Aloha,

I just recently stopped in at the annual Art of Trash in Kahului . This wonderful show has been running for several years and it's always a treat.

The creator and founder of the trash shows is Ira Ono, a well known artist from the Big Island of Hawaii. I still have a goddess for the garden that Ira made years ago. He is a colorful and accomplished artist. I just love his drive to use recycled and re-used materials.

The first year of the show, an artist that I knew had created an amazing throne out of all re-cycled materials that she cleaned from the beaches. It was a wild piece of art embellished with old fishing nets.

This year featured an art display by our school children, and a super fashion show and music played with instruments made from recycled materials. Coffee filters, tattered tarps, garbage bags and all sorts of re-used materials made for some flashy fashions.

When I had my furniture store many years ago, I often sold furniture made from re-claimed wood. One of my biggest, and most expensive, lines came from the old railroad ties from Africa. The wood was so dense, it was heavy and felt like stone. I also had often featured a furniture builder who used the pallets from the docks to make great out- door furniture. It was funky and looked great in the yard.

Rethink your trash, it could be fun!

Here's to being creative and saving our land fills.

Much Aloha,
Cherie