Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!

I would like to extend a warm mahalo to all those who purchased or received my blockprint art this year!

The horrific Lahaina fire is still in the forefront of our thoughts and now there is a need for stable housing. Hopefully, vacation rental owners will be pono by stepping up and renting long term to fire survivors.

I am grateful that groups like the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement helped Maui artists with event opportunities and the Made in Maui Festival reduced our booth fees. We live in such a special place with so much aloha!

Mahalo to friends, store accounts, customers and my ohana for your continued support. I am humbled by your kind words.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou 2024 – Imua,

Palapala

New He’e Nalu T-Shirt

I have a new mens T-shirt design – He’e Nalu (surfboard)! It is an original blockprint carving which I turned into a digital design for t-shirts. I print all my mens t-shirts in a linear, front of the shirt design format (nothing on the back). Look for this new design at any of my in-person shows.

Palapala Mens T-Shirts

My mens t-shirts are sold at in person shows, except the Merrie Monarch, and continue to be popular with those who want simple Hawaiian cultural designs on a shirt.

These t-shirts are a lightweight 4.2 ounce cotton with a smooth hand. They come in slim fit only, so size up to make room for shrinkage. The blockprint art is only on the front of the shirt. Designs are: Kalo, Wa’a or Maile.

Email palapaladesigns@gmail.com for information on purchasing one if you can’t make it to one of my craft fair events. Mahalo for your interest!

Saturday Morning Fair

I have been doing the Saturday Swap Meet in Kahului, weather permitting, as an easy way for customers to find my products. I sell from 7am – noon and try to get a booth in the first row to the right. I always have sales on my wahine clothing!  Text 808-442-2894 for updates.

New Hula Design T-Shirt!

I will debut my new Hula & Maile Blockprint Art t-shirt design at the upcoming Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo! I carved the blockprint using the Maile plant as inspiration. The Maile is one of the important plants associated with Laka, the goddess of the hula. A Hawaiian hula rule proverb: Kuhi no ka lima, hele no ka maka translates to: where the hand moves,  let the eyes follow.

New Dress Colors!

 

I will have new dresses in fun colors at the Ki Ho’alu Slack Key Festival, June 26, on the grounds of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. One of my favorite new colors is this bright electric blue! I will have this color in sleeveless and cap sleeve dresses. Hele mai – let’s support Hawaiian music while enjoying our beautiful Maui weather.

New Wahine Tops

 

 

New for summer 2022 – wahine sleeveless tops with a relaxed straight fit and side slits. A bright green Laua’e blockprint design adds a fun Hawaiian touch. I will have these available at Agfest on June 4th and the Ki Ho’alu Festival on June 26th while supplies last. (see past posts for details on events)

Laua’e Pillow Cover for 2022!

One of my best selling Pillow Cover designs, the Laua’e, is now sewn in a beautiful brown/gray cotton fabric which complements the current trend in gray home decor. The Laua’e blockprint is hand printed in a dark green and is repeated over the entire pillow cover for a Hawaiian accent to any home.

2022 Spring Craft Fairs

Ho’omau 2022: I will be at several in-person craft fairs this spring 2022, beginning with the all day fundraiser for the Hawaiian language immersion preschool – Punana Leo o Maui on March 26th at the Maui Botanical Gardens in Kahului. Some of the performances will includes award winning entertainers such as Kuana Torres Kahele, Josh Tatofi, Napua Grieg and Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka, Ikaika Blackburn, Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi and many more. The craft fair with beautiful Hawaiian products is a much anticipated Maui event for locals and visitors alike.                          Tickets $15 advance, $20 at the door. Hours 9am – sunset.

Merrie Monarch Hula Festival Arts and Craft Fair: April 20-23, 2022 in Hilo from 9am -5pm (Saturday 9am -4pm). I will have a booth in the Butler building next to the gym. Come the first day if possible for the best selection as I am usually sold out by the third day. This year there will also be tickets sold to the public for Ho’ike night on Wednesday, April 20th. Tickets are cash only ($5), sold in person, on a first come first serve basis. (No tickets will be sold for the Hula competition nights).

Lani (on the right) and I welcome you to my Palapala Designs booth. E komo mai!

 

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou 2022!

Dancing hula at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center

I took this photo back in 2019 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. All the keiki had removed their slippers and went on stage to perform, leaving this cute array of shoes all over the pavement. It will be wonderful when we restart these performances again where we can gather, hug, honi and celebrate the Hawaiian culture through hula and music.

Mahalo to all my customers who came out to the in-person Made in Maui Festival and purchased my blockprint art. It was so good to see you and talk story! Mahalo also to those who supported my online store with your purchases during the first and second Festival days. I am so grateful to all of you!

There may be an in-person Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Festival in April, so fingers crossed and I had many requests for appearing again at the Saturday Swap Meet in Kahului. Once this latest Omicron covid variant subsides, I may return on a regular basis.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou & Malama pono,

Palapala