NPOW Interactive

One Woman:
many roles,
the struggle to the stage...
Master Sergeant Mysti Dowsett
shares her story p08
Strengthen. Challenge. Support.
Nānākuli Mā‘ili Wai‘anae Mākaha
Issue #3 • March 2016
THE MAGAZINE OF THE WAI‘ANAE COAST. FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.
www.napuamagazineshawaii.com

2 Na Pua `O Wai`anae • March 2016

from the
PUBLISHER
ALOHA TO YOU!
W
e hope the new year is being good to you. Are you
welcoming the new year? We hope so, and we hope
you welcome us as well. We have worked hard to
become YOUR monthly Hometown magazine. Our mission is to
challenge, strengthen, and support Hawaii ‘ohana, one hometown at a
time, by sharing meaningful and impactful stories that will empower
you with information you can use.
Let’s never forget to be proud of who we are, the land with which
we connect, the accomplishments we achieve, and the struggles we
face. All of these things make us who we are--and we are good, no
great!
Our goal is that this social magazine, for the people, by the
people, become a vehicle for sharing stories and connecting
community. If you would like to share your story, or brag about
someone you know, please call
us at 808-888-9434 or email
us at napuamagazines96792@
gmail.com. Don’t be shy, don’t
be shame. We’ve been told
our stories are authentic and
inspiring.That’s our #1 goal.
Please be mindful that every
business in this publication is
here for a reason.They see value
in being community partners.
Without our contributors, we
would not exist. We ask that you peruse our magazine, familiarize
yourself with our partners, and if you are able, we would sincerely
appreciate support for our businesses. Share about them with your
family and friends too.They are in this publication because they are
reputable, trustworthy and want to be part of our community. When
you visit them, please mention our magazine.
Currently, we create magazines for Wai’anae and Kunia. Every
issue you receive will be available to read on our website at www.
napuamagazineshawaii.com. While you’re on the website, sign up
for our email newsletters to receive updates on our happenings. We
will be featuring a video directory on our website very soon.There
you can learn about the partners who want to serve you. You can
also download our smart phone app to easily access and carry along
coupons, specials and tips on places to go. Our smart phone app
is available on the Google Play App Store and the Itunes Store.
Choose the way to connect with us that best fits you.
Here’s wishing us all an entirely prosperous year. Mahalo in
advance for allowing us into your homes.
Me Ka Ha’aha’a,
Tad Keola Makaila and Momi Robins-Makaila
Publishers
Tad Keola Makaila
Momi Robins-Makaila
and

in this
ISSUE
COVER:
Master Sergeant
Mysti Dowsett (Cover Story)
Cover design by:
Masina N. Sausi
PUBLISHERS:
Tad K Makaila Momi Robins-Makaila
808-352-1560
tad@napuaowaianae.org
WRITER:
Momi Robins-Makaila
808-888-9434
momi@napuaowaianae.org
ADVERTISING MANAGER:
Sharon Fountain
808-306-3054
sharon@napuaowaianae.org
ACCOUNT MANAGER:
Tehani Robins
808-218-1753
tehani@napuaowaianae.org
MAGAZINE/
ADVERTISING DESIGNER:
Masina N. Sausi
808-620-0127
sausigfx@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
Naomi Hayes-Furukawa
808 358-1930
06
Community Contributor
A Servant’s Heart. Uncle Hercules
Huihui’s answer to overcoming struggle
is to serve.
08
Cover Story
Wai’anae born Master Sergeant Mysti
Dowsett: Mom, Soldier, Body Builder.
10
Terrific Teen
Gina Pau-Exzabe, an award winning
example of a terrific teenager.
14
Faith and Spirituality
Dream Big. Set Goals. Write them
Down.
17
Healthy Relationships
Relationship Tip: Laugh more, Love
More.
20
Meet our Business Partners
Give us this Day our Daily Bread: ‘Ōhia
Bakery bakes fresh daily from Waipio.
22
History and Community
Ho’omau Ke Ola :
Their efforts to heal and strengthen
community
18
Health and Wellness
All’s Well that Oils Well: Mother
Nature’s Answers for Today’s
Health Care
10

