Indigenous
"For all of us, becoming indigenous to a place means living as if your children's future mattered, to take care of the land as if our lives, both material and spiritual, depended on it." - Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
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"A boy's best friend is his MOTHER!" -Joseph Stefano  March 20, 2015, was the day I became Ronan's mom. I feel so blessed for the opportunity to be his mom. I always wanted children and I'm so glad that this rowdy, stubborn, kind-hearted boy was the one to teach me truly what it means to be a mother. From the first time I held him there was something different that I'd never felt before - my capacity to love just got deeper. You create a lot of things in your life, but when you create an actual life, it is life-changing.  "If you want to CHANGE the WORLD, go home and LOVE your FAMILY!" -MOTHER TERESA 
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 TODAY is the DAY! My nephew, Alex Aiono, was recently signed to Interscope Records and has just released his new single: "Work The Middle" His Interscope Artist Bio Page states: "A 20-year-old singer/songwriter who plays a half-dozen instruments, Aiono’s first music industry connection was made while busking on the Santa Monica Promenade at age 15, and it didn’t take long before he was writing songs with the likes of John Legend. Newly signed to Interscope Records, and in the midst of recording his first full-length album, Alex Aiono is delivering his first official single that’s sure to expand his devoted following—a fanbase that already includes 4 million YouTube subscribers and fast approaching half a billion views, 1.7 million Instagram followers, and 400k+ Twitter followers. Beyond all of the millions of fans, more impressive is how engaged they are with every song, image and post, finding refuge in his alluring energy."  When I couldn't afford good hair color and wore a full face of make-up on the lake, Somewhere in Arizona. Ever since Alex was a little boy I remember him singing and thinking to myself how cool it was that he liked to sing at such a young age. Throughout the years, I've been privileged to see him develop as a singer, song writer, and performer. I've heard his voice mature and talent grow and seen his unrelenting drive to follow his dreams.  Alex Aiono and Ronan Hakota Aiono Dowden at Hauiti Marae, Tolaga Bay, New Zealand. Alex is such a great example to our family of hard work and dedication. I'm so grateful that my son is able to look up to his cousin and see a person full of kindness and willing to always share his talents. I know that his Nana and Papa would be so proud of him! WE LOVE YOU ALEX!   -John Turi-Tiakitai (Author, Whatu Kākahu: Maori Cloaks) "Beautiful kākahu (cloaks) were worn by people of rank. Cloaks included kahu kurī (dog-skin cloaks), korowai (cloaks decorated with woollen pompoms or tags) and kahu huruhuru (cloaks made with bird feathers). A fine kākahu could take several years to make. They were treasured, and were sometimes exchanged for important items or services" (Te Ara)   “When you put a kākahu [cloak] on, that Io [The Creator] is against your skin and the aho, the connection with all of those elements that you live amongst and learn from, and you then hand that knowledge on it’s all there when you put the kākahu on…it’s that image in your mind that you’re in contact with the Creator every time you put your kākahu on.” -Toi Te Rito Maihi   -Kukupa Tirikātene (Ngai Tahu) "The Korowai has it's own Wairua, or Spirit..."  A few years ago my sisters and I started making Korowais for special family occasions for anyone in our family to use. When we make a Korowai it's with the intent of creating a connection between our ancestors and our living family. We sing songs (waiata), pray and bless them (karakia), and tell stories and reminisce about our mother and family (whanau). It is a labor of love and we put our MANA into each one and the wearer both gives and receives MANA from it. Weavers of the past often had signature stitching or designs that were unique to them. My sisters and I always try to incorporate a few charms woven into the lining of the cloak that represent the specific meaning and purpose the Korowai was created for. We call them our CHARMED KOROWAI. What we love about making Korowais is that they can be used for so many special occasions and being far from New Zealand and our extended family, we are able to be connected to them, our mother, and our ancestors during these special times.  “The tapestry of understanding cannot be woven by just one strand alone. It takes the working together of strands, the working together of such weavers to complete such a tapestry. “ -Kukupa Tirikātene (Ngai Tahu)   "Snakes & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails... That's what Little Boys are made of." The nice thing about my husband becoming a teacher is that he gets national holidays off. So last Monday, Martin Luther King Day, after sleeping in and lots of snuggles, my son woke up late in the morning with two words on his lips... "GO!" & "OUTSIDE!" If you know Ronan, once he's made up his mind there is no stopping him. So we got up, grabbed some breakfast, and headed to the park! It's times like these that I'm grateful that I'm a mom who knows when to drop everything and just GOOOOOOOOO!  Little Boys are SUPERHEROES in disguise! -Art Moms  bohemian (n.) Gypsy. Wanderer. A person, musician, artist or writer who lives a free spirited life and believes in truth, freedom, and love.  BOHO Look available at Lularoe Aiono Sisters. - Floral Maxi Skirt (L) worn as a dress. - Blue Lace Joy (M). -Color Block Sarah (XL). When you're layering for a BOHO look, size doesn't matter - Pick the prints and color schemes you love and make it work. For more fashion tips and outfit pairings tune into our live show on Fridays @ 9:00 PM PST. ACCESSORIES: - Afghani Lapis Tribal Earrings from JewelsofNomads. Shop with them on ETSY. They have incredible one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from Afghanistan. - Golden Pearl Flight Feather carved Shell Necklace from Feather Tribe. Shop with them on ETSY. They have all kinds of carved feather accessories.  "In a gentle way... YOU can shake the World." -Gandhi   "Pineapple Princess, they call me Pineapple Princess all day. I play the Ukulele on the shore by the bay..." Pineapple Princess Ensemble: - Irma & Amelia Available at Lularoe Aiono Sisters Accessories: - Paua woven earrings from Rarotonga, Cook Islands. - Koru Necklace made of carved whale bone by Ralph Hamon of Kohatu Ataahua in Rotorua, NZ.   "Love is like a Pineapple, Sweet and Undefinable." -Piet Pieterszoon Hein  #pineappleprincess #lularoestyle #aionosisters #lularoeirma #lularoeamelia #dolewhipplease #dapperday #disneymoana #FridayFavorites #FashionFriday #patternmixing #polynesianprincess #pineapple
 Day 1: The Camp-Transformation Center |
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