Category: Featured

Wahi Pana Auwahi

Wahi Pana (sacred place) Auwahi is the newest exhibition at Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao. The show features invited artists as well as juried artists in all formats. Congratulations to all who make up this excellent exhibition that comes together to “bring the forest to the people through art.”

Comprised of volunteers, the Auwahi Forest Restoration Project originated in 1997 as a collaborative community effort to save the endangered Auwahi dry forest on southwest Haleakala. Many culturally important Hawaiian species can be found in this biological sanctuary, one of the last representations of an endangered Hawaiian forest type. I hope the Hui No’eau will continue to support this small nonprofit and the important work that they do.

Similar to the restoration project working quietly in the background is the large backdrop of this exhibit. The installation that stole the show was the Juror/Artist in Residence, Mazatl’s site-specific piece. He painted the entire room behind the area where the receptionist greets everyone. Very rarely are we treated to such a powerful and magical presentation.

The walls and ceiling, doors and shelves are consumed by the painting. Every viewer becomes part of the piece, turning in the room to see the space surrounded by the installation, looking dwarfed next to the main characters. In Japan they ask you to not talk when you enter the museum so everyone can enjoy the artwork in silence. Good plan. Silence is better for this viewing. If I tried to find the words to describe the work it would dilute the experience. Go see it before August 3rd at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center.

To learn more about the Auwahi Forest Restoration Project, visit their website.

 

Baldwin Beach Park

Located off the Hana Highway just minutes from the airport and in walking distance of Paia Town is H.A. Baldwin Beach Park. “Baldwin Beach” is Maui’s most popular north shore park. Named after Henry Alexander Baldwin (1871-1846), the park was donated and dedicated in the year following his death. H.A. was the grandson of Dwight Baldwin, one of the early missionaries to the island of Maui.

H.A. Baldwin was a sugar cane plantation manager, business owner, and politician during the U.S. takeover of the Hawaiian islands. Baldwin served as a Senator in Hawaii’s early Territorial Government. He was also a member of the House of Representatives and a Congressional Delegate.

Baldwin Beach Park was the site of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s recreation area and was dedicated to Henry Baldwin by the company. Consisting of 17.2 beautiful acres and highlighted from the highway by a magnificent row of very tall palm trees, it has a pavilion that has been modified and maintained by Maui County throughout the years for picnics and events. 

The beach has a lifeguard tower for the oftentimes rough surf that can pound the shoreline, especially in wintertime when swells from the north can make this water dangerous.

Next door and quite visible from the park is the Rinzai Zen temple founded by the Reverend Nashin Okamoto in 1932. The temple that now stands was built by Okamoto’s pupil, Reverend Kiyoshi Oshira after the original one was destroyed by the 1946 tsunami. The bell and campus are all visible from the park and are accessible to the public. Just be sure to check their schedule of events.

Rinzai Zen Mission (photo: rinzai-maui.org)

I most like visiting this stretch of beach in the early morning. It offers fantastic sunrise views as well as spectacular views of the West Maui Mountains and the entrance to Iao Valley, all highlighted by the early morning sun.

Baldwin is also a great spot for dog walkers. Sometimes the heat is intense, but there’s plenty of cool sand by the shoreline. A calm surf day makes for a fun easy stroll. Large crowds fill this beach as the day progresses, so mornings can be best for pups too.

For more about Baldwin Beach Park’s facilities, visit the County of Maui website.

Ryan Anderson and Samba Maui

Meet Ryan Anderson. He is one of the remarkable residents on Maui that contribute to making living here extraordinary! He is a geometry teacher at Haleakala Waldorf, professional beekeeper and co-director of Samba Maui. The Ryan I know is a performance artist who reaches his audience through rhythmical drumming. Months of rehearsals go into his performances but it goes beyond practicing on the drums. He and his mixed age troop went out to gather waste material on the beach for their costumes for the Art of Trash in April. While they spent time together, it was also for the purpose of building their experience of being part of a group. Drummers come together individually and eventually play as a whole, as one heart beating. Their intended goal is to beat as one and collaborate with the audience through their piece. His desire is to move the audience to participate and become part of the event.

My personal experience as part of the audience was energizing. I was calmly waiting for 6pm when Ryan and his group were to start playing at Wailuku’s First Friday. He was waiting for me to give him the signal to start. When I nodded he started, “BOOM, BOOM, BOOM de BOOM…” and the rest of the group chimed in. He and his student drummers began dancing and drumming down Market Street. Immediately, the First Friday audience turned around to see what was happening. I watched as many had the same reaction as me…I couldn’t stop smiling and my feet insisted on joining in! People moved their bodies, bounced to the beat and raised their arms in time. Most of their faces were asking, “can anyone join this parade?”

Once the drumming and music began, I was forced to stop thinking in my head and my spirit filled my body. The music put me in the here and now. I wanted to dance before this good feeling stopped! It made me so happy to see the reactions of other people feeling good. People were not expecting to throw their heads back and laugh loudly, grab their little kids and run into the street and dance with us. “This drumming thing is primal isn’t it?” I asked Ryan. “Sure is,” he agreed. “Everyone has a beating heart, and everyone is rhythmical. Itʻs our job to come together and celebrate our collective abilities.”

I wonder if next time I can be more than an enthusiastic audience member. Ryan encouraged me to join the open group. Any age is the requirement. Samba Maui will teach anyone, any age – No experience necessary. That’s the kind of requirement I qualify for!

Visit the Samba Maui Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events.