Anahulu Hoʻēmi 9/12 – 9/21/2025

Aloha kākou, 

Over this past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend Waimea Valley’s 17th annual Kalo and ʻAwa Festival. This event is always a wonderful experience to engage with community members, support and learn from other vendors, and, of course, enjoy kalo and ʻawa with some good company. 

While there was a lot happening on the ground and among the booths and central stage, there was a lot going on all around us as well. I took the above photo when I was looking up at the swaying canopy above me, admiring the branches of one of the tallest gardenia plants I have ever seen—and I noticed for the first time a bird’s nest pitching wildly in the wind. The intersections of branches holding the nest safely in the gusts was an apt metaphor for the strengthening of connections on the ground.