When the Hawai‘i Convention Center opened in 1998, it showcased a collection of murals, sculptures and other art valued at $1 million. As Victoria Holt Takamine walked through the imposing new facility, however, she noticed none of the featured artists were Native Hawaiian. Takamine, highly regarded in the Hawaiian community as the founder of Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima, a school of Hawaiian dance, felt a mix of shock, dismay, sadness and anger.

“The state had paid $1 million to artists to portray their view of Hawaii, and none of the original installations came from the perspective of a Native Hawaiian,” Takamine said. “Not one penny was spent to commission a Native Hawaiian artist.”

She sought new ideas to strengthen Native Hawaiians’ voice and presence, which are now being implemented through the nonprofit Pa‘i Foundation. As the organization’s executive director, Takamine oversees programs that fulfill its mission “to preserve and perpetuate Native Hawaiian arts and cultural traditions for future generations.”

Among them are classes that started at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako in February as part of Pa‘akai Marketplace. Held on the third Friday and Saturday of every month, the event also features live music and merchandise for sale by local artists and artisans.

“The classes are kept small, to fit comfortably in the venue,” Takamine said. “That’s a plus because the instructors are able to give more personal attention to each student, and the group can socialize as they work on their project, perhaps making new friends in the process.”

Instructors are Native Hawaiian artists and cultural practitioners, the majority of whom are involved with the Pa‘i Foundation’s MAMo: Maoli Arts Movement program. From May through November next year, MAMo will put on art exhibits, wearable art shows and other events on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island. Admission to most will be free.

“To ensure quality, artists must apply to participate in MAMo every year,” said Ka‘iu Takamori, the Pa‘i Foundation’s folk arts coordinator. “Since I work closely with many of them for MAMo, it has been easy to schedule them for our Pa‘akai Marketplace classes, too.”

Such learning opportunities are rare. For example, farmer Danny Bishop discusses the significance of kalo (taro) to Hawaiians and the steps to create a kalo bed at home. His wife, Meala, explains how different varieties of kalo can be identified by their leaves and teaches students how to draw them.

Kapa (tapa) making, from tree stump to cloth, is the focus of Dalani Tanahy’s class, and Okalani Tallet teaches a winding technique to make a lei that can be worn either as a wristlet or around a hair bun or ponytail. After a session with carver Nalu Andrade, guests leave with a wooden konane (Hawaiian checkers) board or a bamboo stamp, hair pick or earrings.

“Umi Kai is a weapon maker who teaches people how to make cordage from hau bark,” Takamori said. “Many traditional weapons were lashed together with cordage. His wife, Leina‘ala, shows her class how to weave a lau hala bracelet.”

Takamori hopes to add featherwork, natural dyes and ukulele classes to the lineup next year. She is pleased to know the classes often have far-reaching effects.

One of her friends moved to Alabama after her husband got a job there. In July, the woman and her three children returned to Oahu for a funeral but had time to check out Pa‘akai Marketplace. They attended every available class.

“Back home in Alabama, the kids play konane on the board that they made, they make lei from plants in their yard and they create interesting patterns on paper with their bamboo stamps,” Takamori said. “That’s what’s inspiring about our classes: They build cultural ties to Hawaii that remain strong, no matter how far away from the islands people might be.”

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ABOUT THE PA‘I FOUNDATION

Established in 2001, the foundation is the nonprofit organization of Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima, a hula school founded in 1977 by kumu hula Victoria Holt Takamine.

It operates the Pa‘i Arts & Culture Center in Kapalama. In May, it will open the 5,000-square-foot Pa‘i Arts Center as the anchor tenant in the Ola Ka ‘Ilima Artspace Lofts, a new building in Kakaako that will provide affordable studio, gallery and multimedia/performing arts spaces for local artists, craftspeople and cultural practitioners.

The foundation is a sponsor of Holoana o Kalakaua, a tribute to King Kalakaua with chants, songs, stories and hula at 7 p.m. Friday at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre. Tickets, $20, at paifoundation.org.

The foundation is also spearheading plans for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Cultures, which Honolulu will host June 10-20, 2020. Launched in Fiji in 1972, the 10-day event is held in one of the 27 participating Pacific island nations every four years to encourage the preservation and perpetuation of traditional practices. Most festival performances will be free.

To contribute to support the foundation’s work, go to paifoundation.org/kokua.

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.