News & Events
News & Events
April 2019
Newsletter: April on Maui "Hawaiian Alphabet" by Caroline Killhour The Hawaiian language is one of the oldest living languages in the world. Today, only about .1% of the people who live in Hawaii speak its native tongue.Before 1820, Hawaiian was strictly an oral...
March 2019
Newsletter: Makaki (March) on Maui "Soft Petals" by Christine Waara Plumeria Plumeria's are often associated with Hawai'i and have become a symbol representative of our state.Not native to Hawai'i, Plumeria's were brought here in 1860 by a German botanist, where they...
February 2019
Newsletter: February on Maui Blown Glass Wave by Ryan Staub He'e Nalu (Surfing) in Hawai'iSurfing is believed to have originated in ancient Polynesia, and later thrived in Hawai'i. The first record of surfing was made by Lieutenant James King in 1779. He noted how fun...
Discover the Significance of Ni‘ihau Shell Jewelry at Maui Hands
Working with Hawaiian artisans, Maui Hands is helping to preserve this traditional craft and offers these wearable pieces of art.
Nov. 3, 2024 — Imagine walking or cycling miles to a beach, then spending all day under the hot sun, in the sand, picking tiny little shells. This is the life for a small population of Native Hawaiian residents on the private island of Ni‘ihau where the fine folk art of making shell leis developed so many hundreds of years ago. With an ecosystem unspoiled by the modern conveniences most are used to, the people of Ni‘ihau contribute to preserving their unique dialect of the Hawaiian language and culture with their dedication to living the lifestyle of their ancestors. The surrounding coral beds remain untouched by outside influences, allowing the tiny shells — pūpū ‘o Ni‘ihau — to develop their prized shine and delicacy….
NBC NEWS: Fearful of ‘Covid 2.0,’ Maui business owners say they welcome tourism
The wildfires have sparked tension between grieving residents who say now is not the time to travel to the island and those who rely on tourism to survive.
By Alicia Victoria Lozano. Photos by Josiah Patterson for NBC News.
Aug. 18, 2023, 10:00 AM HST — LAHAINA, Hawaii — Nearly two weeks after deadly wildfires burned much of west Maui to the ground and left more than 100 people dead, the island remains open for business, say workers and shop owners who rely on tourism to pay their bills. But their desire to keep visitors coming has sparked tensions with residents who say now is not the time to travel to the island.
“We’re really in pain, but I have no trouble with a customer coming in with a smile on their face,” said Panna Cappelli, whose art gallery on Front Street and the work of some 200 local artists were all but destroyed when the historic town of Lahaina was leveled.
Cappelli has three galleries on other parts of the island that were not affected by the fire, and said she cannot afford to pay her employees or donate to Lahaina residents if customers don’t continue shopping: “I need them to buy something.” …
INSIDER: A Maui restaurant owner is ‘praying visitors will start to come back soon’
By Jyoti Mann.
Aug 20, 2023, 5:19 AM HST — EXCERPTED FROM ORIGINAL ARTICLE — … Panna Cappelli, owner of the Maui Hands art galleries, added that it was “hard to be” in her Makawao store “greeting the few remaining tourists with a smile” when she wanted to cry after her Lahaina gallery burned down in one of the fires.
“One gets the feeling that trouble cannot find you out here, on a tiny speck in the ocean,” she said. “It did, in the perfect storm of intense wind and drought and we are horrified at the consequences. Everyone you speak to has a story of loss. Everyone you speak to has a story of heroism.”
She said tourists should still visit Maui but asked them to “be respectful,” saying she didn’t want people to take photos of where their homes and businesses once stood and make them talk about their pain and losses. …
KHON2: Hotel to homeless: Displaced Maui residents face uncertainty
By Bryce Moore.
Sep 26, 2023, 06:01 PM HST — HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lahaina residents who lost their homes have been staying in hotels, but where will they go next? Some property owners have opened up rentals and those who were displaced hope longer-term solutions materialize.
… Nearby residents are trying to step up for others. Panna Cappelli renovated her cottage in Kula and spent the last month painting, cleaning and furnishing.
“And I really would like to help somebody devastated by the fire as opposed to just renting it,” Cappelli said.
Cappelli is open to month-to-month tenants and said the cottage will be available indefinitely.
“I think people are so, so unsettled right now. I’m not asking anybody to commit anything,” Cappelli said. “This needs to evolve into permanent spaces.” …
Click here to read the full article and view the video segment on khon2.com.
Past Artists-In-Residence Events (August 2023 & Earlier)
May Artists in Residence
The art of our Artists in Residence top left: Diane Appler // top right: Stacey Vosberg middle left: Luana Kama // middle right: Christine Halton bottom left: Amanda Scott // bottom right: Ariel Quiroz last row: Steve Rinaldi...
April Artists in Residence
The art of our Artists in Residence first row left: Mort Luby // first row right: Christine Halton second row left: Christine Waara // second row right: Jack Hamilton third row left: Steve Rinaldi // third row right: Luana Kama fourth row left:...
March Artists in Residence
The art of our Artists in Residence top left: Luana Kama // top right: Jeanne Young middle left: Mort Luby // middle right: Sandra Greenberg bottom left: Cecilia Chenault // bottom right: Ariel Quiroz ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE FOR MARCH...