted sign for the day: Stay WOKE. RESIST: Fascism. Racism. MAGA. Greed. Oligarchs. "

#NoKings #NoTyrants in Hilo, Hawai'i. #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe
Stay WOKE. RESIST: Fascism. Racism. MAGA. Greed. Oligarchs.
#StayWoke #PeaceHopeWoke #RESIST

Photo of various types of ti plants with leaf colors ranging from green, red, and variegated colors. The Ti plant, or Cordyline fruticosa, is a tropical evergreen plant with deep cultural significance in Hawaii. Known as "Ki" in Hawaiian, it's considered sacred to the god Lono and the goddess Laka of hula, symbolizing high rank and protection. Polynesians brought the Ti plant to Hawaii, where it was used for food, as well as for spiritual and medicinal purposes.

Photo of stephanotis blossoms drying after being washed for lei-making.

Koʻoloaʻula, is a rare and endangered shrub native to Hawaii. It's characterized by its coarsely-toothed, silvery, heart-shaped leaves and medium to dark red flowers. Efforts are underway to protect its habitat and establish new populations.

Palapalai is a very important plant in Hawaiian culture, primarily for Hula. It is one of the plants Kapu (sacred) to Laka, the goddess of hula, it is also used to adorn the Hula altar and dancer as well and is highly sought after for making lei. Many songs and chants also refer to palapalai for its beauty and cultural importance.

After a morning of picking and gathering foliage, it's time to clean and sort... for tomorrow's lei-making demos at the Hana No`eau Cultural Festival. #leiculture #hilomyhometown #leimaker #culturalpractioner #HawaiianArts

Nobody is eating the 🐕

Signs of the time!

Purple heart veteran: "Veterans like BEEF with tRump!"

"I need to be able to tell my children I did not stay silent."

Today's rally in Hilo, Hawai'i! #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #KapuAloha #NoKings #NoTyrants #PowertothePeople ✊🏾

King Kamehameha l statue.

20' ti leaf with stephanotis lei for Kamehameha statue.

Ho`ailona, an auspicious omen/sign at high noon. 🙌🏾 ☀️

Hālau Mamo O Ka Liko Maile O Kohala...

Celebrating Kamehameha l with beautiful hula, great Hawaiian music, and an auspicious ho`ailona. 🙌🏾
#Kamehameha #mokuokeawe #hilomyhometown #kanakamaoli #Hawaiian

The Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) announced today that it will relaunch the Moananuiākea Voyage this month. The double-hulled voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are tentatively scheduled to depart from Mauliola (Sand Island), Oʻahu on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with a stop in Hilo for community engagement while making final preparations and awaiting favorable weather conditions to resume the four year journey around the vast Pacific.

hokulea.com/hilo-to-host...
"Hokule`a 🌟 of gladness..."
#Polynesian #Pacifica #Pasifika #PolynesianVoyagingSociety #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #indigenouswisdom #sailing @noaa.gov @altnoaa.bsky.social

Yellow plumeria flower and puakenikeni lei, and mauka/makai earrings 💛

Photo of yellow plumeria flower and puakenikeni lei, green orchids and palapalai fern kupe`e, and other adornments.

Celebrated the first week of May with lei. #maydayisleidayinhawaii #leiculture #hilomyhometown #PunaHawaii #blessed

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi... celebrating lei culture at the Hilo Lei Day Festival, attendees learn different styles of lei-making and enjoy live Hawaiian music and hula. #maydayisleidayinhawaii #leiculture #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #hula

Ti plants and leaves.

Neighborhood flowers and foliage for lei-making.

Variegated ti plants and kupukupu ferns.

Wednesday morning activity:
Picked lei materials in my neighborhood of Waiakea ahupua`a for tomorrow's Hilo Lei Day Festival. Picking and prepping flowers and foliage is a major part of leimakers' kūleana (responsibility). #maydayisleidayinhawaii #hiloleidayfestival #hilomyhometown #leiculture

I always attend Ho`ike night during Merrie Monarch Festival to view the authentic, unpretentious, and mana-ful Hālau o Kekuhi. This is real and true hula. 🙌🏾 #hula #KanakaMaoli #Hawaiian #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #culturalheritage #tellingstories @kanaeokana.bsky.social

Kīpaepae welina. Welcome opening. #MerrieMonarch2025 #Hula #hilomyhometown #native #ceremony 🙌🏾
youtu.be/DqVNDpHV1uU?...

Photo of Hawai'i Tribune Herald newspaper "Celebrate Hula" pullout featuring 5 hula dancers and blue bowl with locally grown papaya, banana, and orange.

Easter Sunday and Merrie Monarch Festival...
Our local Hilo newspaper, Hawai'i Tribune Herald's "Celebrate Hula" pullout and locally grown papaya, 🍌 and 🍊 breakfast. #hilomyhometown #hula #growyourown #MerrieMonarchFestival #sustainability #mokuokeawe #native #Hawaiian Blessed 🙌🏾

Hilo Lei Day Festival poster with Hālau Hula, Hawaiian musicians, lei(s), and its founder, renowned cultural icon Aunty Nona Beamer.

