Pinoy power!
In the past few years, Maui’s Filipino entrepreneurs have led a culinary charge, reinventing top restaurant kitchens and opening exciting new eateries. Two of our favorite Pinoy power couples: Sheldon and Janice Simeon of Tin Roof in Kahului, and Lineage in The Shops at Wailea; and Desiree and Frank Parada of Donut Dynamite. Hot tip: Get to “Madame Donut’s” Wailuku bakeshop no later than 8 a.m., before the sweet potato/poi and maple/bacon donuts made with brioche dough disappear. Mabuhay!
Artists in the house
The Hui’s Artist in Residence program creates opportunities to interact with stellar talent from Hawai‘i and beyond. In 2011, Patrick Dougherty enlisted the community in the creation of a whimsical structure built out of invasive strawberry guava branches. In 2016, James Bailey asked local schoolkids to help him drive a steamroller over massive linoleum prints. This summer, Mexican graffiti artist Mazatli turned one of the Hui’s private rooms into an astonishing commentary on ‘alalā, rats, and colonialism. Check it out—the exhibit will remain for one year.
Patsy Mink
This trailblazer championed the rights of women, children, immigrants, and minorities throughout her life. After being denied admission to medical school due to her sex, she took up law. In 1964, she became the first woman of color elected to Congress. There she sponsored the Title IX Act, which guarantees gender equality on academic campuses. Following its passage, the number of women in college sports increased by 450 percent. In 1972, she ran for U.S. President. Not bad for a plucky girl from Pā‘ia! “If to believe in freedom and equality is to be a radical, then I am a radical.”—Patsy Takemoto Mink
Kealopiko
In 2006, three wāhine akamai (smart ladies) founded this company that’s part fashion, part education and advocacy. Every dress, pareu, aloha shirt, and onesie mixes chic design with ancient wisdom, and features native Hawaiian ferns, fish, or flowers paired with poetic snippets of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language. Best of all? The upscale ALL Aloha line is 100 percent made on Moloka‘i. Mo’ bettah, indeed.
Photo courtesy of Kealopiko
