CMA Hawaii x FLUX Hawaii Magazine's Talk Story Sessions

Why didn't they teach me this in school??

You know the feeling...after maxing out your credit card...after dating a loser for six months too long...after learning anything the hard way...you sit there and think, why didn't they teach me this in school??

That's the exact thing I thought to myself after attending Talk Story Sessions, put on by CMA Hawaii and FLUX Magazine Hawaii this past Saturday at the Waikiki Edition Hotel. Thankfully though, it was successful local designers, artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs sharing these important life lessons, not the School of Hard Knocks.

The purpose of the event was "to promote arts and music education in Hawai'i with Talk Story Sessions, designed to educate, evolve and inspire the local creative set through interactive dialoguing." Each time slot had two speakers who participants could elect to "talk story" with. I attended the sessions with Nella Media Group, Brandon Reid of The Manifest, and Mari Matsuda of CMA Hawaii.



Nella Media Group is a local media company that specializes in magazine publishing and design, PR, brand management and creative advertising campaigns, and is perhaps best known for publishing the Chinatown newspaper and innov8 magazine. Speaking at the session was Jason Cutinella (the "Nella" behind NMG), Valerie Sanchez (the self-proclaimed "dream crusher"), and Chance Carpenter (the stylish architect turned graphic designer). The trio had a clever way of organizing their Talk Story Session. Jason talked about Vision - his personal vision of NMG and how important it was for him to partner with others that could help him fulfill and elevate that vision. His talk led into Valerie's discussion of Production. As the "dream crusher" and "email nazi" of the team, Valerie's role is to provide structure and to create systems for the company. She stressed the importance of keeping on track with schedules, calendars, and always following up. Chance rounded out the session with a fun and aptly designed power point on Execution. He discussed the designer's role of making his team's or client's vision a tangible reality, through at many times, playing a therapist or mind-reader.

Brandon Reid of The Manifest started his Talk Story Session with asking the crowd (and perhaps himself) "Is this really happening??" The owner of the Chinatown coffee shop/bar/art gallery immediately got the audience on his side with his honest disbelief that his successes have taken him to the point where we would spend our Sunday listening to him speak. He made us feel that he was one of us, just your typical local guy from a public school education and divorced parents...but one who achieved his amazing vision of a place that would serve the Honolulu Chinatown and art communities. He made us feel that if we persevere, we can make our dreams reality too.

This sense of realness remained throughout Brandon's talk. He talked about the death of his father, being duped out of his money, and people who doubted his dream to build The Manifest, among other life tales. Yet through his hardships and despite the nay-sayers, Brandon pushed forward with his goal. "What kind of man would I be if I didn't make things better?", Brandon had thought to himself at a point in his journey. He advised that if your idea will help serve the community, people will want to see it succeed and will put their $1 down to help you see it through.

Mari Matsuda is a professor at the UH Richardson School of Law. She began her Talk Story Session with stating that many people believe that our generation is apathetic towards creating positive social change. She continued with video clips of protests by young people - Arizona high schoolers, University of Rutgers students, rappers from L.A. and London, and finally Kauai natives in protest of the Super Ferry in 2007. 

The proof was there - our generation does care about social causes and wants change. It's just a matter of putting yourself out there as a concerned individual and banding with like-minded people in order to enlist that change. Members of the audience questioned, "But how do we make a difference? How can we protest?" Mari answered simply to start small. Start with a small, obtainable goal and get a handful of friends to support you. In that success, people feel a change within themselves - that they can make a difference and that they actually like that feeling. This "something small" builds the kind of imagination and courage that leads to big social change. I think she drove the point home when she asked the group why did we all come out to the day's event...because there is a feeling our gut and we can envision that things can be better.

I think the over-arching theme throughout all the sessions I attended was to make your life one that's worth living. Jason Cutinella said "At Nella Media Group, we get to create our own lifestyle." Brandon Reid asked the group "Why would we leave the things we want to do in life for someone else to experience?" And Mari Matsuda simply put it, "Just do it." I took away from these three sessions that if you have the courage to follow your gut instinct, you can indeed find that sense of personal fulfillment that we all are longing for. I hope to continually attend these Talk Story Sessions and will definitely be on the lookout for more positivity and inspiration coming out from CMA Hawaii and FLUX Magazine.

In The News: Family Signature

A sneak peak of one of the t-shirt designs for the ITO: Interisland Travelwrights event

In today's Honolulu Star Advertiser, Style Editor Nadine Kam writes about "ITO: Interisland Travelwrights", the Interisland Terminal x Zane Family collaborative installation/pop-up shop happening from June 3 - 12 at the Waikiki Parc Hotel. The event will "highlight the unique and beloved approach that the Zane Family brings to their creative work as cultural practitioners and designers of contemporary aloha attire."

