PA'I Foundation to showcase MaMo artists and crafters at Pa'akai Marketplace

Native Hawaiian arts and culture will shine at Paʻakai Marketplace slated for Friday, October 21 from 5-9 p.m. at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako. Sticks & Pōhaku (above) will sell culturally inspired items at the event. Other vendors will include jewelry artist Nalu Andrade and weaver Lufi Luteru.

Oct. 19, 2016

Contributed by Mae Nishimura

Native Hawaiian arts and culture will shine at Paʻakai Marketplace, a monthly series of shopping events held at the Kamehameha Schools retail complex, SALT at Our Kaka‘ako. The inaugural event, featuring local artists, crafters and cultural practitioners, is slated for this Friday Oct. 21, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

PA‘I Foundation – a Hawaiian arts and culture preservation organization – will host the family-friendly events on the third Friday of every month. In addition to great shopping, the marketplace will feature live music and entertainment.

Friday’s participants include jewelry artists Nalu Andrade and Kaleimaeole Latronic, weaver Lufi Luteru, master painter Brook Parker, makeup artist Jonathan Freitas, and Jo Ann Ogawa of Hawaiian Totes and Things.

“We envision the Pa‘akai Marketplace as a gathering place for our community – a social hub for family, friends, artists and cultural practitioners to meet, share and learn from each other,” says Vicky Holt Takamine, executive director of the PA‘I Foundation.

“In addition to sharing a name (Pa‘akai means “salt” in Hawaiian), Pa‘akai Marketplace and SALT at Our Kaka‘ako also share a vision – and that vision is to bring the community back to the salt ponds of ancient times.”

Gary Evora, KS commercial real estate senior asset manager, praises the partnership.

“SALT at Our Kaka‘ako is very excited to bring the monthly installments of Pa‘akai Marketplace to our bustling retail center,” he says. “This innovative event helps Kamehameha Schools cultivate a strong Native Hawaiian identity which aligns with goal 3 of KS’ Strategic Plan 2020.”

Our Kaka‘ako encompasses nine city blocks in the heart of Kaka‘ako centered around the arts, culture and creative hub on Auahi, Keawe and Coral streets. It’s an emerging epicenter for Hawai’i’s urban-island culture that is an incubator for a variety of artists, chefs, influencers and entrepreneurs. Rooted in Hawaiian cultural values, Our Kaka‘ako is built on empowering creativity, cultivating innovation and building a truly unique, local community.

About SALT

SALT at Our Kakaʻako is an 85,000-square-foot curated retail, restaurant and mixed-use space owned by Kamehameha Schools. It is named after the pa‘akai (salt) ponds that once dotted the low-lying wetlands of the area.

In ancient times community members would gather near the shore to make pa‘akai while farmers and fishermen traded and shared other valuable resources. Pa‘akai Marketplace pays homage to the history of the urban area by being a gathering place for families, friends and visitors.

SALT is shaping up to be one of Honolulu’s epicenters for local culture, food, shopping and innovative events. Get a taste of SALT at Our Kakaʻako here.

PA‘I Foundation will host the family-friendly events on the third Friday of every month.
Credit: PAʻI Foundation