MidWeek East - Jan 5, 2022

VIRTUAL RUN
Participate in the 38th annual Great Aloha Run. SEE PAGE 5
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Sacred Hearts Academy alumna Kaena Kekoa directs student choir.
SEE PAGE 6
Paying Homage To Local Cultures
FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 5, 2022
A PUBLICATION OF
AN EDITION OF
(From left) Flossie Frederico, Kamalani Caballes, Shelly Seleni and Leo Amorin pose for a photo at Cultural Connections Makeke and Makana. PHOTO COURTESY SHELLY SELENI
BWY KYLE GALDEIRA
hen Michelle “Shelly” Seleni started a new business venture in the form of a multi-vendor mar-
ketplace featuring diverse products and gifts, her ultimate goal was to pay homage to her Hawaiian and Samoan cultures.
Seleni was a vendor at the former Waimāna- lo Market Co-op selling Kapa Kava, which specialized in flavored kava, when that mar- ketplace announced it was going out of busi- ness. She took the news in stride, and opened Cultural Connections Makeke and Makana at 41-1029 Kalaniana‘ole Hwy. in Waimānalo, next to McDonald’s.
“After speaking with Maile Kaipo, owner of I Mana Ka ‘Ōiwi in Windward Mall, and a few other vendors, I decided to take advan- tage of the opportunity that presented itself and opened Cultural Connections Makeke and Makana,” says Seleni. “I am both Ha- waiian and Samoan so I wanted to present vendors from across the South Pacific with the premise of ‘We as a people and our Poly- nesian culture are gifts to the world,’ show-
SEE PAGE 4
JILL FONG PIANO stu io
Over 30 years of Experience • All Ages & Levels
Celebrating Our Third Anniversary in Our New and Convenient Hawaii Kai Location
For information or an appointment, contact Jill
JillFongPianoStudio@gmail.com Call/Text 295-2188
Accepting
New Students.
Call Now
as space is limited.