Drawing thousands of walkers beneath a towering forest of brightly colored flags, Saturday’s three-mile Lele Aloha Ho‘ulu Lahaina Unity March from Lahaina B
HONOLULU The vision of Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (HMH) is to enrich the community by fostering thoughtful dialogue and greater unde
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
Cris Gutierrez works on his driftwood creations, including a hula girl, at a farmers market last week at Poâokela Church in Makawao. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos
KAHULUI – When the pandemic shut down Cris Gutierrez’s teppanyaki catering business, he spent more time at the beach in prayer – and in driftwood.
“I prayed hard,” Gutierrez said. “I go hang out at the beach, enjoying the driftwood, asking nature if there’s anything I can do.”
He gathered driftwood to make planters.
Then he decided to take on a more ambitious project.
About two months ago, he created a driftwood humpback whale along the shoreline outside Kahului Harbor. He spent two days sculpting the 15-foot whale, using 300 to 400 pieces of driftwood he collected from the surrounding shoreline.