My Stunning One-of-a-Kind Teal Puakenikeni Print Princess Cut Dress
Videography courtesy of Sunshine.
This stunning one-of-a kind teal and white puakenikeni print princess cut dress handmade by Kumu Nalani Badua, Hawaiian Language, and Hawaiian Studies teacher of Assets School, was meant to be mine. I LOVE this dress. I did I say I LOVE this dress yet? I LOVE this dress!
Why is this dress is special to me?
As the Communications Director and Parent Relations Director at Assets School, I was part of the Advancement Team that raises money for the school. Assets School is the only school in Hawaiʻi specializing in educating children who are gifted, dyslexic, and have other language-based learning differences from kindergarten to 12th grade. It has two campuses. This year is its 70th anniversary. It started in 1955, on Navy Base Pearl Harbor, and moved after 37 years in 1992 to its current location at Ohana Nui Way near Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, and it acquired a second location for the high school when the Academy of the Pacific in Alewa Heights closed due to low enrollment. In the summer of 2015, students enjoyed their new campus which has a beautiful skyline view. I considered my job to share why Assets School is great.
Assets School costs money to attend as it is a private school. This school is not something you go to because you want to because you feel like it or you can afford it. It is a school you go to because you need the help it provides. Former President and CEO of The Queens Health Systems Jill Hoggard Green, M.D. said, "They [Assets School] focus on the strength of each individual student, and then they inspire them to think creatively, to question, to learn, and then to innovate. Their ability to see within themselves that they can take on extraordinary challenges and can do extraordinary work is something that I saw as essential for every person here at Queens, and for our community. I could tell this is a school that is mentoring and developing our next generation of leaders."
I also learned that in addition to celebrating where students are at, that Assets School teaches students in a away that works for them. Wow! That is powerful. I was recruited to join the team. I decided to move from a 35 year career in news, to work at Assets School. KHON2, where I worked for 10 years from 2012 to 2022, was my dream job. Who wouldn't want to be a part of an organization that lives and breathes this mantra in every action they take. The entire world should operate this way, and cherish these standards. To help students and their families afford the school, we fundraise. This money goes to help families who don't have the money to pay for the tuition. The struggle is real. Almost all parents want their child to be happy, and they will do whatever it takes to give their child the tools to succeed whether it is time, or money or anything else.
Assets School's biggest fundraiser for tuition assistance, is the annual Illumination Gala. This year it was at the beautiful Waialae Country Club in Kahala. This gala also has an auction to raise money. There are a select few live auction items at the event. The auction is also virtual. Anyone with the link can bid on the items. If you are in Hawaii, Texas, New York or some international destination, as long as you have the link, you're in! The auction was like a wishlist for me. My wishlist was to get things that anyone can bid on and that anyone would like no matter where they are. I wanted more aloha attire, more staycations (hotel stays if you don't live in Hawaii), more Hawai'i restaurants, more spas, more graduation supplies and of course, lots of massages. Every day that the auction items came in, thanks to the Assets School community, it was like Christmas for me - although these were not my gifts. Raising money for the auction, meant that for each auction item that someone bought, a child could have the support they need to succeed in life. The alumni, parents, grandparents, friends, family and the students are the best testimony to the magic and hard work that the teachers, staff and administrators do. My absolute favorite part of this job is the alumni! As a professional storyteller whose career has been spent telling other people's story, there's no shortage of successful alumni to explain why Assets School is great. I wish I attended this school. I wish these were my teachers. I've learned and grown a lot just by working there.
SEARCHING FOR ALOHA ATTIRE
In my quest to find more aloha attire, because I think everyone wears aloha attire, I was on the lookout for what brands there are that I or one of our dedicated parents might reach out to to get a donation. I asked parents, teachers and administrators what are the popular aloha attire brands. One of my favorites is Manuhealii. I had heard of Zig Zane, Hilo Hattie, Tori Richard, Reyn Spooner, and Kahala. There were brands like Mamo Howell back in the day. I learned of many designers I didn't realize were popular such as Manaola Hawaii, Lex Breezy, Simply Sisters, Hula Tease, and Kahualehua.
