E Pili Ana
NA LIMA MILI HULU NOʻEAU
Our name translates to, "Skilled Hands Touch the Feathers" and was given to Aunty Mary Lou by the late Edith Kanaka'ole.
Hale Kuʻai
Na Lima Mili Hulu No'eau was established in 1991 by the late Aunty Mary Lou, her husband, Paul Kekuewa, and their daughter, Paulette Kahalepuna. Prior to creating the Kapahulu shop, Aunty and Uncle had traveled around the islands, the continent, as well as internationally, teaching the art of Hawaiian feather work to any and all who wanted to learn.
Hoʻoilina
Legacy is defined as "something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past."
Hawaiian feather work carries the very essence of the word. An art form that was once reserved only for men, it has been passed down from generation to generation and has evolved with the time and place, making way for change.
While honoring the past and its legacy, this Hulu 'Ohana of Mana Wāhine have taken the mantle and created a new legacy of their own.
People would often tell Aunty Mary Lou, "The Hawaiian people and this feather work is dying out!" She always responded with, "Not as long as I can help it!
Nā Wahine O Ka Lei Hulu
Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Wentworth Peck Kekuewa
Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Wentworth Peck Kekuewa
Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Wentworth Peck Kekuewa
Born in Pu'unene, Maui, "Aunty" Mary Lou was the second eldest of four children. Raised on O'ahu, she attended Saint Andrew's Priory and eventually graduated on the mainland when the family relocated to San Francisco. After meeting and marrying her husband of 50 years, Uncle Paul Kekuewa, and having their first child, they relocated back
Born in Pu'unene, Maui, "Aunty" Mary Lou was the second eldest of four children. Raised on O'ahu, she attended Saint Andrew's Priory and eventually graduated on the mainland when the family relocated to San Francisco. After meeting and marrying her husband of 50 years, Uncle Paul Kekuewa, and having their first child, they relocated back to Honolulu.
Aunty had eventually found work as a costume mistress in the 1950's in the wardrobe department of Aloha Week. It was there that she had met her Kumu Hulu, Leilani Fernandez. What started out as being part of wardrobe responsibility ended up becoming a lifetime passion. She began teaching at various places such as Community Parks for the Honolulu Parks & Recreation System, the Hawai'i Department of Education, UH and over 20 years at the Bishop Museum, just to name a few.
Aunty Mary Lou taught countless people throughout Hawaii and beyond, shared her knowledge and love of feather work and her legacy lives on through 2 generations of feather workers and now the 3rd generation continues.
Paulette Nohealani Kahalepuna
Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Wentworth Peck Kekuewa
Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Wentworth Peck Kekuewa
Aunty Paulette, affectionately called "Aunty Pu'u," was born in San Francisco, CA, and brought to Hawai'i at 9 months old with her loving parents. The eldest of three, Aunty began her Hulu journey in her Senior year of high school. Having to complete an assignment for her Hawaiian Studies class at Kamehameha, she asked her mother to tea
Aunty Paulette, affectionately called "Aunty Pu'u," was born in San Francisco, CA, and brought to Hawai'i at 9 months old with her loving parents. The eldest of three, Aunty began her Hulu journey in her Senior year of high school. Having to complete an assignment for her Hawaiian Studies class at Kamehameha, she asked her mother to teach her. With pride, Aunty taught Paulette her first lei hulu and soon feather work became her life's passion. After starting a family of her own, she would help her parents teach and sell their works at craft fairs and the like but eventually as the years passed, she had offered a business idea that would ultimately change their lives.
In 1991, Paulette opened NA LIMA MILI HULU NO'EAU in Kapahulu with both her mother, the late "Aunty" Mary Lou, and father, the late "Uncle" Paul Kekuewa. From there, she took the art form to new heights.
In Hawai'i, the Continent and beyond, Paulette would teach and share her knowledge of feather work at Museums, Halau, Cultural Groups and Organizations. Some of her many accolades included MAMo Artist of the Year, Hongwanji Living Treasure Award and an 'O'o Awards recipient.
Mele Kahalepuna Chun
Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Wentworth Peck Kekuewa
Mele Kahalepuna Chun
Mele is the 3rd generation maker and teacher of na mea hulu. She began learning feather work at the age of 5 from her Tutu, "Aunty" Mary Lou. She still has her first leihulu.
Mele's love for featherwork didn't develop for many years. She taught classes and worshops along side her Tutu and Mom. She was also asked to give talks, lectures a
Mele is the 3rd generation maker and teacher of na mea hulu. She began learning feather work at the age of 5 from her Tutu, "Aunty" Mary Lou. She still has her first leihulu.
Mele's love for featherwork didn't develop for many years. She taught classes and worshops along side her Tutu and Mom. She was also asked to give talks, lectures and run workshops for them when they were not available. But it wasn't until her Mama, Aunty Paulette, passed away in 2014 that she fully understood the gift she was given.
Today, Mele carries on this family legacy with great pride. She teaches classes in Hawai'i and abroad, to anyone that wants to learn. Mele is excited about the future of na mea hulu, its' growth and evolution. She also knows that her Tutu and Mama are with her every step of the way.