For the article in its entirety, visit the Star Advertiser webpage here, and for more information on the event itself, visit the Interisland Terminal webpage here.


Interisland Terminal’s “ITO: Travelwrights” is about to take off, with Sig Zane, Nalani Kanaka‘ole and their son Kuha‘o Zane in the pilot seat on a journey that touches on Hawaii travel, past, present and future.

Sig Zane is a Hilo-based designer known for his limited-edition prints that mix contemporary graphic elements with ideas rooted in Hawaiian culture and ideals. Kanaka‘ole is a Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner and kumu hula for the Hilo-based Halau O Kekuhi, a duty she shares with her sister Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele. Both are the daughters of renowned hula practitioner Edith Kanaka‘ole, whose name graces the stadium that is home to the annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition.

Kuha‘o Zane gained his love of hula through his parents and is recognized for the street style he brought to The Cutlery and now to Sig Zane Designs.

The art and design event, opening June 2 at the Waikiki Parc Hotel and continuing through June 12, brings the Big Island family of visual and performing artists to Oahu in a collaborative pop-up boutique and art exhibition featuring a trio of art unveilings and talk-story sessions with each artist, as well as a “Piano & Bubbles” session that offers insight into the family’s creative dynamic.

It’s not every kid who’s willing to collaborate with Mom and Dad into adulthood, but Sig Zane said they brought Kuha‘o into their creative sessions early “and we’re lucky he still wants to eat dinner with us.”

“‘Piano and bubbles’ is a thing we do all the time. It’s how we come up with ideas,” Zane said. “It really started when Kuha‘o was a child. We’d sit down to eat dinner and we’d recap the things happening to us during the day or the week.

“As he got older, we took that one step further, continuing to meet and talk about creative ideas, hashing out what must be done to keep moving forward.”

Over the years, the family added a backdrop of soft piano music to accompany their discussions, with glasses of champagne that helped ideas flow.

It’s how “ITO: Travelwrights” came to be after the artists were invited by the arts group Interisland Terminal to show on Oahu. Interisland Terminal was founded in January 2009 by art-minded individuals as a way of helping Hawaii reach its creative potential by encouraging creative approaches to civic and social challenges.

Playing off the name and mission of Interisland Terminal, the family adopted the three-alphabet code for the Hilo International Airport, ITO, adding “Travelwrights” as a reference to savvy travelers who are able to move through the world with ease, speed and comfort.

Because their business involves frequent interisland travel, Zane said they care how they travel and what they carry with them.

“This led us to create a line of accessories that we would want to use ourselves,” he said.

This includes a range of comfortable clothing, totes, bags, computer and other cases to manage lives complicated by gadgets.

“Even a simple thing, like something to hold all your computer wires — how do you carry that? We all need these things as technology has evolved,” he said.

Linking each item is a fabric print, available in dozens of colors, featuring the imprint of each of the designers, incorporating elements applied with the ohe kapala, or bamboo stamp, on a triangular grid representing the stars that guided ancient Polynesian travelers. Within the grid are Kanaka‘ole’s stylized mantas, swimming in great numbers that would have been visible to ocean travelers; Sig Zane’s kaula, or canoe lashing; and Kuha‘o Zane’s graphic rendering of the braided rope.

In his own artwork, to be unveiled June 7, Sig Zane contemplated the position of being a “citizen of the window seat.”

“When we fly, everyone always wants that window seat, where they can see what things look like and get another perspective from the air. Taking off and being in the clouds is like being in the cloud of ideas. It gives you that time to be still, clear our minds, meditate and really see what’s out there.”

In The News: Project Runway's Andy South Produces New Line



Photo by Olivier Koning


In this month's issue of Honolulu Magazine, Karin Gallagher writes about local fashion designer Andy Southiphong, better known as Andy South. The article tells of the "lithe, soft spoken and unfailingly polite" 24-year-old designer's Waianae upbringings and his rise to fame during Project Runway last year. More recently, SOUTH by Andy South's Fall 2011 collection debuted in March and will be available for sale at Neiman Marcus at Ala Moana Shopping Center in August.

One particularly interesting part of the article was the mention of South's commitment to human rights in the production of his line. Last year, he made a trip to southern China to personally make sure that the facilities in which his garmets were made were all up to standard. It's that kind of ethic that makes this local boy's popularity even that much more great.

For more about Andy South and his work, read the article in its entirety here.