When I was at the high school campus, I saw Kumu Nalani Badua in a beautiful red and black full length aloha dress. As I had done many times before to my co-workers, I asked, "Who is the designer? Who made that?" I expected her to say one of the names I just shared. She said, "I am." My mouth dropped open and my eyes got bigger in joy and surprise, and I was not thinking she would say she made this dress.
A fashion designer before her life as the Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies teacher, at Assets School, she designed and sewed for a living. She helped Rix Island Wear start its women's line of clothing. I can't remember her client list she shared but wow! Her mom was also a teacher at Assets School for many years.
I said, "I'm looking for more aloha attire for the Illumination Virtual Auction. I didn't expect you to say that."
I can't remember if I asked her or if she volunteered. I probably asked her! She said she would consider making something for the Illumination auction. I was thrilled! The more contributions that are from our school staff and parents, the better.
ADMIRING KUMU NALANI BADUA'S DESIGNS
When I went to pick up what she sewed for the auction, I loved it immediately. She made two cover ups (they are like a blazer), and what is now MY dress. The minute I saw the dress hanging in the office, I picked it up, and I twirled around with it! I was so excited at what she made, I showed it to everyone in the office. I was like a child who just learned there is a thing called ice cream. I had to tell or show every person about Kumu Nalani's design she made this for the auction. There were many auction items that I loved!
I could not wait for this beautiful dress to have a good home. I promoted this dress in school emails, school social media, on my personal social media on LinkedIn and on Facebook. I even put that if anyone wanted to buy it for me, I'd love that. I promoted the auction with the help of the Assets School community and our local news. I individually contacted people to say, please share the auction. I asked people directly to please share this dress with anyone in your network you think would love this. I was sure someone would be the proud owner of this dress. A few people knew I really loved this dress and wanted it. I was looking forward to asking all the winning bidders in the auction to please share their photo and story of how happy they are to get something from the auction to help promote it for next time - especially this dress.
LISTENING TO THE SIGNS THAT THE DRESS IS MINE
At the Illumination Gala at the Waialae Country Club, I wore a custom made Puamana Crabbe dress with a short train that my mother (RIP) bought me in 1994. OMG! I still fit this dress 30 plus years later. I had tried it on in the past, and it did not zip up.
When the amazing evening was over, and the auction ended, I looked immediately to see if the dress was bid on. It was not. I purposely didn't bid on it because I wanted someone to have this beautiful dress. That was a sign that the dress was mine. It was meant to be. After the auction, people can buy the auction items at the starting bid prices. That's what I did!
My colleagues and the Assets Parents 'Ohana had to hear how happy I was that I had this dress! I am beaming! It fits me perfectly. I couldn't stop raving about it just as I could not stop telling people about some of our fantastic auction items before the auction.
SHARING WHY THE DRESS MEANS SO MUCH TO ME
What also makes this dress extra special is that Kumu Nalani made this dress in the midst of her work designing and sewing for the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.
As you may know, the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, is a competition of the traditional dance of the Hawaiian people, the hula. It is in my opinion, one of Hawaii's most important events. It's something you must respect and appreciate and hold reverence to. I would compare it to the Olympics in that it has an international audience. This is where the best of the best come to share their talents. Everything you do comes to this moment at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. You need to be on top your game to be a part of this competition. The ripple effect of hula and the Hawaiian culture penetrates the globe. Especially if you live in Hawaii, I ask that you please respect the Hawaiian culture. If you don't live in Hawaii and you are coming to visit, I encourage you to learn more about the culture and its people.
The Merrie Monarch was televised on Hawaii News Now, and live streamed on MerrieMonarch.com. in both English and 'Olelo Hawai'i (Hawaiian language).
In the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, Kumu Nalani's handiwork was worn by the Hilo-based Hālau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani (hula school) which is under the direction of Kumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang.
On Thursday, her couture of this burgundy dress was shown on their Miss Aloha Hula contestant Keʻalohilani Na Kealohamoa Narelle Lee Yuk Lan Kama-Hosea.