5Na Pua Ò Waiànae • March 2016
Attorney-Probate,
Conservators
Andy Smith
(808) 369-8280
asmith@cragalee.com
Automotive
Babaʻs Auto Gloss
Paul and Willy Baba
www.babasautogloss.com
(808) 330-2195
Education Partners
Hawaii P-20
www.p20hawaii.org
(808) 956-5443
Financial Advisors and
Wealth Management
New York Life
Larry Partida
jpartidaiii@nyl.com
(808) 840-3697
Fundraising/Baker
Ohia Bakery-Pieter Vliet
94-344 Ukeʻe St, Unit 7
Waipio, Hi 96797
(808) 216-9744
www.ohiabakery.com
Furniture
Colortyme Nānākuli
Gail Meyer
87-2070 Farrington Hwy,
Waianae, HI 96792
(808) 668-7070
Colortyme Waipahu
Mike Maramba
94-910 Moloalo St
Waipahu, HI 96797
(808) 680-9393
Hardware Household
Appliances
Restore Habitat for
Humanity
91-291 Malakole St
(Campbell Industrial Park)
(808) 682-8411
www.leewardhabitat.org
Health Insurance Plans
Òhana Health Plan
Anne Chipchase
Community Advocate
anne.chipchase@wellcare.com
ohanahealthplan.com
808.282.3899
Health and Wellness/Healthy
Food Options
Doterra Essential Oils
Momi Robins-Makaila
mrobinsmakaila@gmail.com
(808) 888-9434
Kyani
Kamo Robles
rkrobles808@gmail.com
(808) 489-6833
Matcha Energy and BVitamins
Sharon Fountain
fountainsm@yahoo.com
(808) 306-3054
808 Urban Bowls
Barbara
94-450 Mokuola St
Waipahu, HI 96797
(808) 258-0117
Insurance
Allstate Insurance
Toni Lum
tonilum@allstate.com
(808) 457-2931
Landscaper
Greenplicity
Delvin Brioso
greenplicityllc@gmail.com
(808) 371-5177
Mortgage Lenders
Mahalo Mortgage
Don Sandoval
aplusmortgage@hawaii.rr.com
(808) 236-7777
Photographers
Naomi Hayes Furukawa
Island Memories Photography
(808) 358-1930
islandmemoriesphotography.
com
Roofing
RC Roofing Contractors
www.safehomeservice.com
(808)216-3256
Shaferʻs Roofing
Bernadette Robins
www.shafersroofing.com
(808) 306-3385
Shopping Malls
Kapolei Marketplace
Cindy Lau
590 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei,
HI 96707
(808) 220-8109
Real Estate Firms, Realtors,
Property Managers
Gary Bannon - Keller
Williams
gbannon13@gmail.com
(864) 323-8989
Garry Stahl - Keller Williams
Stahlinc@aol.com
(864) 323-8987
John Riggins
John Riggins Real Estate
john@johnriggins.com
(808) 523-7653
Mokulani Properties
Mary Ann Bruno - Broker
www.MOKULANIproperties.com
ma2822583@
MOKULANIproperties.com
(808) 637-8899
Sharon Fountain - Mokulani
Properties
sharonmfountain@
MOKULANIproperties.com
(808) 306-3054
Renovation, Remodels and
New Home Construction
GRD Development
rickysgroundwork808@
gmail.com
(808)597-0167
TJR Works! LLC
Tadd Rienstra
www.tjrworks.com
tadd@tjrworks.com
(808) 782-5321
INDEX The Companies Who Care About Your Community

