Page 3 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Dec 21, 2022

DECEMBER 21, 2022 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 3
All I Want For Christmas
Not sure what I want for Christmas; There aren’t a lot of things I need. I’d rather give my family presents Underneath the Christmas tree. Actually, I just want to own
More of what you’d never know. Set my wishes free,
Get me some more BVDs.
That is not a lot for Christmas
But it’s really just the thing I need. (And I) Don’t care what color
As long as it gives me glee.
Didn’t care about those presents That I knew were underpants.
I didn’t want them as a kid But Grandma always thought I did. Underneath the Christmas tree, Those Santa-sized red BVDs.
Now I just want them for my own, More than they could ever know. Please don’t disagree,
All I want is BVDs.
Oh, I don’t ask for much at Christmas, Don’t even wish for a new TV. (And I’m) Gonna keep on waiting
Till someone just comes through for me.
And I just want some here tonight Before I “bocha” I’ll hold them tight. What more can I decree?
For Christmas I want BVDs.
Thank you for your beautiful tribute to a wom- an who continues to give back to her community by spreading her aloha through her designs. Own- er and designer Nita Pilago started her clothing com- pany, Wahine Toa Designs, 12 years ago and runs her family business from her home in Kona. Her clothing is printed with original art drawn by herself, her hus- band Angel and their two sons, Kaleo and Che.
Dear Darah,
We are so grateful to Aunty Nita Pila- go of Wahine Toa Designs for helping bring our Native Hawaiian delegation dignity and representation of the Ha- waiian culture through her clothing line.
We feel blessed to have her beautiful fashions throughout the tour of our film The Wind & the Reckoning. Our delega- tion that included our lead ac- tors, cultural team (kumu) and filmmakers traveled to various film festivals on the continent and throughout the Hawai- ian Islands including O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Moloka‘i. Awards include Hawai‘i Inter- national Film Fesitval’s Made in Hawai‘i Award for Feature Film and, in Hollywood, it was honored with the Ambas- sador of Culture award from the Garifuna International In- digenous Film Festival. Ad- ditional awards bestowed on the film include the Audience Choice Feature Award and the Kumeyaay Award (usually reserved to recognize Native American films) at the San Di- ego Film Festival. It also won eight awards at the Boston Film Festival.
The tour would include a Native Hawaiian protocol with a blessing for the audi- ence, as well as a presenta-
Sharing Culture Through Clothing, Film
Dear David,
Clothing from local company Wahine Toa Designs graced red carpets at The Wind & the Reckoning tour locations. PHOTO COURTESY DAVID CUNNINGHAM
Pilago says, “Collaborat- ing family art tells a story and depicts experiences from each artist’s life les- sons. We are surrounded by beautiful colors, from the mountain to the sea, and that’s where I get my inspi- ration. I design clothing to flatter all body types, and my goal is to make everyone feel beautiful.”
tion of Pi‘ilani’s genealogy in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, which was memorized by young actor, Kahiau Perreira, then followed by kumu Leina‘ala Fruean, who would quote Pi‘ilani’s words. With the sound of the conch, the mov- ie would then begin. After the film, the actors, kumu and filmmakers would conduct a Q&A with the audience.
tour. Her designs that marry traditional Hawaiian prints with a modern and current look could not have been a better fit for The Wind & the Reckoning film festival tour.
Mail letters to MidWeek c/o Mahalo Nui at 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 7-500, Honolulu HI 96813, or email mahalonuiwithdar- ah@gmail.com. Include your name, where on the island you reside, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of the person you’ re thanking so she can contact him or her.
It was beautiful to see Pila- go’s Wahine Toa Designs on the red carpet throughout the
Mahalo nui loa, Aunty Nita Pilago and Wahine Toa Designs, for your aloha and support of our film and mak- ing everyone look their abso- lute best.
David Cunningham director of The Wind & the Reckoning
rnagasawa@midweek.com