The Hale Ku`ai Cooperative launched its newly designed website (www.halekuai.org) featuring individual web-pages for its subscribing member artists.  Representing a hui of Maoli artists, artisans and cultural practitioners, many of whom have received worldwide recognition as living treasures for their artistic achievements and contribution to their heritage, the Hale Ku`ai`s Board of Directors recently launched the newly designed website to create a network between its members and the marketplace, and committed itself to serving as a resource for its members in developing, producing and marketing their art, products and services.

Through a grant from the Hawai`i Community Based Economic Development program, Hale Ku`ai received funds to improve services to members.  Vice President and successful graphic artist Nelson Makua, with technical assistance from Daniel Fernandez, redesigned the website to feature web pages for members with a gallery of images, biography and contact information.

Hale Ku`ai sponsored the Aupuni Place Art Park at the Native Books/Na Mea Hawai`i store at the Ward Warehouse in November 2008. This event was held in conjunction with the organization's annual membership meeting.  Members were able to network together, as well as with interior designers and potential wholesale art buyers.  As a result, six artists are now in the Design Studio`s artist database, a resource for interior designers nationwide, and they have received commissions to create work for two resort developments in Hawai`i. The Aupuni Place Art Park was made possible through in-kind donations of display space, additional administrative support from Native Books/Na Mea Hawai`i, and funding from the Pa`i Foundation. Hale Ku`ai will sponsor a second Aupuni Place Art Park in 2009 as a part of its outreach to members.

Board Members Imaikalani Kalahele, Nelson Makua, Leighton Chong, Kawai Aona-Ueoka, and Ipo Nihipali meet to plan out Hale Ku`ai activities

As a result of networking at the Aupuni Place Art Park, six artists are now in the artists database of Design Studio, a resource for interior designers nationwide. They have also received commissions to create work for two resort developments in Hawai`i. The Aupuni Place Art Park was made possible through in-kind donations of display space and other administrative support from Native Books/Na Mea Hawai`i. Pa`i Foundation provided additional funding. Hale Ku`ai Cooperative will sponsor a second Aupuni Place Art Park this year as a part of outreach to members.

Hale Ku'ai booth in the second year at the  Made in Hawai'i Festival.  
2009 marks its fourth year at the marketplace.