Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 5, 1 May 2011 — Waimea Valley welcomes new cultural practitioner [ARTICLE]

Waimea Valley welcomes new cultural practitioner

Waimea Valley is pleased to announee the addition of lei maker Melvin "Moki" Labra to the 'ohana of visiting cultural practitioners at Wahnea Vahey. "Moki," a name given to him by his father, onee worked and perfonned in the Valley as a member of Hālau 'o Wahnea from 1984 to 1998. In 1989, he met master lei maker Ray Wong, who encouraged him to him to enter the City and County of Honolulu's annual Lei Day contest. Labra entered four lei that year and won the grand prize and continued to enter the contest for eight more years. Labra is knowledgeable in various methods of making lei, including lei haku (braiding), hih (braiding/plaiting), humupapa (sewing to a backing), kui (to string pierced objects) and wili (winding/twisting). Visitors ean see "Moki" making lei on Mondays from

10 a.ni. to 3 p.m. at the Valley, located at 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, across from Wahnea Bay. Labra joins other cultural practitioners at the Valley: Reni Beho, who demonstrates kapa making and feather work on Mondays; Iosh Torres, a practitioner who shares the art of launiu, or coconut weaving on Tuesdays; and Alika Bajo, who demonstrates kalaipōhaku, or stone

E kala mai The April issue reprinted an incorrect phone number for the state Department of Consumer Affairs' Action Line. The correct phone number is 591-0222. KWO regrets the error.

carving, two Fridays a month. The l,800-acre valley, whieh is owned by OHA and preserved in perpetuity, offers an authentic cultural window into the lifestyle and customs of the Hawaiian people through daily programs and activities. Admission ranges from $5 to $8. Annual passes are also available. For more infonnation on the daily activities at Waimea Valley, visit www.waimeavalley.net.

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