Project and Process: New Hawaiian Home

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA), the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), and the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) have teamed up to work on an awesome project to promote green building and living in Hawaii. Called the New Hawaiian Home, this project has gathered some of the leaders in Hawaii's building industry to design and build an energy-, water-, and resource-efficient residential home in Kaimuki, Oahu, all with the intention of educating local contractors and home owners about sustainable building. Amazingly, the home is designed to LEED Platinum and ANSI Silver National Green Building standards, and will also incorporate aquaponics and composting systems, edible/useful landscaping, and solar clothing dryers (aka Hawaiian clothes line).


A) Outdoor Dining, B) Solar Hot Water, C) Solar Photovoltaics, D) Energy Star Appliances, E) Ceiling Fans, F) Whole House Fan, G) Solar Attic Fan, H) Low Flow Water Sense Fixtures, I) Rain Water Harvesting, J) Low Voc Paints, K) Renewable Flooring, L) Low Voc Carpets and Pads, M) FSC Certified Cabinetry, N) Outdoor Covered Lanai, O) Permeable Landscape Swale. Image Source.




Landscape Master Plan | PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc.

This past Saturday, employees from landscape architecture and land planning firm PBR HAWAII gathered at the home to execute the landscape master plan designed by Native Creatives Stan Duncan, ASLA and Micah McMillen, LEED AP of the firm. The team got down and dirty, installing the sod grass panels, flowers, herbs, and other plants, and stone walkways around the home.

"There was a wonderful spirit of kokua prevalent throughout the collaboration and implementation of the project's landscape," says McMillen. "Several local contractors put the competitive edge aside and worked together to make this happen, along with many of the PBR HAWAII family that came out for a day of fun in the dirt! Their hard work and dedication provides a wonderful opportunity to share with Hawaii's homeowners and future homeowners how their landscape can incorporate many eco-friendly strategies that play a role in creating a more sustainable Hawaii."

Photos by Grant Murakami, PBR HAWAII

The home is scheduled to be completed by June, when it will be ready for open house showings.

Industry Members Open House

Tuesday, June 7,14, 21, and 28

Thursday, June 9, 16, 23, and 30

General Public Open House

Sunday, June 12, July 10, July 17

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

For more information, contact Karen Nakamura, BIA Executive Vice President at ktn@biahawaii.org, or visit the project's blog here.

In The News: Hale Piihonua

"Team Hawaii" - a group of students, administrators, and faculty from various disciplines at the University of Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College, and Honolulu Community College - has designed a "net-zero" home, one that generates as much energy as it consumes, to compete in the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon this fall. The home is called Hale Piihonua, which means house connected to the land in Hawaiian. Architecture and engineering students came up with the home's design, business students are handling the marketing and fundraising, and culinary students will be preparing a meal from the aquaponics system.

For the full story on Hale Piihonua and Team Hawaii, check out the Star Advertiser article here.

Rendering of Hale Piihonua | Team Hawaii webpage

Revamped and Refreshed

If you have yet to check Owens & Co. at the corner of Nuuanu and Pauahi, right now is a great time to do so! The home decor/fashion boutique recently rearranged shop, and by the look of the sneak peeks shared on the their blog, things are looking as amazing as ever! View more pics of the newly refreshed boutique here.

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Ginger 13 Launches New Collection

Feathers and leather and spikes, oh my!

Earlier this month, local jewelry line Ginger 13 launched its "Wild At Heart" collection. Owner/designer Cindy Yokoyama was inspired by nature, art, and music as she created this covetable collection which features semi-precious stones shaped into spikes, tusks, feathers, skulls, and chervons.

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Crystal Quartz Spikes are oh so right!
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Olive Jasper Chevron beads - my personal fave :)
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Carved Feather Bone and Pyrite -  Loving the mismatched earrings!
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Wire-wrapped Brown Leather Hoops - now this is FIERCE!
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Purchase your favorite pieces online or at one of these fine retailers!

Design Trends: The Groom's Cake

I admire anyone who can mix their passion with their profession, and that's exactly what Kristin Kato did with her cake making business, A Cake Life. After graduating from the University of Oregon, Kristin returned home and began work as a paralegal at an employment and labor litigation firm. In a couple years' time however, she came to realize that law wasn't the quite for her. Yet, as cool new shows like Ace of Cakes began airing on the Food Network, Kristin found a new interest in cake making and decided to take classes at a local craft store as well as at Cake Creations Dessert Haven in Manoa. From there, she studied up on cake design, sugar artistry, and starting a business...and in 2009, A Cake Life opened! Gaining inspiration from fashion as well as from her clients themselves, Kristin is able to create beautiful cake designs that have won A Cake Life numerous praises and awards.

On A Cake Life's blog, Kristin recently wrote about an emerging trend in weddings, the Groom's Cake. The blog post in its entirety can be found here.

