11/04/2026
Please join EHCC and Ola Nā Iwi on November 20, from 3pm - 5pm for the Artist Talk Story, with upena weaver, Apo Kalani Aquino Sr., who is featured in the current E 'Ai exhibition.
Apo, who was born and raised as a lawai'a in Kailua-Kona, was taught to fish as a way of relational sustenance, and at the young age of seven, learned the craft of net making, by his father. Over the last 25 years he has made functional upena for local fisherman, while in the recent five years, Apo has enjoyed creating upena as an art form, using traditional cordage and natural dies, which he harvests and processes.
We are grateful that he is coming the distance from Kona to share stories with our East Hawai'i community, so if you're curious about his process and want to learn more about the traditional and modern methods of upena, this is the time to visit with him!