community
CONTRIBUTOR
Uncle Hercules Huihui of Community in Schools (a Waipahu
based organization dedicated to serving the families of Waipahu)
is the epitome of servanthood in the face of struggle. For 15 years he’s
volunteered at the Waipahu Community Association, the Waipahu
Weed and Seed, and the Waipahu Community Coalition. He’s also
served (for 2 years) on the “Members Matter”Advisory Committee for
‘Ohana Health Plan. You may recognize him as the Hawaiian Santa
from the Waipahu parade, or the Santa for the foster children’s
annual lunch.He has a bachelor’s degree in Family Resources from UH
Mānoa, but he started his life “with a master’s degree in Hotel street
and a PhD in Waikiki,” he joked.
One night after work he found his girlfriend and 2 daughters in a
room of smoke. His girlfriend, who had a substance abuse problem,
had been smoking while his two daughters slept nearby. He asked
her to leave until she could get help, which she later did. In an instant
he found himself a single father to two girls, a 5 year old and a 6 month
old. As a single father, he did the best he could. He heard of educational
and health events hosted by CIS. He attended as many as he could.
One thanksgiving he accepted a basket from them. The only require-
ment was that he help at the next event. A week later, they called. He
showed up and the rest is history.Aunty Faye Uyeda the founder of CIS
“has been my mentor and a woman I have come to admire and love.”
When Uncle Herc got sick from an infection in his leg, which
caused him to be hospitalized for 9 weeks, CIS stepped in to help.
“Aunty Lori came to the hospital, had me sign a power of attorney.
CIS took care of my children for 9 weeks. They helped me get healthy
too.” He remembers they bought him his first blender.
Uncle Herc got better and his children were returned to him. One
afternoon during his recovery, his daughter came home from school
excited like he’d never seen. “Apparently my daughter downloaded a
game from a school computer. Excitedly she uttered, “Dad, if I had a
computer at home, I would be able to play it.The next day I went to the
school, got a tour of the computer lab, caught the bus to Leeward
Community College and signed up for classes. I couldn’t have my
daughter smarter than me at 5 years old,” uncle Herc chuckled.
“I didn’t have a high school diploma and had no clue what a GED
was. I explained to the lady at the registration office what happened
with my daughter. I guess she was moved, because she asked me, Do
you have 2 hours to take a test?” I answered, “Lady, I’ve got all my
life. This is my daughter.” That was the beginning of his journey to
becoming a college graduate.
Today Uncle Herc works for CIS serving others. He thanks
Aunty Faye, Uncle West, Aunty Lori, Aunty Letty, Mr. Arakawa,
Grandma Uyeda, and Ke Akua for the life he leads today. “Today,
I have the privilege of helping children from Waipahu and Wai’anae
learn compassion, respect and what it means to be pono.”
There is so much more we could share about Uncle Herc, but
we’ll save that for future issues. If we shared about all he’s done,we’d
fill the 24 pages of this magazine. Until then, Uncle Herc shared
this, “Like Grandma Uyeda told me, it’s all about the attitude.
Attitude is everything. I’ve lived by that. It is what will always drive me.”
A Servant’s Heart.
Uncle Hercules Huihui’s answer to overcoming struggle is to serve.
This article is brought to you by ‘Ohana Health Plan

