File video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

An exceptional five-piece series of kapa contributed by Waimea artist Roen Hufford will be just one of the valued items up for auction at this year’s Mala’ai school garden “Art & Sol” benefit.

The auction runs from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday June 12th at Merriman’s Restaurant in Waimea.

Shown here is Hufford’s “Na Lei” series, each featuring rows of lei of native plants and flowers – many of the lei for which Roen and her mom – kapa master Marie McDonald – are equally famous.

The local kapa masters were recently involved in producing the kapa for a performance by Hilo’s Halau o Kekuhi during the Merrie Monarch Festival Ho’ike. It was the first public hula performance by dancers wearing authentic kapa since 1860.

Also featured at the one-of-a-kind auction… a lunch pa’ina on the Mock Chew ohana’s kalo farm in Waipio Valley, a private class with attorney and Slow Food leader Shelby Floyd to learn to make mozzarella cheese, and private dinners by celebrity chefs including Daniel Bobo.

The auction is the major annual fundraiser for the Mala’ai school garden, and the school-community partnership relies on the event to survive.

For more information on Mala’ai and the benefit auction, go to www.malaai.org