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MANY HANDS The Volunteer Newsletter of the

Kona Historical Society

WINTER 2015

STORIES OF SERVICE GIVE THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

The spirit of the holidays can be seen and felt at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook. There, at the farm kiosk, a band of merry elves have hung, strung and sprung up a festive display of origami decorations.

A coffee tree, spray painted gold, stands in a milk can next to the table offering free samples of the farm’s 100 percent Kona coffee. On its branches, origami chickens of different colors, textures and

papers flutter in the breeze like butterflies. Inside the kiosk, a rainbow of these chickens, strung together in garlands, can be found hanging overhead along wooden beams and in the window. Some of the paper poultry roost on shelves.

Count chickens and you’ll discover 325! How many people did it take to create this seasonal sensation?

There were 38 staff members and participants from the Arc of Kona and Full Life Hawaii, two organizations that help people with disabilities achieve the fullest possible independence and participation in our society according to their wants and wishes. Another talented paper folder was 15-year-old Kealakehe High School sophomore Malia Shimabuku.

Adding to the seasonal sensation is the exclamation of origami cranes. Long-time Kona Historical Society volunteer Carol Kawachi donated a colorful mobile and a giant bag full of more than 1,000 origami cranes. Carol’s parents had the cranes made for their wedding celebration several years ago. SEE CHEER ON PAGE 3

Will you be Charlie’s BFF?

The Kona Historical Society launched its first-ever crowdfunding campaign --- Charlie Needs A Bestie --- on Razoo.com for an approximately 25-year-old donkey, who needs a friend and an upgraded home.

For more than a decade, Charlie has captured the hearts of many who visit the Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook, which is the only living history coffee museum in the U.S. Charlie helps tell the story of the Kona Nightingales, donkeys that were used as transportation, ideal for hauling coffee, shared between farmers and were famous for their braying.

Charlie’s personality has made him perfect for demonstrating these tasks and for school programs, which expose children to coffee farm life and animals from 1920 to 1945. SEE BESTIE ON PAGE 2

MERRY & BRIGHT

Volunteers help bring holiday cheer to farm kiosk

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VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

Forty-one volunteers contributed 151.75 hours towards the annual open house, “Founders’ Day: Celebrating Sustainability,” on Oct. 24 at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm. Of those volunteers, 18 were new and this event was their first-time volunteering with our organization. Mahalo to all who helped!

BESTIE: Improvements to pasture are needed first CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Charlie is sweet, gentle and docile, but he’s also lonely. His only companions are the chickens and other birds that visit him during meal times.

Donkeys are herd animals, which is why the Kona Historical Society wants to adopt or rescue a friend for Charlie.

But before Charlie can have a bestie, Kona Historical Society needs to make improvements to the pasture, from clearing land overgrown with invasive weeds and plants to installing fencing and fixing the manger.

As a nonprofit, Kona Historical Society also needs money to pay for the care of Charlie and another donkey, as well as for medical supplies and farrier visits. Charlie has a chronic foot problem, a genetic condition he’s had since his

discovery in the wild and being donated to the Society’s farm.

Kona Historical Society hopes to raise at least $15,500 for this project by Jan. 31, 2016. If 620 people donated $25, the Society would reach its goal. To donate or for more information, www.razoo.com/us/story/Charlie-Needs-A-Bestie.

Mahalo nui loa to Anna Pacheco Photography for taking and donating photos for this project. A special thanks to volunteer Brian Greene for helping create the short video, which can be viewed on the campaign page on Razoo. Just click on the photo with the “>” on it to start the video and you will discover what Charlie means to our farm. ∞

❶ Dogs were first brought to the islands by the Polynesians for companionship and as a food animal. By 1843, there were too many dogs in Hawaii, so many that the Kingdom placed a tax on them. By 1846, a dog owner had to pay $1 tax on each dog or they would have to be killed. The Kingdom later required dog tags with a registration number, which traced the dog to the owner.

