Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 5, 1 May 2007 — Bringing Mana to Waikīkī [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Bringing Mana to Waikīkī

īhe much-anticipated Mana Hawai'i hui of Hawaiian arts businesses opens at the new Beach Walk retail center in the heart of Hawai'i's tourism powerhouse

By Derek Ferrar Public lnformation Specialist On Saturday, April 21, a packed house of wellwishers crowded the new Beach Walk shopping development in Waiklkī for the grand opening of Mana Hawai'i, a unique hui of Hawaiian arts retailers offering everything from books, music and island crafts to hula implements, 'ukuleles, and even lomilomi massage. Amid hula, chant and dance from the band Pa'ahana, Kumu Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia's hālau, students of Hālau Kū Māna Hawaiian charter school and more, the principals of the existing Hawaiian businesses that have

eome together to create Mana Hawai'i untied maile lei at the entrances and welcomed one and all into their snazzy l,600-square-foot sales space on the second floor of the Lewers Street shopping development. The partners in the venture are Native Books/ Nā Mea Hawai'i, The Lomi Shop Va'a, 'Ukulele House and the original Hawaiian Traders, a.k.a The Hula Supply Center. "I just want to say thank you to eaeh and every one of you who did so mueh to make this happen," a choked-up Maile Meyer of Native Books/Nā Mea Hawai'i told the crowd. "This could not have happened without your support, and I feel unbelievably grateful for the

weleome you have provided." "This is beyond business, beyond money," said Ka'uhane Lee of The Lomi Shop Va'a. "This is truly about the mana of Hawai'i, our culture and spirituality." The partners spoke of the importance of re-establishing a Hawaiian presence in Waiklkl. "Hawaiians belong in Waikīkī," read a card sent out by Native Books prior to the opening. "This is where our people picked limu, played on the waves and watched the clouds tell of tomorrow. This is where our Ali'i eame for recreation - a plaee to rest and recreate themselves in the face of constant change." "We need to feel comfortable

being in our places again," Meyer elaborated. "It's a strange phenomenon when you find yourself feeling surprised to be in a plaee we never should have left. But onee you get over that strange feeling, you realize how right it is for us to be here again." "The focus of Mana Hawai'i is really on sharing our culture," said

Mike Kop of Hawaiian Traders / The Hula Supply Center. "So we're very glad to be in Waikīkī, whieh historically has been such an important plaee for loeal people. That's something we want to convey to visitors, to share who we are, and to learn from them See MANA HAWAN on pagE 14

PĀ'OIHANA • B U S I N ESS

Students of HūIūu Kū Mōno chorter school sound the pū at the Mana Hawai'i inauguration. Photo: Derek Fem

MANA HAWAI1

Cūntinued fram page 08 as well." All of the partners emphasized that the store could never have become a reality without the backing of a number of financial supporters, including Outrigger Hotels and OHA, whieh helped support the project with a lease guarantee, a Native Hawaiian business loan and a community grant. "Our role in this is really just using the finaneial muscle that OHA is able to provide to help Hawaiian businesses succeed," said OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o. "I think with our robust current economy, there is a lot of market for what Mana Hawai'i has to offer, because visitors are looking for authentic Hawaiian products." OHA Board Chairperson Haunani Apoliona offered words of encouragement in Hawaiian: "Mana Hawai'i, Mana Hawai'i, e mau ka Mana Hawai'i; mau a mau" (may Mana Hawai'i live on and on). Ultimately, everyone involved expressed the sense of being part of something mueh larger than a store opening. "This is authentic culture, authentic mana, made by our native artisans," said the Lomi Shop's Lee. "It goes so far beyond just business." S