LAHAINA STORY BEHIND NEW HANA HOU LEADS TO COMMUNITY MAHALOS: New Hana Hou Restaurant and Taco Tita owners Zane Monteleone and Marc Umayam, said that during this holiday season they would like to thank the community for the outpouring of support. They announced a mahalo gingerbread event for Dec. 15 and a promotion for all of December to support high school wrestling.
After losing everything in the Lahaina Wildfire last year, and having no housing available, Monteleone and Umayam, like the rest of the Lahaina community, were unsure of what to do next.
Kupuna from Pahala Senior Club at Hana Hou with Patty Fujimoto on right and new owners Zane Moneleone and Marc Umayam there to serve them. Photo from Hana Hou |
Hana Hou's Patty Fujimoto stepped up to give solace and a place to stay to her dear friend, Monetleone's dad, Noel, who barely escaped the fire, covered in ashes. With Fujimoto's help, a new path began to form in the way of opportunity to buy Hana Hou in Nāʻālehu.
Monteleone and Umayam released the following statement: "As a thank you to their new community, Hana Hou will be hosting a free Gingerbread cookie decorating event, led by Zane's wife Cynthia, internationally recognized Team USA athlete World Track and Field Champion and mural artist, Saturday Dec, 15 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the restaurant.
"As another mahalo, Hana Hou will donate $2 from every pizza sold in the month of December to Kaʻū High School's wrestling team. Monteleone was wrestling coach for Lahainaluna for over 20 years. Umayam was also a wrestling coach and jiu jitsu athlete. "We are passionate about seeing the keiki thrive in wrestling," says their statement.
Family Hawaiian immersion activities are available at the future school. Photo by Cadence Feeley |
Co-founder Ralyene Auli'i Fujikawa-Moses said, "We are excited to announce an opportunity for interested ʻohana (families) with keiki (children) ages 0-5 to join our Family Child Interaction Learning Program, Kū Hāweo. This program will offer ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and cultural-based engagement activities, aimed at establishing a strong foundation for our upcoming PreK program."
Kū Hāweo is designed to provide interested ʻohana the opportunity to introduce Hawaiian language and culture into their homes and daily lives, creating early learning readiness in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for their keiki. Through interactive sessions, families will engage in culturally-rooted activities, including the Moʻolelo (stories) of Kaʻū, school readiness activities, and traditional practices designed to deepen connections to community and place.
For more information or to sign up for Kū Hāweo, (space is limited), contact through kauhawaiianimmersion@gmail.com.
community from KDEN, Kīlauea Drama and Entertainment Network. The musical performance is Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in Lehua Room of Kīlauea Military Camp. Park at Kīlauea Theater and follow the path past the chapel to the Lehua Room.
"The chorus was founded in 1994 by the late great Camille Almy. When she moved away, she passed the torch to Tom McAlexander who conducted the chorus until Roch Jones took over and directed for ten years. After last season, Roch decided he wanted to sing. Melanie had been our accompanist in the past and wanted to direct and we are so lucky to have her lead us." This year's concert is dedicated to the memory of Tom McAlexander who passed away earlier this year.
Admission is free, donations gratefully accepted. For more contact KDEN at 808-982-7344 or email kdenhawaii@gmail.com.
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