❷ Frenchman Nicholas Appert invented canning to preserve food for Napoleon’s armies. His process involved glass jars. In 1811, Englishman John Hall used metal canisters of tinned iron with soldered tops to create the first foods preserved in metal cans. Not only were canned foods available commercially in Hawaii very early, but some people in Hawaii were using soldered can technology to put up guava jelly, mango jam, and even dried bananas as early as 1860s. SOURCE: Historic Store Museum Interpretive Manual, Kona Historical Society Archives

DID YOU KNOW?

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C CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 There’s a Japanese legend that says one who creates a thousand cranes will be granted a wish. Not wanting the cranes to go to waste, Carol held onto them. Upon learning about this holiday décor project in the summer edition of Many Hands, Carol generously donated the cranes to Kona Historical Society.

Volunteer Coordinator Carolyn Lucas-Zenk and friend Laura Sawatzke took the bag of golden paper cranes, strung them together, and made two giant wreaths.

This special project was created and led by Carolyn, who began planning and discussing potential holiday displays and decorations at Kona Historical Society sites in the summer with Program Director Ku’ulani Auld and Museum Farm Manager Gavin Miculka. In addition to the décor at the farm kiosk, Portuguese bread baking program visitors have been coloring paper ornaments of the Rooster of Portugal and hanging them on the garland at the stone oven since November.

With this massive origami project, Carolyn’s goals were to create the wonder and magic of the holidays, as well as the capture the essence and atmosphere of togetherness. She was also determined to make this a special collaboration, one that allowed Kona Historical Society to give back to the people involved in the project and pay forward their acts of kindness. Besides a hand out, Carolyn aimed to give a hand up, with the hope of inspiring more organizations, especially nonprofits, to team up and join in helping each other. Kona Historical Society’s volunteer program strives to provide meaningful service experiences for all people.

A partnership was formed in October with Arc of Kona and Full Life Hawaii. Prior, two groups from Arc of Kona had visited Kona Historical Society’s Portuguese Bread Baking Program and the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum in the summer. Following that visit, Carolyn and Farm Manager Gavin Miculka were invited to the Self Advocacy Advisory Council’s first-ever Meet & Greet to speak about Kona Historical Society, its mission, programs, sites and ways to get involved. Both organizations were eager to volunteer and excited to have the opportunity to give back to their community. Art is something Arc of Kona and Full Life Hawaii participants

are passionate about, which made them perfect for this project.

With a fold here and bent corner there, farm interpreter Joel Pearson, volunteer Leslie Christman and Carolyn spent two hours on Nov. 3 teaching Arc of Kona and Full Life Hawaii participants and staff members how to turn paper into chickens. Ten days later, Kona Historical Society received hundreds of origami chickens.

“We love the KHS,” said Giuse Bullock, Arc of Kona’s Adult Day Health classroom coordinator. “What our group took away from participating in this project were collaboration, practice, volunteering, practice, and learning a new skill.”

The origami chickens were then strung and hung with care by Carolyn, Leslie and Joel. As a thank you to all of the volunteers and staff who helped with and supported this project, a holiday décor viewing party was held at the farm kiosk. Cookies, coffee and hot chocolate were served. Tours of the farm offered. Friendships fostered.

During that party, Malia Connor, an Arc of Kona participant and S.A.A.C. leader, smiled and pointed out all the origami chickens she and friends made fold by fold.

“It feels heart-warming,” Malia said. “I feel honored, grateful and pleased. I like how it makes me think positive. I also like how it makes me happy. I’m happy about the way we made all this with friends, family and new friends. I enjoyed doing it for the community.”

Upon seeing the decorations for the first time, Arc of Kona participant Shannon Salas summed up his feelings in one word: “Beautiful.” He then added, “The chickens are beautiful. The people are beautiful. It’s beautiful inside and out.” ∞

IF YOU GO | This display will be up until Jan. 1 and is at the farm kiosk, which is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.

CHEER: Special holiday display by volunteers will warm your heart

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CHARITY TREES

Kona Historical Society is participating in the annual Charity Trees at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows. This special contest helps raise awareness and much- needed funds for local organizations, schools, and charities.

