Creative arts celebrate Kwanzaa

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

K'hiry Gallagher, 11, and Karen Lehn, both of Hawai'i Kai, make a woven fan at the Academy Arts Center at Linekona during the center's two-day celebration of Kwanzaa, an African-American celebration of family, community and culture. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I love crafts," said Norma Wright, as she carefully moved toward a hands-on demonstration of indigo textile dyeing led by Darius Homay. Meanwhile, in another part of the center, basket weaver Susan Tokairin was overseeing a make 'n' take workshop highlighting African fan designs.

"We've lost our ability to do that," said Jim Howell as he eyed an intricately designed hand fan made in Africa from plastic bags. "I had the opportunity to go to Tanzania last year, so I'm not surprised to know that was made in Africa. They know how to make do."

Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration that began Friday and runs through Thursday. It is observed by about 28 million people worldwide and emphasizes family, community and culture.

The seven fundamental principals of Kwanzaa — a word derived from Swahili that means first fruits of the harvest — are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

While the two-day festival at the center focused on the creative aspects of Kwanzaa, all of its principals were touched on.

"This is our third year of doing this here at the Academy Center," said Phyllis Nakasone, who coordinated the event in partnership with the Hawai'i chapter of LINKS Inc., an international African-American women's organization.

"There have been other organizations who have done it in the past. We decided to revive the tradition, but we wanted to concentrate on the creative arts."

Norma Wright of Mililani, Jim Howell of Manoa and Phyllis Nakasone of Palolo strike a portrait of Kwanzaa at the Academy Arts Center. Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

In the 1960s Karenga embraced the black-power movement, was politically militant and formed the group US (as opposed to "them"), which promoted black cultural nationalism. He served prison time for assault.

It was around that time that he changed his name. Maulana is Swahili for "master-teacher."

"Most of the people who were high-profile during that time of great strife and struggle (the '60s), were people who had aggressive personalities. ... They were always the center of controversy," Nakasone said.

Nakasone acknowledged that Hawai'i "is in the top five states with the lowest African-American populations." Less than 2 percent of the population is African-American, she said. But that number is on the rise, she said.

She said that while Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American and Pan-African cultures, it's something anyone can appreciate.

"You know, it's like when you go to Chinese New Year's downtown — you don't have to be Chinese," she said. "It's fun, there's stuff going on, you have an opportunity to do things related to the holiday and you learn about, experience and enjoy another culture."

Academy Arts Center director Carol Khewhok said that while there was something for everyone during the two-day family festival, the highlight of the affair may have been Friday's cooking demonstration by Circuit Judge Sandra Simms.

"She made jambalaya that was killer," said Khewhok, who lamented the fact that by the time she got there the dish had been devoured. "I missed out. But the smells alone were to die for!"

Reach Will Hoover at 525-8038 or at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.