cover
STORY
Look at this woman. What do you see? Accomplished? Beautiful?
Courageous? Each adjective accurately describes Master
Sergeant Mysti Dowsett MSgt USAF ANG HQ HIANG/AIR.
What you don’t see is what helped her become the woman she is
today; perseverance; self-reliance; and dedication. You don’t know the
battles she faced to overcome adversity.
Mysti fondly recollected growing up in Nānākuli and Wai’anae, but
it was “far from easy”, she asserted. “The community is rich with Aloha
and Ohana; an intangible force. In my case it took a village to raise a
child. I did not always know from where my next meal would come, or
who would take me in for the night. A lack of resources hindered much
of my education. Programs were not available to students then, as it is
today. I joined the Hawaii Air National Guard to take advantage of
the opportunities offered by the military, education benefits; learning a
trade; and traveling.”
As a member of the guard Mysti has been all around the world and
has met extraordinary people.She especially remembers an opportunity
she had in Thailand to serve the people in that community. Today
Master Sergeant Mysti Dowsett serves the youth in our community
as the Recruiting Office Supervisor. In addition to the benefit of
serving and networking in the community Mysti is thankful for the
opportunity she has every day to appreciate the potential in individuals
and witness their personal and professional growth.
Mysti is a single mother to three beautiful children; Hayli 14; Hadyn
8; and Hezekiah 3. Mysti and her children live in Wai’anae. She shared,
“At one point in time I commuted every day from Wai’anae to Mililani,
Hickam and Kaneohe, so yes I was traveling on every freeway! The
struggle to juggle life can be overwhelmingly stressful,” said Mysti.
She added,“I am eternally grateful to my family and friends. Without
them I could not do it. My positive disposition about life comes from
the many influential people I’ve had a privilege of knowing. When
looking back at where I’ve been, I am thankful for who I am today and
that I can provide well for my children. My struggles have given me
so much strength!”
Participating in bodybuilding competitions has become a recent
goal for Mysti. Mysti has always admired physically and mentally
strong women because it symbolizes commitment. “Since embracing
this goal, I have been challenged like never before to push myself and
have faith in a process.Understanding my own strengths and weaknesses
helped me to do that. I’ve also been able to teach my children how to
commit to a goal and see it through.” Mysti offered this additional piece of
advice to anyone who has a huge goal, “Make sure you realize you
have a choice to either give in or get better. Give it your all, and no
matter the outcome, be happy with what you’ve achieved.”
You can find Mysti at the Air National Guard recruiting office in
Kapolei, everyday, doing her best to be her best!
Wai’anae born Master Sergeant
Mysti Dowsett

Prepare for Today
Plan for Tomorrow
When you're in Toni's hands,
you're in good hands!
808-439-6080
99-115 Aiea Heights Drive #242
t o n i l u m @ a l l s t a t e . c o m
Care. Concern. Coverage.
TONI LUM
•Auto •Home •Life •Retirement
terrific
TEEN
Gina Pau-Exzabe, Wai’anae scholar, amazing athlete, loving
daughter, and loyal friend, has an impressive resume. She’s only
16 years old! Gina has major plans for her life. With help from her
parents, her school and her community, she’s earning college credits,
planning her future, well on her way to making her dreams come true,
and making her ‘ohana proud.
As a Wai’anae Intermediate School student, Gina began her road to
college. She was a part of the AVID program, involved in athletics,
and has remained diligent and determined ever since. As an 11th grad-
er, Gina is a part of the college club, METS, and the wrestling team.
She’s already taken Psychology 100, English 100T, Astronomy 110,
History 152, and Speech 151. Her goal is to earn 24 college credits
before graduating high school. Gina is thankful for the opportunities
made available to her by our Wai’anae Coast Schools, GEAR UP and
Hawaii P-20. Gina has been afforded the opportunity to get a jump
start on college. Not to mention she is saving her parents some serious
money. Speaking of her parents, Gina says, “I’m eternally thankful for
my parents who drive me and play a big role in the decisions I make for
my life. I don’t know where I’d be without them.”
Gina offers some advice to her fellow students: “Make sure you take
risks in life. You never know how it will benefit you in the end. At
first, I was scared to take college classes, join METS, college club, and
many other programs offered by the high school, Gear Up and Hawaii
P-20, but it’s worth it. You have the support to get you where you
want to go. If you are unsure about where you want to go, you’ll
have someone there to guide you. If you are inclined to play sports, do
it. I wasn’t sure that I could balance both, but I did it, with the great
support system I have. It’s also a plus for colleges because they love well
rounded students.”
Gina plans to go to college out of state. She’s always dreamed
of serving in the military in the areas of either public relations or finance
and accounting. Whatever Gina plans to do, she’ll be successful
because she believes in herself, has family and friends who support
her, and because she’s been well prepared by a community who cares.
Nā Pua Hometown Magazines is honored to celebrate Gina and her
accomplishments. Congratulations Gina on all you’ve done so far.
We look forward to hearing about your future endeavors!
For more information on some of the programs Gina mentioned,
call Hawaii P-20 at (808) 956-3879 or call your college counselor at
your school.
Wai’anae Young Woman Workin’ It!
This article is brought to you by Hawai’i P-20

