Sharing Aloha
While ‘Ohana Island Style has been teaching cultural classes to tour groups for two years out of its Waikiki Beach Walk studio, it’s only recently that it has expanded its reach to the general public. Now, anybody can sign up to participate in its lei-making, hula, ‘ukulele or Hawaiian quilt-making classes.
Plus, as of last August, the studio also now doubles as a boutique specializing in Hawaiian-made clothing and handcrafts.
“We want to continue to teach and educate people what Hawaiian-made products are and why they are so important to our people and in our culture,” says ‘Ohana Island Style manager Ger-maine Haili.
Products include hand-crafted bracelets and earrings made with shells found in island waters, flower hair pieces, photography of local beaches, hula attire, koa jewelry and natural island-made fragrances and soaps.
The brainchild of cultural and entertainment advisors in Waikiki, ‘Ohana Island Style was created as a way to share Hawaiian culture with visitors.
“Our [goal] is to keep the Hawaiian culture alive, and to remind people where we are from and what we do,” Haili says.
“Every person that walks in this door, they take away with them a new vision—something that they haven’t gotten while they were staying [in Waikiki],” Haili says.
Hula classes are offered at 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Schedules for other classes were to be announced at the time of this writing. Participants should call a day prior to reserve a spot.
‘Ohana Island Style
Waikiki Beach Walk
226 Lewers St., Suite 206 [C:7 Waikiki Map]
(808) 923-3377
www.ohanaislandstyle.com
