Hula has always been such a huge part of Janene's life and my own. It was during our Saturday hula lessons with Auntie Kanani Bell that Janene and I first became hula sisters and friends.
Thirty years ago, Kim Taylor Reece—the infamous sepia hula photographer—asked me to participate in several hula photo shoots with him. It was hard work, a lot of fun and such a great honor.
When Janene and I launched Aloha Inspiration in Oct 2017, the very first person we wanted to interview was KTR. We drove out to his beautiful Hauula Hale and Kim and Kanoe welcomed us into their amazing art gallery/home where every surface is a tribute to his iconic work.
It was such a heart warming reunion, and I realized how much I missed Kim. Two months later, Kim and Kanoe invited Aloha Inspiration to be a part of the Merrie Monarch Marketplace in the newly renovated Naniloa Hotel. Kim was commissioned to decorate the entire hotel with his artwork. The hotel is absolutely stunning, and should be re-named the “The Hula Hale” Janene and I had the most amazing time at Merrie Monarch last year, as there is an extra special magical concoction of ALOHA fairy dust to be inhaled only on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Aloha Inspiration is so excited to return to the Big Island of Hawaii for the 55th annual Merrie Monarch festival where you can find us selling our most popular tanks and tees from April 6-9, 2018 in the lobby of the Naniloa Hotel : KOLOHE, HULA SISTAH, HULA HIPPIE AND ALOHA SOUL.