Each group decorated a tree in the hotel lobby. The trees are now on display and remain so until Dec. 27. Community members, resort guests, employees and friends and family are invited to view all of the entries and vote for their favorite tree. It’s a $1 donation per vote.

Kona Historical Society’s tree celebrates Kona’s ranching history and includes a unique exhibit of historic photos from the Society’s Jean Greenwell Library & Archives. The photos are of paniolo, cattle operations mauka and makai, as well as picturesque ranch land.

Please visit the hotel, check out this one-of-a-kind photo exhibit, and vote for Kona Historical Society’s tree. You can vote as many times as you want now until Dec. 21.

Winners will be announced Dec. 22 and the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows will be awarding cash prizes to the organizations whose trees receive the highest number of votes: $2,000 (1st place), $1,000 (2nd

place) and $500 (3rd place). Donations will also be split among the rest of the participating organizations. If you have questions, or would like to vote, but cannot make it to the hotel, call the Kona Historical Society main office at 808-323-3222 to make your donation for the "Mauna Lani Tree Contest Vote."

YOGA ON THE FARM

A yoga class is held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. every Friday at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook. The class is taught by Ryan Nakade, a farm interpreter who has a B.A. in yoga therapy and Eastern healing modalities.

All levels welcome. The class is suitable for beginner yogis. It is free for Kona Historical Society members and $10 for everyone else. Bring your own mat. All participants get to enjoy one cup of 100 percent Kona coffee after class. To learn more about membership or Yoga On The Farm, call the Society at 808-323-3222.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

HANOHANO ‘O KONA LECTURE SERIES

On Jan. 27, Susanna Moore, a renowned Hawaii author, kicks off the 2016 Hanohano ‘O Kona Lecture Series. She will speak about the court of Kamehameha I in Kona, his marriage to the Maui chiefess Ka‘ahumanu, the death of Kamehameha in 1819, and the arrival of the First Company of Armerican missionaries in Kona in 1820.

The lecture will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the West Hawaii Civic Center, which is located at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kailua-Kona.

Susanna is the author of the novels The Life of Objects, The Big Girls, One Last Look, In the Cut, Sleeping Beauties, The Whiteness of Bones, and My Old Sweetheart, and two nonfiction books, Light Years: A Girlhood in Hawaii and I Myself Have Seen It: The Myth of Hawaii. Her latest book is Paradise of the Pacific: Approaching Hawaii.

Presented by Kona Historical Society in cooperation with Hawaii County, this free lecture series spotlights speakers on a wide variety of cultural and historical subjects pertaining to Kona and Hawaii.

GIRLS’ DAY

On March 3, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm will celebrate Girls’ Day.

On the third day of the third month, it is a tradition in Japan to celebrate Hina-matsuri, or Girls’ Day, a holiday for wishing all girls health, growth and happiness. The day is still celebrated by many in Hawaii, particularly families of Japanese and Okinawan descent. This holiday was brought to the islands by early Japanese immigrants.

Farm visitors will see a display of Japanese dolls. In Japan, elaborate dolls with kimonos, fans and musical instruments are given to girls, a tradition that starts at birth. Girls display the dolls up to seven tiers high. Gifts of peach blossoms and paper dolls are also given.

Farm visitors will also have the opportunity to make their own paper dolls and sample traditional foods like hina-arare and hishimochi.

SPECIAL BREAD BAKE

On Feb. 9, Kona Historical Society will be baking an oven full of Portuguese cinnamon bread bread just in time for Shrove Tuesday, which is also known as Fat Tuesday in areas that celebrate Mardi Gras.

Every Thursday, Kona Historical Society offers its Portuguese bread baking program at the stone oven. Close to 100 loaves of the traditional sweet, white and wheat bread are baked.

The week of Feb. 9 is a special time as Portuguese celebrate Shrove Tuesday in preparation for the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

Visit the stone oven in Kealakekua on Feb. 9 and join in the process of panning the dough and baking bread from 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The program is free and the bread costs $8 per loaf. Sorry, no bread reservations; first come, first served.

Bread sales begin around 1 p.m. until sold out. Bring your lunch and make a day of it with an oven-side picnic in the pasture.