This was a surprise grooms cake of a red Audi convertible. We handmade a replica of the couple's 2 dogs sitting in the front seat. The dogs were wearing a black top hat for the groom and a white veil for the bride. The bride asked us to integrate their special inside joke "MKT PRC" on the front license plate and their wedding date on the other. All the guests got the inside joke and the groom was stoked to see his surprise cake.

More often, couples are having two wedding cakes – the traditional cake and a groom’s cake.  As weddings often tend to be “all about the bride” a nice way to honor (or surprise) the groom is with his own personalized cake.

Accounts of the history of how the groom’s cake came-to-be often differ.  Some say the tradition dates all the way back to the 17^th century where the cake was originally was a rich, dark, fruit cake made without icing.   Others say it was the top layer of the bride’s cake that was not served to guests, but rather drenched in brandy to preserve for the couple’s first anniversary.  Another story says the groom’s cake was a edible treat packaged individually in decorated boxes, often monogrammed with a couple’s initials and given to guests to take home.

While some wedding traditions have evolved (from groom’s cake to wedding favors, or celebrating the first year of marriage with the top layer of wedding cake) so has the groom’s cake.  It is usually presented at the wedding, and sliced and served just like the traditional cake.

Most often the requests we get are to create a fun “manly” cake reflecting the groom’s hobbies or interests.  They often choose a different flavor from their wedding cake ranging from Red Velvet with Cream Cheese filling to Devils Food Chocolate Cake with Cookies N Cream filling.  This offers guests a nice variety to choose from when it comes to cake.

Some of the most recent groom’s cakes we’ve created are as follows:

 

Lakers themed Basketball Cake and handmade figurines of the couple in their Lakers jerseys

New Jersey Devils Hockey Puck Grooms Cake

 

One of our brides sent us this photo which served as the inspiration for the cake to follow:

 

Michael Godard "Shoot the Wad" Print

Grooms Cake inspired by the print

 

While groom's cakes can be a bit more challenging to create, it definitely brings an air of personalization to a wedding.  People remember details like this, and that's what makes a wedding special!

 

Miemiko Atelier Launches New Website

...my very first Miemiko Atelier stationary print. It was 2008, and I happened to come across this beut' in now-long-gone Alliway boutique at Ward Warehouse. I had never seen a letterpress print before and was all, "Ooh! It's textured!" Since then, I've been happily adding more of Cari Nakanishi's Miemiko prints to my collection and eagerly waiting for something to manifest in her miemiko.com webspace.

Finally last week, my prayers were answered! A cute new site was launched with the help of web designer Kelli Harada of PinPoint and photographer Steve Czerniak of wag and snap. Find out more about Cari and her business, and shop the prints here. If you're a letterpress/paper/typography enthusiast like me, I'm sure you'll be hooked!

Happenings: UH Manoa BFA Graphic Design Porfolio Show

Tonight! Tonight! The graduating class from UH's Graphic Design program will be showcasing their portfolios at Fresh Cafe (831 Queen Street). I like the how they used the Mac's "Command + N" (shortcut to create a "new" somthing) as their theme. Visit the website for more information about the show and the designers - including my buddy, Matt Higa.

PS: In doing this post, I came across a site that shares the background of the Mac's Command Key. Apparently in Scandinavia the mark used to indicate places of historic interest. Read more here.

Happenings: Wall-To-Wall Studios' Nachos de Mayo

¡ARRIBA! Design studio Wall-to-Wall will be having its monthly "First Friday" party on First Thursday (today!) this month in celebration of Cinco de Mayo!

If you're unfamiliar with all the fun they have at Wall-to-Wall, you can catch a glimpse of it here at the studio's First Friday Happy Hour archives.

Happenings: Flux Magazine Summer 2011 Issue!

It's dedicated to Art & Design and hits newstands next Monday (5/9)! Exciting! Pickup an issue at one of these fine locations.

In The News: Fighting Eel to open up shop in Kailua

Pacific Business News reports that local clothing company Fighting Eel will be opening a store in Kailua, Oahu. A specific date was not given. The Kailua store will be the company's second boutique - the first being in Honolulu's Chinatown district.

My favorite look from Fighting Eel's Summer 2011 Collection

The brand's designers Rona Bennett and Lan Chung are prime examples of local designers doing it big! Not only can their simple, yet sexy dresses and tops be found in hundreds of boutiques around the US, but also are have been worn by such celebs as Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria.


Bennett and Chung
(Image borrowed from the Fighting Eel website)

Tidbit Extra: It doesn't stop there! Did you know that Chinatown t-shirt shop Tee Tee Bar is also owned and curated by this dynamic duo??!! (Not sure if this is old news for most, especially being that the two shops are right next to each other on Bethel Street, but I sure was impressed to find this out recently!)