faith
SPIRITUALITY
2016 is the year of the REDEEMED,so dream big.Set goals.Write
them down. You don’t need to be a believer for that to resonate
on your heart,but that message did come from God,through my Pastors,
to me. Dream big. Set goals. Then write them down.
It’s been almost 2 months since Pastor Art and Kuna Sepulveda
delivered that first message. Still, at every life group meeting and
at every church sermon we continue to hear that message--Dream
big. Set goals. Write them down. You would think that by now I’d be
sick of hearing that message. I’m not. My Pastors are on to a big idea
here--sometimes we need to hear things over and over again before
we apply it, and allow it to move in our lives. I probably have taken
30 pages of notes on the subject. Only within the last week, did I write
down my goals. I wasn’t being lazy or procrastinating. It took me that
long. I kept regulating my dreams. I wrote down what I thought
was achievable.
Pastor Art asserted, “Dreaming always involves something bigger
than you.” If a dream is doable; something you can do on your own,
that involves no faith, but, “dreaming is the process in an adventure of
faith.” I decided to let God take over. God is a God of vision, so who
better than He to inspire me with the dreams for my life? When I let
Him take over, He awakened in me my desire to become a bestselling
author. What did bestselling mean? I wasn’t sure. So I asked Him
again. If I earned $100,000 would that make me best selling? Probably.
I woke up for days with that number in my head. There it was, my God
dream. Then reality kicked in. “Gosh, I’d need to sell 500,000 copies
just to earn that,”I huffed. I made a conscious choice not to limit God,
but I must be honest, I was struggling with that one--500,000 copies?!
A few mornings later, after a 20 minute meditation session, an idea
popped into my head. “What if I sold my downloadable books di-
rectly from my site instead of only through Amazon? I wouldn’t need to
pay a middle man.” A few months ago that wouldn’t have been possible
because I didn’t know how to get that done, but today, I have a designer
who can exactly get that done. All of a sudden, in order to make
$100,000 I only need to sell 50,000 copies instead of 500,000. And guess
what? I wrote 2 books and they are ‘sort of ’ a sequel. If someone
chooses to buy one of them, they’ll probably want to buy the second
one too. So, the 50,000? It’s now 25,000. How’s that for God’s grace?
God is good to me! Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the revelation awaits an
appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.Though it
linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
What are your dreams? Are you dreaming big? Are you setting
goals? Are you writing them down? Are you expecting answers? Do
it! Who knows what God has in store for you!
In case you’re interested, Word of Life West O’ahu service is held
every Sunday at 8:30am in the Kapolei Theatre. You can call them
for more information at (808) 528-4044, or check them out on the
web at www.wolhawaii.com.
Dream Big. Set Goals. Write them down.
This article is brought to you by Masina N. Sausi

