The Welcome Mat: July/August 2026

Country roads take us to where we belong

By: Darlene Dela Cruz

Jul 1, 2026

Artist Sam Mangakahia debuts his Pacific-inspired “Tangaroa” bench at High Point Market in North Carolina. Photo courtesy EDGE34
Artist Sam Mangakahia debuts his Pacific-inspired “Tangaroa” bench at High Point Market in North Carolina. Photo courtesy EDGE34

I headed to a photo shoot on the North Shore with Ku‘u Home Senior Art Director Cody Kawamoto on the morning of May 6. Our drive was uneventful until we missed the GPS-recommended route through Wahiawā town and ended up around Schofield Barracks.

“No worries,” I told Cody, with the confidence that I grew up visiting relatives in the area and knew Wahiawā well. “All the roads connect and we’ll get to where we need to be.”

We arrived early at an off-the-beaten-path Kahuku address where we were scheduled to shoot the Hawaii Tiny Homes unit here. Cody and I knocked on the door of a small dwelling that we thought was the Hawaii Tiny Homes office.

A very kind couple welcomed us in. We talked about Ku‘u Home and shared a copy of the magazine — but we were in the wrong place. The couple graciously helped us get back on track to our photo shoot spot nearby as we all laughed at the circumstances that caused our paths to cross.

The couple we met was the amazing artist Sam Mangakahia and his lovely wife, Chalei. We checked out Polynesian designs they create on instruments and leather goods for their business, Shaka Tribe. Chalei explained that a unique bench Sam built was a hit at their first visit to the High Point Market furniture expo in North Carolina in April. We showed up timely with Ku‘u Home in-hand as they contemplated new ventures in home furnishings.

“All the roads connect and we’ll get to where we need to be.” Those words fit our July/August issue, too. Each article ties back to either this edition’s “Outdoor Living” theme or connects our readers to people in the community for home improvement, design and renovation resources.

We learned later at our shoot with Jayden Tuttle of Hawaii Tiny Homes that he, Sam, Chalei and others comprise a supportive hui of North Shore entrepreneurs and artisans. Lucky we live Hawai‘i and our island home comes with many hands cultivating beauty and belonging no matter which road you take.

Aloha,

Darlene Dela Cruz
Senior Editor, Trade Media Hui Inc.

This story appears in the July/August 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.