Venmo page of Big Island nonprofit organization, Grassroots Community Development Group.

Venmo QR code for Big Island based nonprofit organization, Grassroots Community Development Group.

Aloha mai kākou 🌺
The Hilo Lei Day Festival is a beloved cultural community event celebrating lei culture and history. We did not receive sufficient funds from our usual sources for this year's 20th anniversary. Please kōkua if you can. Mahalo piha! #maydayisleidayinhawaii #hilomyhometown

My homemade sign with a few of my concerns...

Diversity of high school/college students, middle-aged public school teachers, scientists, retirees, etc. of every ethnicity, social status, and financial bracket lined the highway!

Veterans against tRump.

Diversity of high school/college students, middle-aged public school teachers, scientists, retirees, etc. of every ethnicity, social status, and financial bracket lined the highway!

Beautiful, joyful, and fearless #DEI crowd lined the highway for #HandsOFF in front of our large mall, Hilo, Hawai'i! #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #KapuAloha

Think before it's illegal!

Hands OFF free speech. Hands OFF Hawai'i.

Hands OFF science!

Hands OFF libraries! Hands OFF NPR, social security.

Beautiful, joyful, and fearless #DEI crowd in Hilo, Hawai'i! #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #KapuAloha
Spotted some great signs today.

Beautiful, joyful, and fearless #DEI crowd in Hilo, Hawai'i! #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #KapuAloha

Photo of kukui tree in Waiakea Uka. The kukui tree was named the state tree of Hawaiʻi due to its versatility. It has been cultivated by different cultures since 1300 BC, and was introduced to Hawaiʻi by Polynesian voyagers over 1000 years ago. This species is also known as the “candlenut tree”, since its most well-known purpose was as a light source – the nut oil was burned in lamps. The wood can be used to form canoes, the sap makes cloth waterproof and the roots form a salve that helps with infected injuries. Kukui is truly an all purpose plant!

No painting today for #AcolorADAYpril, but here's a photo of lots of GREEN on my late afternoon walk with a kukui tree in Waiakea Uka.
#kukui #nativehawaiianplants #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #getoutside

Photo of chartreuse green orchids in backyard.

Photo of chartreuse green orchids on stairs.

I took a break from working on grant proposals (not much painting lately)... and was greeted by these beautiful orchids on my walk around the yard. They have a lovely fragrance as well! #hilomyhometown has the perfect conditions for growing #orchids #konagirlartist #flowersofhawaii

Tree with bright yellow 💛 flowers against a blue sky with white clouds.

A hedge of lilikoi or passionfruit vines.

Ulu or breadfruit sheaths and leaves. Ulu is a high carbohydrate vegetable and a good source of calcium and vitamins. The milky sap of this tree can be used medicinally to heal cuts, scratches, and other skin diseases. Applied to the skin, Ulu sap can also be used as to soothe wind- cracked or scaly skin. Hawaiian craftsmen use the lightweight wood of the Ulu tree to build canoes, surfboards, poi boards, and drums.

Late afternoon walk in Waiakea... 🚶🏾‍♀️ trees, vines & sheaths. #walk #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe Read more about these plants in alt text. #Ulu #Lilikoi

"Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people," King David Kalakaua. Kumu Kapua and his lovely wahine, Haunani dancing beautiful hula. Hula legacy lives on... #hula #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe #merriemonarchdaswhy #Hawaiian #NaMeleOHawaii

"Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people," King David Kalakaua.
Kumu Iwalani #hula at E Komo Mai Lounge... hula legacy at its finest #hilomyhometown #mokuokeawe Obviously blessed 🙌🏾 #Hawaiian

Photo of large still river with three arched bridges, palms, and banyan trees in the distance.

Afternoon walk at Wailoa River State Park... 🚶🏾‍♀️ #hilomyhometown
#MarchIntoLandscapes #mokuokeawe #walking #phonephotography

Photo of orchid plant and beach slide sandals on raindrenched landing.

Backdoor landing, ho`oilo* morning view...
#hilomyhometown #lifeinthetropics SHOES...? #FebruARTy2025 *Hawai'i has two seasons: Kauwela - hot/dry & Ho`oilo - cold/wet.

Honoli`i Get Sets
Acrylic on Canvas. 16"×20"
My daughter's homebreak 🌊🏄🏽‍♀️ #surfart #JanuArty Monocromatic #Ocean @bsky.art @womensartbluesky.bsky.social #hilomyhometown

Purple and white Sig Zane tea length mu`u (2008) worn at He Hali`a No Lili'uokalani Festival 2018. #muumuumonth #alohawear #SigZaneDesigns #hilomyhometown

E komo mai! Come and view this beautiful and informative exhibit featuring the iconic Hawaiian fashion statement, mu`umu`u... including a few lole (garments) from my vintage mu`u collection. #muumuu #alohaattire #vintagehawaii #hula #fashionhistory #hilomyhometown