healthy
RELATIONSHIPS
Recently my husband made me watch a facebook video of
a Wai’anae couple. It went viral among our networks. A wife
video taped herself playing a trick on her husband. She said,“Honey,how
do you spell yes?” He said, “Y-E-S.” She asked twice, then questioned,
“Well, what is E-Y-E-S? He said “E, yes.” She asked him the same
question a few more times. He said the same thing every time. She was
cracking up inside herself. I laughed hysterically having watched her
video three times. The first time I watched, I did the same thing her
husband did. It took me as long as he to realize E-Y-E-S spelled eyes!
That video got me thinking. When was the last time I played a
trick on my husband? When was the last time he played a trick on
me? When was the last time we laughed like that? I realized it had
been a while.
That video was a reminder to laugh, and to NOT take things so
seriously as I often do.
According to an article entitled ‘Stress Relief from Laughter,
It’s no Joke,’ (Mayo Clinic) Laughter won’t cure cancer but laughter
has positive, short and long term effects on the body. Laughter can
increase oxygen intake, stimulate vital organs, improve one’s immune
system, and relieve actual, physical pain. I saw a quote once on www.
simplemarriage.net that I remembered after I watched the video.
It paraphrased Henry Ward Beecher, “A marriage without a sense of
humor is like a wagon without springs – jolted by every pebble in the
road.” It also said, “Individuals who have a strong sense of humor are
less likely to experience burnout and depression and they are more
likely to enjoy life in general – including their marriage.”
The next time you play a funny yet harmless trick (like the woman
I mentioned above) or laugh out loud and take a picture or video,
tag us please. You can find us on Facebook or Instagram. We
are NaPuaMagazines. If you’re willing to share something funny
or share a picture of yourself cracking up, send it to us at
Napuamagazines96792@gmail.com. If you’re the woman who posted
that video, we’d love to talk story with you! Give us a call at 808-888-
9434. We need more people like you!
Relationship Tip #1
Laugh more, Love More.
Relationship Tip #2
Cry baby Cry!
Do you cry? You should. If you have ever cried, and did not
get sympathy, it is likely you heard one of these responses:
“There goes the waterworks;” “cry me a river;” “no use crying over
spilt milk;”or,“for crying out loud.” Whether we cry because we are
feeling sad, because we feel like a failure, because we are touched,
because it is hormone-induced, or because we cannot deal with
something, crying is an emotional response to stress. Often crying
is perceived as a weakness, when in fact it is a healthy response to
overwhelming situations. No one wants to be a cry baby, but we
should allow ourselves to cry when we need to, and if someone is
crying, chances are they need our help. Crying is how the body deals
with a stressful situation.
ACTH is a hormone found in tears. When stress builds up in the
body, and we are unable to physically combat that stressful event,
ACTH builds up.When we cry, our bodies get rid of ACTH, which
is the reason for feeling relieved after a good cry. Crying has other
benefits too. When our cries our genuine, we elicit compassion
from others.They immediately become more aware of our emotional
state. It is a travesty that often we feel like we cannot or should not
cry. Men typically feel they are weak because they cry. If our first
response to a stressful situation was to cry, we would be a much
healthier community. To cry would not show weakness but just the
opposite. When we allow ourselves to cry we show strength. When
we cry we allow ourselves to be vulnerable: we allow ourselves to
show our stress. Then we show others our need for help, and when
we ask for help, we receive help, and we make less our stress. The
next time you feel like crying, do it. Cry like a baby. Like William
Shakespeare said, “To cry [weep] is to make less the depth of grief.”
My reflection corner...