On Saturday night, Hālau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani wore her chartreuse designs in the 'auana (modern hula) for the women. How beautiful!
Kumu Nalani's kumu, Kumu Kawaikapuokalani Frank Loea Lehua Hewett, was also highlighted at the Merrie Monarch, in addition to entertainer/hula teacher Robert Cazimero for his 50th anniversary. There was a special story on Hawaiian scholar and author of the Hawaiian dictionary Mary Kawena Pukui.
GETTING OUR PHOTO AND VIDEO TOGETHER
I wanted a photo of Kumu Nalani and I together in her original designs. She wore the red and black dress that started it all. One of the students, a rising star in softball Mauliola, happened to make a beautiful yellow puakenikeni lei. She came toward us and wasn't sure who to give it to since there were two of us. I asked if I could have it since my dress had the puakenikeni flower on it. It was the perfect unexpected gift of aloha.
We did photos taken by three talented student photographers and this short video taken on my cell phone (videography courtesy Assets student Sunshine) by the hala tree at the school. Kumu Nalani said that the hala represents the hula goddess, and the transition from one thing to another such as graduation or death. Kumu Nalani asked me why I chose the Hala. I said because it was near us and I took a photo of some students before by this tree without knowing anything about this tree.
On a side note, now I know how the students felt when I was around with my camera.
I wondered how come in my 35 years of news experience in Hawaii that I didn't really know anything about the school. Now I know about the school. I love Assets School, and everyone who knows me knows I love it.
Give the gift of sharing about Assets School to anyone who might need its help. I urge you to learn more about it and help others by sharing the good work it does to literally save the life of a child and their entire family. I cherish Assets School and the role it has in the world. I hope you will too.
-Visit assets-school.org.
-Attend an open house, or ask for a private tour.
-Donate
I can't wait to wear my dress again. I especially hope to wear it as a spectator at the Merrie Monarch. If you see me in this dress anywhere, now you'll know why I am smiling.
I share this with you in loving memory of the late communications guru/philanthropist, woman of grace, integrity and courage, former Assets Board Chair Kitty Yannone, who I met in the 1990s.
My Assets School Victory Log 2022-2025
Garnered the most publicity the school has had in its history according to one employee who has been there for over since 1982 (over 40 years).
My Parent Relations garnered aloha and trust amongst our families.
#1 I discovered Assets School parent Brent Young's business Paradise Leis. I secured his business to be our vendor for our Illumination Gala fundraiser 2024, and 2025 for both lei and lei po'o. $700 was raised in 2024 from lei po'o sales a money saving lei vendor that is a parent for the fundraiser.
October 2022 to April 2025 - I produced a two monthly newsletters under the direction of our school leadership. My repeated requests to have a shorter monthly newsletter with less articles with fewer teasing to a longer webstory were dismissed even though this would have been done immediately and enforced because it is best for our families if another person on our team wished for this.
These are the reasons I wanted to have a shorter newsletter.
#1 - Dyslexia runs in families. Reading is not easy for our students or their families who pay over $28,000 per child as of school year 2024-2025 to attend this world class school that has a global impact. If I were to make my customer's life easier, I would make the newsletter shorter.
#2 Some members of the Assets School leadership repeatedly said "shorter is better."
#3 Scientific data including research of Gloria Mark, M.D. in the American Psychological Association explains that people have a shrinking attention span over the past 20 years. Read more.
#4 This is also a communication trend in major businesses and non-profit organizations who want to have an effective message.
#5 One of the school's $10,000 donors said people have short attention spans. Why make a newsletter wordy for your customer who has a hard time reading?
#6 It is also better to have less photos at the top of the newsletter because people view it on their cell phone. When they view it on their cell phone, the more photos you have on the top, then the longer it takes to get to the written word. If you don't care if they read the written word, then put as many photos as you want. I feel that is what you do on social media, not in a newsletter. Otherwise, call the newsletter a photo gallery and forget the words. That would be even better.
