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.
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!
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.
The 2nd Annual Christmas in the Country Craft Fair at Hilo Coffee Mill is going to be a benefit for the Carousel of Aloha. Mahalo nui loa to The Mill for their generosity. This year is going to be even bigger and better than last year. There will be over 40 local crafters with items like Christmas wreaths, jewelry, Pysanky eggs and a whole lot more.
There will be a big food booth with broke da mouth food, games for the kids, pictures with Santa and Carousel figures and of course, music and entertainment.
The Carousel of Aloha will manage the affair with the support of our volunteers, Hilo Coffee Mill staff, and Market @ The Mill vendors.
This will be a great fundraiser and we’re excited for the day.
When: Monday, November 12th Time: 10:00am until 4:00pm Where: Hilo Coffee Mill, 17-995 Volcano Rd, Mountain View, Hawaii Contact: Katherine Patton, email:CITCHawaii@gmail.com
Sometimes you wonder if when living in Hawaii, you are in a foreign country. Trying to order from the internet can be trying, to say the least. Comments like “we don’t ship to Hawaii” or “we only ship FedEx” or “we’ll ship it parcel post and it will arrive within 10 days”, really make you wonder.
The past three days, I have had the most wonderful experience with DickBlick.com, an art supply house in Illinois. Everyone I spoke with was kind, courteous, friendly and knowledgeable. It just filled my heart to know there are still companies who care and try to understand.
And they are the first to really give us support on our project, in the form of a deep discount on supplies.
Three cheers to DickBlick.com. If you need supplies they have great prices, even without a discount.
Mahalo nui loa to DickBlick.com for partnering with Paradise Ponies, Inc. and the Carousel of Aloha. We’ll be back over the next 3 years!
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.
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.
Actual carvings will be of native hibiscusWe are about to announce a one day carving workshop to introduce people to the carousel and carving. Everyone will be carving a small icon, approximately 12″x16″, most likely a native Hawaiian hibiscus. The workshop will have limited enrollment and a very reasonable fee. The icons will be used throughout the Carousel of Aloha Pavilion & Park. Keep your eyes and ears open for more information. Please share!
The Carousel of Aloha will be present at the Annual Hilo Orchid Society Show this weekend. We will bring Pua, a carousel figure in progress, and will have the opportunity to speak with 1,000’s of orchid show visitors.
If you have a chance, please come by. Check their website for details.
Pua in the foreground, will be on display at the Orchid Show this weekend in Hilo.
On July 4th, the Carousel of Aloha participated in the Volcano, Hawaii 4th of July Independence Day parade. We all had a great time and generated a lot of excited eyes and interest.
We can’t wait until next year when we will have a carved carousel figure to move through the parade. We’ll also have a booth with photo opportunities for kids of all ages.
Did you go to the parade? What did you think? Did you have fun?
BOD Member Gretchen at the Volcano 4th of July ParadeJeanette & Juanette at the Volcano 4th of July Parade
Join our next Fundraising Meeting and help us find ways to raise money. 5:00pm Hilo Coffee Mill. Come ready to help with ideas and your sleeves rolled up. It isn’t easy to be a huge part of Hawaii’s future.
We had a great meeting on Tuesday and had two need members, Yen and Patricia. I can tell they are going to keep us on our toes and they’re so supportive with many great ideas. Their enthusiasm is contagious. We’ll be participating in the Volcano 4th of July Parade on Wednesday, carrying the Carousel of Aloha Banner. Come out and enjoy the morning.
Our Wine and Cheese Soiree will be held in October 2012. This is a fundraiser and is by special invitation only. We hope to raise a minimum of $15,000.
We are also planning a formal dinner and auction in February 2013, coinciding with our Carving a Carousel Figure class. More on that in another post.
Mahalo to everyone who attended and had so many great ideas. If anyone has any great ideas or would like to help, please let us know. Our Fundraising Committee meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at Hilo Coffee Mill, beginning at 5:00pm.
