HELP - Aulani - Oahu - North Shore Wood Carving

[wipedaler]

We would appreciate some help from anyone who is or will be on Oahu in Feb/March 2014. Specifically, we are looking for contact information for a wood carver named Tonu Naeata who, in 2012, was operating Triple Island Creations with his two sons, Sini and Hamani. We purchased a couple beautiful pieces from him, and our intent is to contact in advance of a visit and ask about a custom wood carving.

In April 2012, we found Tonu at a roadside store near 56-931 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731 (Map: http://goo.gl/sqeTBk) , just a short distance from Fumi's Kahuku Shrimp, 56-777 Kam Hwy, Kahuku, HI 96731. (Excellent food!)

If anyone is going to the north shore and happens to find contact info for Tonu or his sons, I'd appreciate a phone # or email address. Mahalo!

 

[Anal Annie]

Just a suggestion here but you might get more people seeing this request if you posted it over on the DVC Resorts board rather than on the trip reports board. There are always a lot of threads going about Aulani on the DVC Resorts board…might have better luck finding someone going soon… Good luck!

 

[jekjones1558]

Here is a very recent article about Tonu:
http://www.anchoragepress.com/arts_...cle_5ddf80ac-9025-11e3-b602-001a4bcf887a.html

Also, he is on Facebook, though he may not be very active there. You might try messaging him there.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Here is the link to his facebook business page, there are lots of great pictures of his carvings:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Island-Creations/128688427156535?ref=profile

On that page under the "about" tab it lists the phone number for Island Creations as

CONTACT:
(801)433-8830
stnaeata.islandcreations@gmail.com


And I second what Annie said above, I would post over on the DVC Resorts thread, you are likely to encounter more people viewing that page who are heading to Aulani.

 

[wipedaler]

Thanks, everyone, for the responses! I'll first try to reach him thru the contact info provided in the replies.

 

[Anal Annie]

Wow. His stuff is beautiful. Anybody know if he also carves masks or does he only do tiki's?? We try to collect masks from all of our trips to places that have a tradition somewhere in their history of masks and we hang them in our foyer. We have a very small wooden one from a previous trip to Hawaii but one from this guy would be amazing to add to our collection if he does them… I only saw tiki's in the online pictures...

 

[wipedaler]

Anybody know if he also carves masks or does he only do tiki's?

I can't speak to masks, but we did see many other carved items, and not only in wood. Some in bone and shell as well.

Here are photos of the 2 pieces we purchased. When we bought them and he said he'd be happy to sign them, I didn't expect to see it chiseled live!

His Signature:


Tiki with very colorful wood


Carved Turtle/ ~5 inches long

 

[wipedaler]

Found the place. It's still there on the North Shore, just a short distance from Fumi's Shrimp place.

We met a son, and saw more beautiful carvings, like this tiki.


I wanted one like that, but shorter in size. He made one in a couple days and shipped it to me.

 

[Kuattz]

Hey

I am a daughter of Tonu, he is a little slow on technology. He's old school but such a hard working man. I had just happen to come across this on a recent research and decided that I would take the time to respond.

Feel free to contact me on any concerns or needs and I will get the message to him. He has a location in Kahuku, Oahu. He makes all sort of carvings. He and my 2 other brothers works really hard on their carving. He can ship your request to anywhere you need it to go.

My contact is : 801 739 2815
Email: kuattz@yahoo.com