Join us in a get-together for the volunteers of the Carousel of Aloha! Get to meet the other volunteers, and learn about the dream to create a traditional hand-carved carousel for Hawaiʻi.
Even if you have not yet signed up, come on down! We will have additional sign-up sheets for you!
Just like a carousel has many different kinds of parts that do different things, yet work together harmoniously, creating the Carousel of Aloha takes many volunteers with different skills, all working together.
So, please join us at Noon, on Sunday, July 16, for a pot luck and fellowship. We’ll have carving demonstrations, games, and prizes!
Carousel of Aloha booth going up at the 2017 Hilo Orchid Show!It takes many hands to get the booth together! Board member Galyn Williams on the job!Board member Leilehua Yuen consults with spokeshorse Ginger on the booth.The donkey needs a name! Suggestions so far: “Kīkala” and “Mele.”Booth visitors got to learn carving techniques on the seahorse and on icons.
Ginger and company had a GREAT time at the Hilo Orchid Society show this weekend. Ginger, of course, was decked out in her orchid-colored saddle. She enjoyed posing posing for pictures with lots of young friends.
Over forty people signed up to learn more about the Carousel!
Newest board member, Leilehua Yuen, was there, learning the ropes, from Juanette Baysa, Galyn Williams, and the rest of the crew.
Spokeshorse Ginger with newest board member, Leilehua Yuen, at the Hilo Orchid Society show in June, 2016.
The time is getting near for our 5th Annual Christmas in the Country Arts & Crafts Fair. We’re looking for vendors and would love to get your applications early. Please click here to go to our Events Page for Christmas in the Country information, application form and payment through PayPal. We are also looking for volunteers and would love to hear from you. If you’d like to volunteer, please use the form below. Many people are needed to make this event a success.
The Carousel of Aloha is reaching out to the community. We are in need of a place to hold our February workshop. We’d love to have a month-to-month rental donated to us. This would be a great tax deduction for someone who has an empty warehouse waiting to be leased, or a large room at a church or community center.
At minimum, we need it from February 8th through the 24th, but are really looking for something ongoing to allow us to continue carving and storing the figures we are working on and the supplies we’re using. If you or anyone you know might be able to help, please let us know as soon as possible. Remember, this is a great tax deduction. If necessary we can pay the utilities we use.
Mahalo to everyone for being so supportive of this project. Please SHARE this with anyone you can think who can be of assistance.
We’re super excited at the momentum that is quickly building around the Carousel of Aloha project. We’re meeting with a few people shortly to discuss a location for the upcoming class in February as well as a permanent home.
We’re also getting ready to welcome Master Carousel Carver Ken Means to our island. He and his wife Betty will be here for almost 3 weeks. They will teach our class, flyer attached, and then be the Guests of Honor at our Fundraiser on February 22nd.
Be sure and click on the link above or on the picture, and share with all you know. We have a few more openings but believe this two week class will fill up soon. It’s limited to only 12 students.
Imagine being a part of building Hawaii’s future, a place for kids of all ages to go, have fun, learn and be with family and friends.
Won’t you come be a part of the Carousel of Aloha?
Yesterday’s monthly rummage sale was absolutely amazing! We got to meet so many folks, some residents from Hawaii Island, and a few from our Neighbor Islands, as well as visitors from the mainland. After learning of our great project and all of its benefits, they pledged their support and donated. Every little bit helps.
A big Mahalo goes out to Gretchen and Mike Klungness who gave their time to be there and assist with the event. Mahalo also to the staff of Hilo Coffee Mill that assisted with the set up and storage of the rummage items.
I would also encourage anyone reading this, to subscribe to receive these posts via email (its easy, see the button on the right). And share the Carousel Of Aloha with the WORLD! It benefits everyone! And everyone can help, because it is a community built project.
So, next month’s rummage sale in on February 2, 2013 at the Hilo Coffee Mill during their Farmer’s Market @ the Mill. Mark your calendars now. If you can help on that day, let me know.
There is an Hawaiian saying: `A `ohe hana nui ke alu `ia which means: no task is too big when done together by all.
