 Original wili (wrap) lei styles made by Huraiti Mana's Kalei'okalani Although graduation season is over, I'm still creating wili lei at every chance I get. Wili is the traditional Native-Hawaiian style of wrapping flowers and greens with raffia material to create stunning lei. Away from home, I'm unable to use most traditional flower like ohi'a lehua or plumeria, but I learn to carry on tradition with new elements I find here in my second home, Seattle. Making lei is a labor of love, a tradition known across the islands of the Pacific. Lei connects us all. It is a calming, soothing, and creative process, one that strengthens connections between those who create lei and those for whom they are made. Coming soon, Huraiti Mana will be hosting Wili Iti - workshops for creating your very own lei for someone special, as a keepsake, or as a celebratory gift. Stay posted. Aloha no!
 Our youngest huraiti, Maya, before performing at FOCS Art Fest 2017. Photos by Matika Wilbur Families of Color Seattle put on a great, amazing program and fun-filled day Sunday, June 4, 2017 as a part of their FOCS Art Fest 2017! Educational booths lined the perimeter of the historic Washington Hall space, and the entire center of the room was filled with so many families, friends, and young children dancing non-stop as each performer took the stage. It was such an inspiring experience, seeing all of these community members come together to celebrate arts, performers of color, cultural diversity, and each other.
Huraiti Mana proudly performed with such internationally acclaimed and well renowned talent - mahalo nui loa for having us! Guayaba | Au Collective | FICA Seattle Studio Capoeira Angola | DoNormaal | Daniel Pak | Northwest Tap Connection | Kouyate Arts | Massive Monkees And mauruuru roa to FOCS for all the work you do to inspire and foster a more just future for our children.  Kalei teaches hula to a room full of participants of all ages at the Seattle Center Armory Room Our first-ever Northwest Folklife Festival appearance! Huraiti Mana held a 45-minute hula cultural workshop, sharing stories, laughing, and working hard together as we discussed briefly about my experiences teaching dance and about the history of Native-Hawaiian traditions, while, of course, dancing hula. It was a hot, sunny day in Seattle, and we were feeling it as we moved through proper form and stance, exercised basic hula step, and touched on contemporary choreography. Following our dance workshop, we moved into the kid's Discovery Zone and hosted lei-making with fresh orchids. Keiki, or children, asked about the ancient traditions behind lei-making while their parents flipped through books about various master lei-making styles and techniques. We had such great conversations and met a lot of folks that day. Mahalo nui loa to everyone who joined us, and we hope you enjoyed yourselves!
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