ABOUT US

The story behind Aloha Publishing Hawaiʻi

Lahela Chandler Correa and Ann Hettinger, the founders of Aloha Publishing Hawaiʻi and Aloha Movement Kauaʻi , are two women from very different backgrounds, culturally, racially and geographically. Lahela born and raised on Kauaʻi and Ann born and raised in the Midwest.

Lahela is the Visitor Program Manager at Limahuli Gardens and Ann writes, designs coaches running and runs retreats, both on the island of Kauaʻi.

Lahela’s upbringing in the spirit of Aloha and Ann’s desire to create a better world for her grandchildren was a match made in heaven. Lahela is Ann’s friend, mentor and teacher, sharing her knowledge, spirit and Love of Aloha to inspire and help those around her. Ann recognized Lahela’s special gift when Lahela shared her story and lessons of Aloha with Ann’s adventure retreat groups. The ladies in the group all listened intently, some smiled, some cried and all were so captivated by her message, that they wanted to continue this beautiful “Spirit of Aloha” shared so sincerely by Lahela

This was the birth of a vision to share Aloha and it began with their first edition of the book “Aloha” - What it means to my ʻOhana and Yours in 2016.

We hope you support us in sharing this peaceful message with the world.

Co-Author & Based on Life Lessons of:

Lahela Chandler Correa was born and raised on the island of Kaua’i in the Wainiha Valley. Where they farmed Kalo (Taro) to provide for their ohana and the community.

Her parents Francis Sr. and Kapeka Chandler were born and raised in Ha’ena and came from large ohana’s (families). Her immediate family consists of 10 brothers, 5 sisters and one half-sister; she is number 13 of all my siblings.

Both of her parents were great examples of Aloha. They showed Aloha by living it every day. They were taught that Aloha was taking care of your family, being kind to everyone, being helpful, being honest, always setting a good example, working hard, doing your best, keeping their name good and always respecting your elders.

As Lahela so eloquently states;
“Aloha is not just a word, it has a deeper meaning that is endless. Like all things in life if not passed down and taught, it will be forgotten.

Aloha is a way of life that was taught for generations to our people. This is who we are, we live it, we breath it every day of our lives. This is how the first foreigners were greeted when they came here. Aloha means that when we meet someone they are greeted with utmost kindness. When we offer to do something, nothing is expected in return and when we share we give freely.

It doesn’t matter if you are white, black, blue or green, I believe we all have Aloha.

Aloha is considered the gift of the Hawaiian people to the world. Learn and share Aloha today.”

Lahela Keikila’au’o’wakanahele Chandler Correa lineage

Co-Author

Lahela’s lineage stretches across and touches many islands.

Her father Francis’s genealogy comes from Maui and Kauaʻi. His ancestors, the Kanialamas, were the genealogists and attendants to Queen Emma and her family. The families were one of the early migrators from Tahiti and whose offspring eventually settled on Kauaʻi and set roots in Kahili near Kīlauea, Kauaʻi.

Her Mother Elizabeth comes from the Mahuiki and ʻĪlālāʻole lines from Hāʻena, Kauaʻi and Puna on Hawaiʻi Island respectively. The Mahuiki Family is famous for their knowledge of fishing in the Hāʻena area.

The ʻĪlālāʻoles are from Puna and are descendants of Kamehameha I.

Co-Author, Designer & Editor: Ann Hettinger

Over the past 20 years, Ann Hettinger has been a running coach for kids and adults and a women’s adventure guide. Her love for sports and for helping kids and adults reach their own potential has always been a challenge and privilege.

Her entrepreneurial spirit has always driven her to follow her heart and her passion from the mountains of Colorado to the oceans of Kauaʻi .

It is through her friend and mentor Lahela Correa Chandler, she learned the meaning of Aloha and continues to learn and be reminded on a daily basis of the simple but powerful meaning of this word. As Ann puts it “The word Aloha grounds me; it reminds me of the person I strive to be.”

Currently working on their fourth book, writing and design have always been a creative outlet for Ann to express and share positive messages with the world . Over the years she has written numerous essays and pieces relating to social issues; from violent video games and its effect on children, to health, organics and spiritual beliefs. She truly believes every person can make a difference.

It is Ann’s honor to help and support Lahela to share the message of Aloha with the world and to hopefully create a better place for her children, seven grandchildren and all future generations to come.

Illustrator: Michelle Marsh

Michelle Marsh aka Michi is a self-taught artist living on the north shore of Kauaʻi. Although she has no formal art training, art has been a major force in her life since early childhood. Graffiti and street art are the roots that formed a lifelong love of artistic expression, and the backbone to her defining style and clean lines.

Her bright color palate might be attributed to her having synesthesia, a neurological condition in which one sensory perception is simultaneously perceived by another sense, such as being able to taste color, hear color, or feel color. Synesthesia literally means 'to perceive together.

In her freed time she focuses on her other passions; ocean conservation and freediving.

Illustrator: Paige Guglielmana

Paige Guglielmana moved to Kauaʻi in her early teens from Southern California. She has always loved art and the ocean.

Through creative expression of art, connecting to spirit and nature in the most beautiful place on earth, in and out of the water, she contributes to the community by serving the keiki through various programs.

She feels a sense of urgency to do her part in helping keep the Hawaiian culture alive and continues to learn from those around her. Therefore, her illustrations in the books that Aloha Publishing Hawaiʻi have published are very meaningful to her.

Paige continues to enjoy and expand her creative expression through painting, oil and acrylic. Her art continues to grow and expand as her knowledge and experiences do. She is committed in sharing her knowledge with the keiki and help to create a space for them to express themselves and learn.

She continues to offer free art classes on the North shore of Kauaʻi to connect youth with different forms of art and artists.

a woman with long blonde hair

Kumu, Cultural Advisor and Testimonial - Shaula Tualaulelei

Shaula Tualaulelei is a proud mother of 3 college graduates and has been happily married for 26 years. Employed with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for the past 20 years. Currently teaching Hawaiian Studies at Holualoa Elementary School on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. I am very grateful to my Kupuna for raising me with their LEGACY of ALOHA, and now am blessed to help to do my part in teaching the future of our island keiki in "Building Character through ALOHA".

SHAULA'S TESTIMONIAL

Aloha All,

I wanted to share my heart and mana'o with you all on how excited I am to incorporate, "Aloha, What it Means to My ʻOhana and Yours" in my Hawaiian Studies classroom this year. Last year when I was asked to take over Hawaiian Studies in the spring semester, it was important to me to focus on, "Building character through Aloha!" with the children. I decided to do Aloha Journals. The students wrote a paragraph on what they did to show Aloha to someone else, or what others did to show Aloha to them. It was very well received with the children and their perception of Aloha was inspiring at times, and just pierced my heart. The teachers also embraced it, and it was through one of them that I was told about a wonderful book circulating some schools on Kauaʻi. I searched and was able to get a hold of Ann Hettinger. It was then that I knew after numerous conversations that every student in my school would need to get a book to call theirs. At the end of the spring semester I placed an order right away to have it for this school year. It is wonderfully written, and I am very pleased to know I now have another resource I can pull from. Just recently they have released another book with more hands on activities teachers can incorporate if they choose to. My hope is that every Kupuna Program in the State of Hawaii will embrace this tool and help to instill the next generation with Aloha in their hearts, and to continue the Legacy of Aloha we were so fortunate to be born into by our Kupuna.

Written With Fond Aloha~ Shaula Tualaulelei~ Holualoa Elementary School- Hawaiian Studies