Help!! With all of the holiday ‘busy-ness’ and the attention that end of year, end of month stuff needs, the first weekend in January is already here. That means that it is the monthly Carousel of Aloha Rummage Sale fundraiser that is held at the Hilo Coffee Mill. I desperately need help in the way of people to assist with setting up, sales, giving information on the COA project and at the end, putting away the remainder of the unsold goods. If there is anyone with some available time tomorrow from 730am to 130 or 2pm, please let me know.
Although I know it happens each month, somehow I get caught at the end. Perhaps you can look at your calendars and let me know if you can help with any of the future rummage sales. It’s only once a month, on the first Saturday. Please try. It would really help and is so much appreciated. And let your friends know of the project, and maybe they can help too. The rummage sale is a great way to find deals on all sorts of things, from clothes to construction materials. Its held during the Mill’s Farmer’s Market, so it is fun and entertaining. You can shop while you’re there, eliminating the need to go to the grocery store for your fresh products. See, it can be a win-win-win all the way around!
I have long advocated–half seriously–that we should move Christmas to August because of the stress the holiday adds to December. During the darkest days of the year, I’d prefer to have the leisure to sit quietly and read a good book. Instead, December brings a mountain of holiday-related work. Consequently, I’ve had to push the Carousel of Aloha to a back burner where it has simmered, and its gentle bubbling reminded me of all the carousel chores I was neglecting. Guilt knows no bounds.
I’ve felt a measure of guilt in December for my inability to devote more time to the carousel. I’ve even felt it through the fatigue that has often accompanied my waking hours this month. The amalgam of guilt and fatigue has a toxic quality, so I’m glad that Boxing Day has come and gone. Now I can resume a semblance of ordinary life.
Today is Thursday, December 27th, and Ken’s Master Carving Workshop looms large. I’ve got to kick it up a notch of two in order to properly prepare for that. The list of task is long and as varied as the list of material wants and needs. For example, we need several pairs of old jean. We actually only need the legs which we will make into sandbags to steady carving stock. We also need someone who will play tour guide for Ken and Betty, his wife during their days off. So please visit Yen’s Wishlist for a complete inventory, and offer your assistance to whatever degree.
The third Introduction to Carving Workshop also approaches. We elected not to schedule any workshops in December (thank goodness) because we knew that everyone would already be overwhelmed by the season. We’ll hold the January Workshop inPahoa on Sunday, January 13th. January is also the month we need to make all the carving blanks for Ken’s Master Workshop.
Ken Means serves as the Master Carver for the Carousel of Aloha, and we’re very lucky to have his help. Since he and his wife, Betty live and work in Oregon, he mostly offers advice and support from afar. Happily we are able to bring Ken an Betty to Hawai’i for two weeks in February. Ken will teach a Master Carving Class for two weeks, from February 11 through February 22, 2013. For more information click here.
Ken has devoted the bulk of his artistic life to learning about and keeping alive an old tradition. Ken currently has his own carousel carvings on exhibition at the Coos Bay Art Museum through January 26, 2013. We invite you to study with Ken. This class is a rare opportunity to learn how to carve carousel animals with someone who possesses great knowledge about that process.
If you want to know the details about this class, please Subscribe to our Blog via Email, located on every web page, to receive regular updates as we know them.
Sorry for the late notice. We are having two meetings tonight at Hilo Coffee Mill. The Fundraising slotsetic Committee Meeting will be from 4:30pm until 5:30pm and the Board Meeting will begin at 5:30pm. Everyone is invited. Hope to see you tonight.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the 2nd Annual Christmas in the Country at Hilo Coffee Mill in Mountain View, take a minute to review the information regarding booth space and becoming a volunteer. The information can be found here, as well as the link to the vendor application. Spaces are filling up quickly. Last year over 1000 people attended the event. This year will be even bigger and better.
Be sure and complete your application soon to ensure your booth space.
More information will be posted as available and can be found on our Facebook Page.
As our project grows and gains more credibility, there is no doubt in my mind we will have all the support we need. Getting the initial support is the hardest. It takes a few brave souls who either understand or almost understand, what this project can do for Hawaii, it’s people and it’s visitors, to get the ball rolling.
Woodcraft is one of those forward thinking businesses in Hawaii.
