To be placed on the waiting list, please contact us with the name and time of the session you'd like to register for. Email: info@donkeymillartcenter.org or call: 808-322-3362.
Registration: Before registering for classes & workshops, please review our registration policies in full. For questions, contact us at the front desk.
Description: Visit the Donkey Mill Art Center during the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, a celebration of Hawai`i's unique cultural heritage. On Saturday, November 15, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, immerse yourself in traditional activities such as lauhala weaving, lei making, kapa making and natural dyes. While you're here, explore the exhibition I Mana Ka Moʻomoʻo on view October 25 – December 13 and savor a cup of Kona coffee.
These hands-on workshops and demonstrations are free with the purchase of a $10 Kona Coffee Button, which grants access to all KCCF-related events throughout the 10-day festival. Buttons will be available for purchase both leading up to and during the event on November 15. Please note that these workshops fill up quickly. We strongly encourage early registration. Drop-ins are not guaranteed a spot in a workshop.
How it Works: This year, we are offering morning and afternoon sessions for three workshops: Lauhala Weaving, Lei Hilo, and Whittling a Wooden Whistle. There will be several drop-in demos around campus, open to anyone, that include kapa and natural dyes.
Registration: There are two sessions (AM/PM) for workshops. Please register for one session only to allow more participants to join in the fun. Registration for this event will close on Saturday, November 8 at midnight.
- Morning session: 10:00 - 11:45am
- Afternoon session: 12:00 - 1:45pm
Waitiling List: To be placed on the waiting list, please contact us with the name and time of the session you'd like to register for. Email: info@donkeymillartcenter.org or call: 808-322-3362.
Level: This is a family-friendly day! Children, ages 8 and up, are welcome to participate in activities if accompanied by an adult. If registering for a workshop, please register both yourself and your child.
Workshops Details:
- Lauhala Bracelet with Nanette Bell: In this workshop, you will learn the basics of this beautiful tradition by weaving a bracelet from natural, locally-harvested lauhala.
- Lei Hilo with Allison Tan: The hilo method is a beloved and widely practiced style of lei-making. Hilo, which means “to twist” is a traditional technique used not only in lei but also in the making of cordage. In this workshop, students will use fresh ti leaves to learn how to create a single-strand hilo-style lei. For those who wish to embellish their lei, additional elements such as flowers or ti leaf roses may be incorporated for a more elaborate design.
- Whittling a Wooden Whistle with Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett: Bring your sense of play and get ready to make some noise! In this lighthearted workshop, a simple Kona coffee branch becomes something magical—a whistle you create with your own hands. Inspired by a style first shared by Ralph Akers, a master craftsman and drum maker, this project is all about creativity, curiosity, and fun.
About the Demos: Step into the living rhythm of kapa in an immersive, community-centered demonstration where ‘ike kūpuna and artistry meet. Guided by kapa artists and cultural practitioners, participants will trace the journey of kapa from the earth to cloth and learn about the many phases of its creation: from growing and harvesting wauke (paper mulberry) to soaking and beating mo‘omo‘o (bark), crafting natural dyes, and imprinting designs with meaning and memory. This opportunity reveals not just the physicality of kapa making, but its deep cultural resonance—an echo of ancestral knowledge carried forward through every fiber.
Exhibition: I Mana Ka Moʻomoʻo on view October 25 - December 13, 2025. Featuring artists from across Hawaiʻi, this exhibition honors the transformative process of kapa making as a means of reclaiming ʻike kūpuna, connections with ‘āina and relationships with wā and the seasons of life. Held in conjunction with the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, programs include an opening reception, moʻolelo kapa presentation, demonstrations and a panel discussion.
About the Festival: Since its inception in 1970, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival organization has sought to preserve, perpetuate and promote Kona’s unique nearly 200-year coffee heritage. The Festival and the local community embrace visitors and residents by sharing the unique history and culture of Kona coffee pioneers, farmers and artisans throughout the 10-days that celebrate the Kona coffee lifestyle. More information on other KCCF activities in the community can be found here.
About Our Programs: As a place of convergence, the Mill serves as both a community and a physical place–celebrating the power of the arts, bringing people, ideas and perspectives together. We are proud to offer adult and youth programs that focus on awareness of one’s individuality in the contexts of family, community and the natural world. Our exhibitions provide a space to reflect, share perspectives and grow as a community. Our classes & workshops are designed to inspire creativity, foster connections, and provide enriching experiences for all participants. We invite you to join us in the studio.
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