Aunty Mary Lou’s Na Lima Mili Hulu Noeau

My mom introduced me to Aunty Paulette when I was probably in 4^th grade. She had made an appointment at Na Lima Mili Hulu No’eau to make a lei hulu, or feather lei. I remember watching my mom spend hours measuring and cutting the feathers, and then another several hours sewing her lei.
Fast forward about 15 years… I had just graduated from college and joined Halau I Ka Wekiu. Our very first project as a new class was to make a yellow and brown lei hulu. Aunty Paulette actually danced with our Hiwa class in halau, so it was a wonderful to meet her at hula, and then visit her shop and make a lei hulu of my own under her guidance. Aunty Paulette was patient and kind, but she had an eye for perfection. If your lei hulu was inconsistent or had any trouble spots, she did not hesitate to snip your threads and remove inches and hours of hard work. At the time, of course, this was frustrating, but it was always worth it in the end. Under Aunty Paulette’s watch you could always create something magnificent. Aunty Paulette bid this earth farewell last year. I feel lucky to have made three lei hulu under her tutelage, and we are currently working on a kahili to match our latest lei hulu, that we crafted in Aunty Paulette’s last few weeks with us.
Today, you can visit Aunty’s daughter, Mele, at the shop. Mele has so much of her mother in her, and she is dedicated to carrying on the family tradition of Hawaiian featherwork. If you don’t want to make a feather lei, you can also purchase some of their amazing work at the shop. Or if you want to just get a taste for Hawaiian featherwork and see some incredible pieces, stop in just to say hi. :)

The ONLY place to buy authentic feather hat bands in Honolulu. Worth every penny! Heirloom quality.

No, I am not a lei maker nor a hula dancer but was in the market for a very «special» feather lei to be given to a Kahunanui. I had no idea where to get a «special» feather lei, let alone «a feather lei a gift’??? There is protocal when it comes to gifts to Kahunanui’s and I didn’t know where to begin. So, I contact my fellow Unilocaler Marko M. who, without missing a beat, fires off an email to me explaining 1) where I should go, 2) what I should get, 3) who I should speak to, etc. Taking his advice…
I call and get Aunty Paulette. I explained how/​who gave me her name and what I was in the market for. Over the phone, she was very reserved and said very little other than to give me directions to her shop. So, my friend and I get there
to find at least 8 people sittlng around a work table making/​learning how to make feather leis. Evidently, it’s not a matter of stringing these feathers together but it is an „art“. The 8 or so learning this art are future judges for the upcoming Ms Hawaii pageant and were there to learn „some“ Hawaiian culture… I got to meet another hula kumu who’s name was Lanakila… Go figure. Talented man who is also a teacher at Mid Pacific Institute. He was taught hula by Kumu Robert Cazimero I am told. Both talented men. I am impressed.
Back to the feather lei! What color? What length? So many to choose from but Aunty Paulette recommended the shorter (28») red/​silver gray lei for the Kahunanui. Aunty Paulette explained it would be appropriate because red is the color of the big island (where the Kahunanui is) and the shorter length giving Kahunanui choice to wear around the neck or were it like a headband
She was curious to our venture with the Kahunanui. We told her what the excursion was about, who the Kahunanui is (which by the way, she guessed who it was from the beginning). She then started to share some of her stories with us– all very informative
So we left with the red/​silver gray lei. We did however walk away with more than just a feather lei. We walked away with new insight to the history and protocal revolving around the ancient-​modern hawaiian culture.
Thank you Aunty Paulette.

Aunty Paulette & Aunty Mary Lou have a huge place in Hawaiian history, because they have contributed so much to the preservation of the talent for feather lei making. The talent and aloha of these two icon oozes out when you go and visit their shop on Kapahulu Avenue.
I was first introduced to feather lei making when I used to dance hula for Na Lei Hulu I Ka Weiku. When my kumu (dance teacher) asked us to make a lei hulu (feather lei) for a dance performance, I was super dissapointed because I knew it was going to be a LOT of work. But WOW — that was perhaps one of the best things that I have ever done in my history of dancing hula.
Since my first feather lei making experience, I have visited Aunty Paulette & Aunty Mary Lou almost every time I go back home to Honolulu. I always learn something new, and both are always willing to share their no’eau (knowledge) with me. I just wish one day I could have a small percentage of their talents. They are not only knowledgeable on making lei hulu, but they know a LOT about Hawaiian history, the protocol for Hawaiian culture, and people who have influenced the development of the Hawaiian culture.
The store is a nice and cozy little store. The store offers very reasonable and very unique feathers to make leis. Feathers from the goose, to the rooster, to the peacock, to peasant, etc are all in the store ready for your selection. Prices are very reasonable, and Aunty is always willing to give you a quick tip or hint if you ask. There are several ready-​made lei hulu for sale in a display case — made by the aunties and their haumana (students). My favorite thing in the store is the royalty cape made purely of yellow and red feathers. It’s one of Aunty Mary Lou’s most famous masterpieces!
Aunty Paulette & Aunty Mary Lou — mahalo nui loa no kou no’eau. Nunui ka hau’oli au no kou makana mai ia’u. Malamalama.

My uncle, Capt Richard Haller, made beautiful feather lei hat bands. He bought his supplies from Aunty Mary Lou’s and I believe sold some through the shop. Sorry to say he died on Nov 23, 2010, with one lei partially completed in his room. Thanks to all there for kindnesses to him. His sister misses him.

I love Na Lima Mili Hulu Noeau. I have been taking lei hulu (feather lei) classes in California for years and have been hearing about Aunty Paulette and Aunty Mary Lou all this time. I had the privilege of meeting Aunty Mary Lou a couple of years ago. She showed us around the shop, «talking story» with us about family and could identify the maker of each lei she had in her shop, taking particular care to point out the intricate stitch work. Time flew by and we didn’t actually get a chance for a lesson, but we must have been there for at least a couple of hours anyway!
Update to the previous postings by miriam and ceren — sadly Aunty Mary Lou has had to retire… I’m glad and fortunate to have been able to meet her and spend those precious few hours that I did with her. The last I heard the shop is no longer open until 9:00 pm, but closes closer to 5 as Aunty Paulette is taking care of the shop by herself now. Call ahead for hours.
This truly is a Hawaiian art form that could die out… definitely not one for children (although even children could probably make a pua hulu — feather flower); and not a task to be taken lightly. My last lei took several months to complete. Having said that, we need to perpetuate the culture, so if you are interested, and in Honolulu, check this out.
E ola!

Thank you, previous reviewer, for posting — it’s hard enough to find this place! It’s handily near Ono, though, so that’s nice.
Call ahead to ask if Paulette, Mary Lou’s daughter has any openings to give a lesson. It’s no-​nonsense, and she’ll make sure you understand that if your work isn’t up to standards, you’ll be disowned as a student. ;)
Expect to spend the better part of the day there, working with the regulars, and talking. You won’t want to leave. You can pick up clippers, bags of feathers, and finished leis there if you want.
They’re beautiful women, be sure to go as soon as you can and meet Mary Lou.

The best and most likely the ONLY place to learn how to make feather leis. It is a little difficult to find, but track it down to make sure you can sign up for a feather lei making class!!! Aunty Mary Lou is really a Hawaiian treasure and her daughter are at the store from 9am to 9pm everyday to work on incredible pieces. This is a traditional Hawaiian art that could conceivably go into extinction if they did not keep this store open for us to learn this incredible art form. Not really for children to work on because it takes a great deal of patience, but you can even go here to buy feathers of any color of the rainbow for your own collection. You will have a hard time finding a place like this in the world, it is tiny, but GO THERE NOW!