Natural Solutions For Your Family!
Call Momi Robins-Makaila
for your free sample and health assessment.
(808) 888-9434
health
WELLNESS
Peruse FB or instagram at any point in time. You’ll find 5 core
values behind almost every post, share or like. People value
managing their families well, looking good, improving health,
strengthening relationships, living in gratitude and sharing what they
learn with the people they love. In my quest to live as natural a life as
possible,and as a person also striving for these things,I’ve been learning
about Essential Oils. It sounds like a buzz word, trendy and fad-like,
but it’s been around for centuries. Think about it.The Wise Men took
Frankincense and Myrrh to the child they believed was their Messiah
(Savior). Of all the things to gift their King? Early Egyptians used
Essential Oils for medicinal purposes, cooking, and skin care. Essential
Oils are big miracles found today in little, dark, glass bottles.
Why should Essential Oils matter to us? Simple--it can remarkably
improve our health, but, we don’t all realize how powerful they are. In
2014, America spent over $350 Billion Bucks on health care. You
would think we’d be in excellent health. Wrong. According to an article
on KHON.com, Hawaii has the highest rate of diabetes in the country.
Hawaii’s adult obesity rate is 22.1%, up from 8.9% in 1990 (State of
Obesity in Hawaii, 2014). With all that money spent on health care,
and the thousands of white coat/lab rats in labs across our world, why
are we still so sick? Why are we still thinking we’ll find cures concocted
in pharmaceutical research laboratories?
Essential oils are not new. It’s medicine as old as time; it is
an answer to improving our health. Mother Nature has always had
the answers. The only reason we stopped going to her is money--plain
and simple. You can’t place a patent on a plant. In an effort to make
money, companies try to manufacture Mother Nature’s work. Not
that there isn’t a place for synthetic medicine, but we shouldn’t rely on
it as much as we do. There are natural ways for improving health that’s
just as quick, with no side effects. Did you know that peppermint oil
can help indigestion, headaches, asthma and diarrhea? Did you know
that lavender oil can combat depression? I know someone who swears
Frankincense saved his life. There’s so many types of oils and so many
conditions Essential Oils can improve.
Over the course of a few months we’ll share about essential
oils and their uses. We’ll empower you with information on how and
where to use them. If you’re interested in learning about oils, or if you
have a condition you’d like to discuss, give us a call. Otherwise, we look
forward to sharing with you next month. Be blessed! And remember,
All’s well that oils well!
All’s Well that Oils Well:
Mother Nature’s Answers for Today’s Health Care
©2014 dōTERRA International

If you visit any of our
businesses or sponsors, or
make contact with
anyone we’ve shared with
you, please tell them
Na Pua `O Wai`anae
sent you.
Mahalo for your support!

business
SPONSORSHIP
Ahhh,don’t you just love the warm aroma of fresh baked bread? Is
there anyone on earth who doesn’t love that smell?
On any given morning that’s the enticing, aroma emanating from
the ovens of ‘Ōhia Bakery in Waipio. Andrew Vliet, founder of ‘Ōhia
Bakery, home of the famous Moloka’i Portuguese Sweetbread has
provided Hawai’i with the famous bread. It wasn’t easy. A year of
countless batches of trial and error and multiple conversations with
local Kupuna finally yielded the famous recipe. In order to bring the
bread to O’ahu, he flew every thursday, bought his ingredients from
O’ahu suppliers, baked his bread in a rented kitchen, and sold them at
the Swap Meet on weekends. The demand for bread on O’ahu became
too great, so he moved over.
Today, ‘Ōhia Bakery has expanded to include delicious Aunty
Leilani Cookies, Le Bon traditional Japanese white bread, hamburger
and hot dog buns. The original sweetbread now comes in a sandwich
loaf and as dinner rolls.
‘Ōhia bakery is also proud to offer generous fundraising opportuni-
ties for various organizations. Organizations can choose to sell the
round or loaf sweetbread, dinner rolls or their scrumptious, bite size
cookies. They have Chocolate Pecan Coconut Macadamia, Oatmeal
Raisin, Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Choose one
or sell them all.
Andrew’s son Pieter manages the family business, so give him a call
if your group is interested. Pieter says his goal is to keep the vision of
his father--to bake the best Portuguese Sweetbread in Hawaii. Pieter,
very recently, began selling breakfast delectables from its bakery front.
Pieter is delighted to have the opportunity to carry on his father’s vision
to provide Hawaii with its daily bread.
Visit the folks at ‘Ōhia bakery every morning. They’re in Waipio
at 94-344 Uke’e St Unit 7. You can call them at 808-216-9744 or find
them on the web at www.ohiabakery.com.
“Give us this day our daily bread”

