RAISED IN HAWAI’I. BORN IN NYC.
John “Kaleo” Kauhola
nATIVE hAWAIIAN AND fiLIPINO
John “Kaleo” Kauhola
He/SHE/they, Māhū (Non-Binary)
Kaleo (Ca-lay-o) was raised on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he earned his Culinary and Business Management degree. In October of 2020, he moved from Hawaiʻi to Brooklyn, NY; occasionally slinging drinks behind a bar.
When he isnʻt behind the bar making drinks, you can find him sharing his story through the art of Hawaiian Lei Making.
Kaleo curates experiences that allow for networking and connecting all walks of life, sharing his knowledge and passion for culture and hospitality. From work happy hour, cooperate office occasions, food & beverage tastings, and anywhere he’s offered a space...
anytime, anywhere,
& for everyone.
Variations of crafting foliage/flowers/leaves together are
practiced in cultures around the world from mala in
India, phuang malai in Thai, guirnaldas in Mexico, and so
much more. In Hawaiian culture we know them as Lei.
Lei gained it’s popularity when haole (foreigners/
tourists) arrived and departed from the Hawaiian islands. To this day, Lei are made for birthdays, graduations, weddings, celebration of life, and just because.
As a true labor of love, lei making allows me to reconnect with my Native Hawaiian roots wherever I go. From Hawai’i to NYC and all around the world.
Let's go to the beach, just because.
Let’s go on a hike, just because.
Let’s make a lei, just because.
Growing up in Hawai’i, “Just Because” was something you’d hear for everything. It was a saying I never understood till living in NYC for a couple of years.
Living in Hawai’i we had everything we could ever need mauka to makai (from the inland to the beach). We had access to fresh and salt water, land to farm and forests/mountains to explore. Everything we did we were able to do just because we could. It didn’t cost much if so anything to live life to the fullest.
Now living in NYC, theres a cost for everything and it’s very rare that you’ll find free things to do. It has given me the opportunity to understand how lucky and grateful I am to be able to call Hawai’i, home.
Everything I do, I do JUST BECAUSE I can.
“If can, can. if no can, no can.”
-common Hawaiian pidgin phrase
Contact
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