Tea Time
Photos by Karen Anderson
Miniature delights artfully displayed on a pastry tree, courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
Sugar and spice and everything nice were present in abundance as Lacey Kaimuloa-Bates enjoys her first real tea party.
Tea Time
Supportive relatives pitched in to help plan, stage and hostess the event.
Name: Bailey Vein Institute Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061366r1
Creative ideas for tea parties
princesses, stay bonded with their hula sisters and play.” The girls, ages 4 through 12, dressed up, sipped “tea” and nibbled on assorted fancy crudités, cupcakes, crème puffs and petit fours. Aloha, who is also a floral designer and decorator, has staged parties and events all his life but had never done a tea party. “I called friends and relatives who’d put on tea parties before to get their ideas,” he says. “The hardest thing of all was finding real tea cups in Kona.” With the gung-ho support of the parents, Aloha’s tea party took on a life of its own as everyone stepped in to offer professional assistance and donations. His friend and Holuakoa Café sous chef William Hing created the luncheon menu, while parent Noelani Pi, an employee of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, brought in a scrumptious, selection of bite-sized pastries. The event was a sparkling success. “In hula, we are one-hundred percent committed to what we do,” says Aloha. “We teach the values of
Name: STUTTS CONSTRUCTION Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061691r1
By Kristina Anderson
T
hank heaven for little girls … who love tea parties. Recently, a lucky keiki hula halau got to experience an authentic tea party with all the trimmings hosted at the Holuakoa Café in Holualoa. Members of Kumu Hula Kenneth “Aloha” Victor’s Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu were delightfully rewarded with a girly event that gave the hard-working students a break from the rigors of hula practice and performance. “We wanted to do something outside of the hula circuit that would give them the chance to be little girls,” says Aloha. “This was a way for the girls to be
22 at home in west hawaii/ august 2012
Members of Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu share secrets across the table at their first annual tea party. Each little girl got a pair of gloves, all sourced online. The event also featured a homemade hat-making contest. Pictured: Jasmine Carter.
at home in west hawaii/ august 2012 23
Name: REVOLUSUN Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 10.75 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061774r1
Name: KONA KAI POOLS Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061743r2
Hosted by Kumu Hula “Aloha” Victor for his keiki halau, the tea party provided a fun diversion from the daily demands of hula practice. From left to right: Helena Wakata, Chevy Page, Shaian Garana, - u - Fernandez-Victor. Makana Manuel, Nai‘a Balancio, and Hok
Name: ALOHA BLINDS & INTERIORS Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061676r1
24 at home in west hawaii/ august 2012
Name: ALOHA PLUS STORAGE & PACK Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061818r2
our ancestors who dictated we must never do anything halfway. Whether it’s a hula performance or a tea party, we always give a hundred percent effort.” Aloha says the party was a lovely experience for everyone involved. Some 42 girls (and ladies) took part in the Alice in Wonderland-themed event, which included a Mad Hatter, handmade-only hat contest. Aloha has some great tips for those planning a tea party: First, give yourself plenty of lead time (four to six weeks) to find decorations and accessories. Don’t get too fancy with the food, as keiki prefer simple kid’s favorites like musubi. Keep the event to about an hour and 45 at the most. If you hold it around Easter, you’ll find frilly dresses are more readily available. This year’s event was such a hit that Aloha plans to make it an annual affair — which is totally fine with the halau. “All the girls are asking me when the next one is going to be,” he says with a laugh. AH
Name: Gerard Roofing Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061645r1
at home in west hawaii/ august 2012 25
Miniature delights artfully displayed on a pastry tree, courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
Sugar and spice and everything nice were present in abundance as Lacey Kaimuloa-Bates enjoys her first real tea party.
Tea Time
Supportive relatives pitched in to help plan, stage and hostess the event.
Name: Bailey Vein Institute Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061366r1
Creative ideas for tea parties
princesses, stay bonded with their hula sisters and play.” The girls, ages 4 through 12, dressed up, sipped “tea” and nibbled on assorted fancy crudités, cupcakes, crème puffs and petit fours. Aloha, who is also a floral designer and decorator, has staged parties and events all his life but had never done a tea party. “I called friends and relatives who’d put on tea parties before to get their ideas,” he says. “The hardest thing of all was finding real tea cups in Kona.” With the gung-ho support of the parents, Aloha’s tea party took on a life of its own as everyone stepped in to offer professional assistance and donations. His friend and Holuakoa Café sous chef William Hing created the luncheon menu, while parent Noelani Pi, an employee of the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, brought in a scrumptious, selection of bite-sized pastries. The event was a sparkling success. “In hula, we are one-hundred percent committed to what we do,” says Aloha. “We teach the values of
Name: STUTTS CONSTRUCTION Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061691r1
By Kristina Anderson
T
hank heaven for little girls … who love tea parties. Recently, a lucky keiki hula halau got to experience an authentic tea party with all the trimmings hosted at the Holuakoa Café in Holualoa. Members of Kumu Hula Kenneth “Aloha” Victor’s Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu were delightfully rewarded with a girly event that gave the hard-working students a break from the rigors of hula practice and performance. “We wanted to do something outside of the hula circuit that would give them the chance to be little girls,” says Aloha. “This was a way for the girls to be
22 at home in west hawaii/ august 2012
Members of Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu share secrets across the table at their first annual tea party. Each little girl got a pair of gloves, all sourced online. The event also featured a homemade hat-making contest. Pictured: Jasmine Carter.
at home in west hawaii/ august 2012 23
Name: REVOLUSUN Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 10.75 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061774r1
Name: KONA KAI POOLS Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061743r2
Hosted by Kumu Hula “Aloha” Victor for his keiki halau, the tea party provided a fun diversion from the daily demands of hula practice. From left to right: Helena Wakata, Chevy Page, Shaian Garana, - u - Fernandez-Victor. Makana Manuel, Nai‘a Balancio, and Hok
Name: ALOHA BLINDS & INTERIORS Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061676r1
24 at home in west hawaii/ august 2012
Name: ALOHA PLUS STORAGE & PACK Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061818r2
our ancestors who dictated we must never do anything halfway. Whether it’s a hula performance or a tea party, we always give a hundred percent effort.” Aloha says the party was a lovely experience for everyone involved. Some 42 girls (and ladies) took part in the Alice in Wonderland-themed event, which included a Mad Hatter, handmade-only hat contest. Aloha has some great tips for those planning a tea party: First, give yourself plenty of lead time (four to six weeks) to find decorations and accessories. Don’t get too fancy with the food, as keiki prefer simple kid’s favorites like musubi. Keep the event to about an hour and 45 at the most. If you hold it around Easter, you’ll find frilly dresses are more readily available. This year’s event was such a hit that Aloha plans to make it an annual affair — which is totally fine with the halau. “All the girls are asking me when the next one is going to be,” he says with a laugh. AH
Name: Gerard Roofing Width: 4.7383 in Depth: 5.25 in Color: Black plus three Ad Number: 000061645r1
at home in west hawaii/ august 2012 25