history
COMMUNITY
Nestled in the valley of Wai’anae Kai moku, a place today com-
monly referred to as Ka’ala, is 1,100 acres of land waiting to be
revitalized--to become the refuge and nutriment source of life energy
that it once was. Dr. Patti Isaacs, Executive Director of Ho’omau
Ke Ola and Glen Kila, former Principal of Kamaile Academy blessed
me with their mana’o and mo’olelo about a piece of land that is much
more than dirt, rock, and trees--this place they endearingly refer
to as Pūnana’ula.
Uncle Glen shared mo’olelo passed down through generations
of Kupuka’aina ‘ohana, rich in the Hawaiian view that edifies the
connection and interdependence of man and nature. Kupuka’aina refers
to the name of Wai’anae ‘ohana who trace their lineage to the original
inhabitants of Wai’anae. According to Uncle Glen, family mo’olelo
are not stories from a book or words of a researcher. The mo’olelo are
records of history. The land in which we stood was historically called
Pūnana’ula. Hawaiians had different kaona (hidden meanings) for the
same word. One meaning of Pūnana’ula is ‘sacred nest’--perfectly
encapsulating its function--to protect and sustain the people who
dwelled there. Pūnana’ula also refers to the sweet potato that blanketed
much of the ‘aina.
The generational mo’olelo, the chants, and the petroglyphs indicate
that Pūnana’ula was a thriving village of Hawaiian families who lived
on the Wai’anae Kai side of Ka’ala during the winter and the Wai’anae
Uka (or Wahiawa side of the mountain) during the summer. Uncle
Glen recalls his Tūtūwāhine’s mo’olelo, “As a child, my Tūtūkane carried
us on his back every winter over the mountain to escape the cold of
Wai’anae Uka and to fish. The cold side would make the babies sickly,
so they raised us on this side.” Pūnana’ula was a Pu’uhonua (refuge)
against cold and wet winters, even for the ali’i.
Today the ‘aina remains a temple for Kupuka’aina ‘ohana, but the
land needs revitalization. Ho’omau Ke Ola are stewards of a piece of
the 1,100 acres. They plan to use the land for it’s original purpose--to
sustain and heal.They invite the public to come. Like Uncle Glen said,
“This ‘aina is a temple for many ‘ohana. We want to see it benefit all of
our Wai’anae families.”
the 1,100 acres. They plan to use the land for it’s original purpose--to
sustain and heal.They invite the public to come. Like Uncle Glen said,
“This ‘aina is a temple for many ‘ohana. We want to see it benefit all of
our Wai’anae families.”
the 2,000 acres.They plan to use the land for it’s original purpose--to
sustain and heal. They invite the public to come. Like Uncle Glen
said, “This ‘aina is a temple for many ‘ohana. We want to see it
benefit all of our Wai’anae ‘ohana.”
Ho’omau Ke Ola’s Dr. Patti Isaacs says, “I was called to this ‘aina
to steward it. It tells me what it needs, and what it needs is people
to care for it and each other.” The mission of Ho’omau Ke Ola is to
perpetuate life as it should be for people who struggle with drug
addiction. The treatment center has spent decades helping the lost
and downtrodden find their way. Their program blends Western and
Hawaiian cultural practices to ground haumāna in things greater
than themselves. Pu’uhonua of Pūnana’ula is the perfect place to
heal. The Haumāna work the ‘aina learning the ka’anani’au, or the
rolling beauty of time--that there is a season, and a time for every-
thing under heaven.
Ho’omau Ke Ola invites you to spend time, work the land, and
share aloha with the haumāna. Dr. Patti shared that some of the
haumāna have never heard positive affirmations. For some, it is
uncomfortable. “We need people who care, to come and make
positivity the new normal.” Ho’omau Ke Ola will be hosting a bless-
ing this month to prepare the ‘aina for all that is in store. For more
information, please contact them at 808-696-4266. Visit them on
the web at www.hoomaukeola.org, or drive up to Ka’ala. Take the
left fork. Drive a half mile. You’ll find them on the left.
In subsequent issues we’ll share more about their progress
and Uncle Glen Kila’s mana’o about the ‘aina. Please refer back
next month.
HO’OMAU KE OLATheir efforts to heal and strengthen community
Photos by Lynette Cruz

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