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  • Ka ‘ike a ka makua he hei na ke keiki.

The knowledge of the parent is absorbed by the child.

Kumu Manaola Yap shared, “When we look at families that have different types of ‘oihana, or different types of hana no’eau, whether it’s kapa, or it’s lei hulu feather making, or it’s dance, or lua, or martial arts, or any of the Hawaiian practices or traditions that are part of our lifestyle and our ways, it’s important for us to take that and move it on into the next generation. 

I was very fortunate to grow up in an environment that fosters that osmosis style of receiving ‘ike, the hidden intellect, or the deeper knowledge of the know how to, when to, what to, really that sensory.

Because ‘ike doesn’t only have to do with just something we learn like from a textbook. In a Hawaiian sense, in an indigenous sense, our experience of receiving intellect and knowledge on that scope is even more in-depth. It’s part of our connectivity that moves through us in a spiritual and soulful way of connecting ourselves to everything in the universe in its totality.”

#halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous
  • ‘Āina.

That which feeds us.

For indigenous artists and entrepreneurs, our connection to our ‘āina is integral in our creative processes. Our journey directly impacts our ‘āina and our ‘āina directly impacts our journey. When we ground, we access eons of ancestral knowledge embedded into our ‘āina. It shapes the way we think and move. The way we sustain our practices. Every choice impacting everything in the universe in its totality.

#halekua #hawaii
  • As the Mele Manaka festivities continue to grow each year as a significant space for indigenous business, our haumāna were challenged to experience the cultural and commercial essences of this year’s festivities through a Hawaiian framework. We visited different spaces throughout Hilo and gained experiential insights into the impacts of every element of a business.

Pictured here are a few of our incubator cohort members and kumu at the MANAOLA Pop Up. 

Who were your favorite vendors this year? What did you love about them? 

#halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous #business #merriemonarch #melemanaka #manaola #manaolahawaii
  • Experiencing a creative block? Take a moment in nature. 

#halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous #inspiration
  • Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
  • Empowering humanity through Hawaiian culture and innovative entrepreneurism.

#halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #entrepreneurship #indigenous
Ka ‘ike a ka makua he hei na ke keiki.

The knowledge of the parent is absorbed by the child.

Kumu Manaola Yap shared, “When we look at families that have different types of ‘oihana, or different types of hana no’eau, whether it’s kapa, or it’s lei hulu feather making, or it’s dance, or lua, or martial arts, or any of the Hawaiian practices or traditions that are part of our lifestyle and our ways, it’s important for us to take that and move it on into the next generation. 

I was very fortunate to grow up in an environment that fosters that osmosis style of receiving ‘ike, the hidden intellect, or the deeper knowledge of the know how to, when to, what to, really that sensory.

Because ‘ike doesn’t only have to do with just something we learn like from a textbook. In a Hawaiian sense, in an indigenous sense, our experience of receiving intellect and knowledge on that scope is even more in-depth. It’s part of our connectivity that moves through us in a spiritual and soulful way of connecting ourselves to everything in the universe in its totality.”

#halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous
Ka ‘ike a ka makua he hei na ke keiki. The knowledge of the parent is absorbed by the child. Kumu Manaola Yap shared, “When we look at families that have different types of ‘oihana, or different types of hana no’eau, whether it’s kapa, or it’s lei hulu feather making, or it’s dance, or lua, or martial arts, or any of the Hawaiian practices or traditions that are part of our lifestyle and our ways, it’s important for us to take that and move it on into the next generation. I was very fortunate to grow up in an environment that fosters that osmosis style of receiving ‘ike, the hidden intellect, or the deeper knowledge of the know how to, when to, what to, really that sensory. Because ‘ike doesn’t only have to do with just something we learn like from a textbook. In a Hawaiian sense, in an indigenous sense, our experience of receiving intellect and knowledge on that scope is even more in-depth. It’s part of our connectivity that moves through us in a spiritual and soulful way of connecting ourselves to everything in the universe in its totality.” #halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous
1 day ago
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1/6
‘Āina. That which feeds us. For indigenous artists and entrepreneurs, our connection to our ‘āina is integral in our creative processes. Our journey directly impacts our ‘āina and our ‘āina directly impacts our journey. When we ground, we access eons of ancestral knowledge embedded into our ‘āina. It shapes the way we think and move. The way we sustain our practices. Every choice impacting everything in the universe in its totality. #halekua #hawaii
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/6
As the Mele Manaka festivities continue to grow each year as a significant space for indigenous business, our haumāna were challenged to experience the cultural and commercial essences of this year’s festivities through a Hawaiian framework. We visited different spaces throughout Hilo and gained experiential insights into the impacts of every element of a business.

Pictured here are a few of our incubator cohort members and kumu at the MANAOLA Pop Up. 

Who were your favorite vendors this year? What did you love about them? 

#halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous #business #merriemonarch #melemanaka #manaola #manaolahawaii
As the Mele Manaka festivities continue to grow each year as a significant space for indigenous business, our haumāna were challenged to experience the cultural and commercial essences of this year’s festivities through a Hawaiian framework. We visited different spaces throughout Hilo and gained experiential insights into the impacts of every element of a business. Pictured here are a few of our incubator cohort members and kumu at the MANAOLA Pop Up. Who were your favorite vendors this year? What did you love about them? #halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous #business #merriemonarch #melemanaka #manaola #manaolahawaii
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
3/6
Experiencing a creative block? Take a moment in nature. #halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #indigenous #inspiration
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/6
Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
Life leitly

We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. 
 
#halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei

©️2024 Hale Kua
Life leitly We’ve had incredibly talented artists in our last 3 cohorts. When looking for lei, be sure to support indigenous lei makers. #halekua #lei #leimakers #supportlocal #supporthawaiian #hawaii #hawaiian #mayday #leiday #lālei #lāmei ©️2024 Hale Kua
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/6
Empowering humanity through Hawaiian culture and innovative entrepreneurism. #halekua #hawaii #hawaiian #entrepreneurship #indigenous
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/6

Our Mission

To empower humanity through indigenous cultures, values, and traditions.

Programs

Programs

Led by native designer Manaola Yap and CEO Zachary Pang of MANAOLA, the Hale Kua Incubator Program inspires entrepreneurial spirit in indigenous artists and small businesses.

The Business Incubator program guides participants through five phases of business:

1. inspiration

2. translation

3. creation

4. business plan

5. business pitch

 

The program begins with a week-long retreat on Hawai’i island, where selected cohort members have the unique opportunity to walk in Manaola’s footsteps and explore the building blocks of culturally based business rooted in Hawaiian values and ‘ike kupuna (ancestral knowledge). The program continues with weekly workshops, guest presentations from industry experts, and in-person events at the end of each phase.

 

Through the incubator program, Hale Kua aims to cultivate Hawaiian arts, culture, values, and traditions by:

• fostering the next generation of storytellers in this time and space through their individual creative art

• teaching participants how to connect to time and space to receive inspiration and translate that inspiration

• establishing the effectiveness of a culturally-based business model as a foundation for success

 

Apply for Cohort 3

 

Hale Kua partners with organizations to offer cultural workshops.

About

About

Leadership

Manaola

Yap

 

As the creator and owner of Hawaiian lifestyle brand, MANAOLA, Manaola Yap continues to pioneer indigenous fashion on a global scale, including exclusive appearances and illustrious partnerships.

Kumu Hula

Nani Lim Yap

 

Mother to Manaola Yap, Kumu Nani is an award winning singer, song-writer, entertainer, teacher, kumu hula and Hawaiian cultural practitioner.

Zachary

Pang

 

With years of experience in retail leadership, Zachary has scaled MANAOLA into global notoriety since assuming the role of CEO in 2016, continually expanding its impact in indigenous commerce.

No Upcoming Events

Visit our Instagram to stay up to date.

Support

Support

Aloha aku, aloha mai.

Love is given, love is received.

As a 501(c)3 organization, we are honored to serve our community through the generous donations of people like you. Your aloha allows us to provide programs and services that support our mission to  empower humanity and perpetuate indigenous cultures, values, and traditions.

History

Descending from a family of hula practitioners and artisans, Hawaiian culture has shaped the life of Manaola Yap. From infancy, he learned hula from his mother, Kumu Nani Lim Yap, both at home and through hālau. With culture as the foundation of his inspiration, Manaola has been able to transform the intrinsic beauty, energy, and history of Hawai’i into visual art as the owner and designer of renowned Hawaiian lifestyle brand, MANAOLA.

   

Reflecting on his own experience with building his business, Manaola Yap recognized that indigenous entrepreneurs face unique challenges in their attempts to navigate modern commerce. Together with CEO Zachary Pang, he created Hale Kua in 2018 as a philanthropic approach to supporting indigenous creatives through their entrepreneurial journeys.

 

Hale Kua aims to serve as a resource center for Hawaiian and indigenous communities by creating avenues that will allow for great accessibility to living culture through education, experiences, and the arts.

 

Since its inception, Hale Kua has mentored two cohorts and over 20 participants statewide. Hale Kua continues to innovate business mentorship by establishing a comprehensive framework that connects indigenous cultures, values, and traditions with contemporary entrepreneurship.

History

Descending from a family of hula practitioners and artisans, Hawaiian culture has shaped the life of Manaola Yap. From infancy, he learned hula from his mother, Kumu Nani Lim Yap, both at home and through hālau. With culture as the foundation of his inspiration, Manaola has been able to transform the intrinsic beauty, energy, and history of Hawai’i into visual art as the owner and designer of renowned Hawaiian lifestyle brand, MANAOLA.

   

Reflecting on his own experience with building his business, Manaola Yap recognized that indigenous entrepreneurs face unique challenges in their attempts to navigate modern commerce. Together with CEO Zachary Pang, he created Hale Kua in 2018 as a philanthropic approach to supporting indigenous creatives through their entrepreneurial journeys.

 

Hale Kua aims to serve as a resource center for Hawaiian and indigenous communities by creating avenues that will allow for great accessibility to living culture through education, experiences, and the arts.

 

Since its inception, Hale Kua has mentored two cohorts and over 20 participants statewide. Hale Kua continues to innovate business mentorship by establishing a comprehensive framework that connects indigenous cultures, values, and traditions with contemporary entrepreneurship.