Nā Wahine O Ka Lei Hulu

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. 

 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 started learning feather work at the age of 5 from her Tutu, "Aunty" Mary Lou. She still has her first leihulu in their Kapahulu shop. But her love for featherwork didn't develop for many years. She taught classes and worshops along side her Tutu and Mom. She even gave talks, lectures and ran workshops for them when they were not available. Today, Mele carries on this family legacy with great pride and knows that her Tutu and Mom are with her every step of the way.