Since 1928, Woodcraft has delivered the finest woodworking tools, woodworking plans and woodworking supplies to America’s woodworkers. Woodcraft brings you over 20,000 woodworking tools and backed by our 90-Day Guarantee and industry best customer service. With top of the line power tools, clamps, pen kits, hand saws, fasteners, woodworking plans and more, Woodcraft is able to fill all your woodworking supply needs. Woodcraft has provided the woodworking community the best woodworking tools for 80 years, helping people complete countless projects. If you’re looking for the best in woodworking tools, woodworking plans, and supplies, look no further than Woodcraft.
The way we became involved was through FlexCut, one of the finest names in carving tools. I sent them two emails and they thought this project was worthy of their attention and support. FlexCut contacted Woodcraft on Oahu and Iris, from Woodcraft contacted me. It has been a wonderful experience, they have helped us immensely and we hope our relationship lasts throughout and beyond the life of our project. Not only have they helped with tools for our carving workshops, but their customer service has made it a pleasure.
From Paradise Ponies, Inc and the Carousel of Aloha, we’d like to welcome Woodcraft to our family and mahalo you for your kokua.
When I volunteered to do the job of managing the Carousel of Aloha Project for the Big Island alone (I’m not the Head Cheese, thank goodness), I suspected that I had agreed to take a very large bite. Of course, I had a poor appreciation for the real size of the bite; I needed that poor understanding because I never would have made the commitment had I accurately understood the magnitude of the task. That is NOT to say that I regret saying, “yes”. Like committing to build a house here in Hawai’i, I expect that my committing to the Carousel Project will yield great personal rewards. And I believe that those goodies will more than fairly compensate me for my time and labor. What a great job. I never got such a good deal when I had to sell my labor.
We have a middle-term vision that has a Master Carver, Ken Means by name, come to the Big Island in February to conduct a three-week Carousel Carving Class. I spent three weeks carving with Ken this past July, and I came home with lots of horse parts. Many of those parts are finished. Some of them need more work. The product of my four weeks away impresses my wife, Patricia for both quality and it’s quantity. And I’m pleased by what I accomplished in a relatively short period of time. For the record, my wife does not agree that one should describe the time I spent in Oregon as “short”, but that’s another story.
This story is more about preparing for that middle-term vision. Of course, you’re all invited to participate in the February Carving Class. Stay tuned for details as we flesh them out.
But back to the preparations. We’ve scheduled three Introduction to Carving Workshops for Puna. You’re all invited to participate in them too. Details to follow. The first workshop will be in late September. I believe that we’re shooting for the afternoon of the 30th in Volcano. Time and place are not yet set, so if you have any ideas of a good location, please let me know. Send your email messages to: HIPM@CarouselofAloha.org
In the Intro to Carving Workshops people will use our tools and materials to transform a block of bass wood into a Hawaiian theme figure. The participants won’t get to take their work home. Instead it will ultimately get included in the finished carousel. Speaking as one who recently took a block of wood and brought a horse’s head out of it, the feeling of satisfaction is amazing. And I’m confident that anybody can successfully carve the figure we’ll work on in September. I have to be confident because I need to carve it before the first workshop, gulp!
I have professional help doing the carving, so I’m not really worried. All I really have to do is make the time to put chisel to wood. You all can help me find the time, if you’ll take on some of the other chores I now must shoulder. We really need someone who will work with other volunteers to bring them into the project in ways that tickle their fancy. But if you can’t chomp at that piece, I could use the help with a lot of smaller chores. Got a couple of hours to help make portable carving benches? Contact me, or leave me a telephone message at: 808.315.1093. Don’t like to work with plywood? No problem. Click on Yen’s Wish List for a full list of needs.
Aloha all. It’s time again this month for our Board of Directors meeting. We’ll meet at Hilo Coffee Mill at 5:30pm, Wednesday, August 22nd. This is an open meeting and we’d love to have you come. We’ll be giving updates on all of our committees and discussing our new Carousel Carving Workshops.
Yardsale September 1stIt’s that time again and everyone is invited. We’ll have our Fundraising Committee meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14th, at 5:00pm at Hilo Coffee Mill. Come with ideas and help us plan our next few events. It should be fun.
