Mahalo for your interest in Hula Treasures. We are Charles and Tamara. Hula Treasures was born from our love of the island lifestyle and the Aloha spirit we feel in our hearts. We have deep roots in the Hawaiian culture, even though we were not Hawaiian by birth. It all started over 40 years ago when Charles (a high school student at the time) along with his mother lived in the basement apartment of a Hawaiian family that resided in Alameda, California. The Napoleon family allowed them to move into their home because of Charles' relationship with his high school buddy, Kamakau and his family. The Napoleon family (Grandparents, Parents, Auntys, Uncles and Children) celebrated their heritage and shared their Aloha with others in the community by putting on luaus. They put luaus on at various country clubs, lodges, and corporate events in the San Francisco Bay Area. Charles was the only Haole (non-Hawaiian) who worked with the family to put on the luaus. This further entrenched him in the Hawaiian culture. Charles and his buddy Kamakau dressed in traditional Hawaiian clothing for these luaus and helped with the set up, roasting of the pig in the emu (underground oven), and clean up. During the luaus, Kamakau's Grandfather entertained the guest with Hawaiian chants, while Kamakau and Charles lifted the pig from the ground and helped to prepare the meal. The Napoleon family also sold pineapple on a stick at the Alameda County Fair, and Charles still talks about the day when his mouth was so sore from eating too much pineapple while he was working. During Charles' high school years, he also owned a Woodie Station Wagon that he and his buddies loaded with surf boards and drove to Santa Cruz to surf in the freezing cold water on the weekends when there were no luaus. He bought his Woodie for $220.00 in 1962, and after using it to drive back and forth to the beach for two years, he sold it for $120.00. He has regretted selling that car for more than 44 years. After high school, Charles continued to wear Aloha shirts and visit the Hawaiian islands in order to keep in touch with his love for the Hawaiian culture. Many years later, he reunited with Kamakau and eventually met Tamara. She was excited about visiting the Hawaii islands and learning more about the culture. Tamara heard the stories of the regretful sale of the Woodie and because of her love for vintage cars; she encouraged Charles to start looking for another Woodie Wagon. He found one and began restoring it. We now own two Woodie station wagons and a Sampan. The Sampan was a taxi cab in Hilo, Hawaii from 1950-1976. We both love dogs and soon after meeting one another, we brought a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy into our lives and named her Lili'uokalani (called Lili'u for short). In 2005, we were married in a Hawaiian-style wedding, at which Kamakau's mother, Kanahele, chanted and performed a hula for the guests. Our friend and Ukulele instructor, Frank Leong, and his trio played Hawaiian music in the background. After the death of his mother in 2004, Charles was hanai (adopted) by Kanahele Napoleon, and we became a part of the Napoleon ohana (family). Charles' Hawaiian name is Kale Lokomaika'i. We are members of various Woodie clubs around the country and active members of the San Diego Woodie Club. We go to Hawaii at least once a year to visit ohana and seek out more Hula Treasures to share with you. Hula Treasures offers you fun, funky, fascinating, and functional products that we discover in a variety of locations. We will be adding extra features and lots new products over the next few months, so please come back regularly. We welcome your feedback at: hulatreasures@cox.net Aunty Kanahele, my adopted mother, still dancing the hula into her 80's

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