Among all the lovely things in Na Lima Mili Hulu No'eau is a large portrait of Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa. It was done by Patric Bauernschmidt, the artist who did the series of ali'i paintings at Kawaiaha'o Church.

Beneath that striking painting sits the lady herself. At 82, Aunty Mary Lou is even more beautiful in person. Her hair has gone white since the portrait was painted in the 1970s, when she was Aloha Week Queen, but she is ever regal and gracious in her favorite chair in the little store on Kapahulu Avenue.

Kekuewa and her daughter, Paulette Kahalepuna, opened their shop 16 years ago. Here, they sell the supplies needed for featherwork and give lessons on the Hawaiian art of making feather lei, hat bands and other adornments. It is demanding work that requires patience, precision and endurance, yet this shop is relaxed and joyful.

"The sign on the door says 'No soliciting,' but that doesn't include mama," Kahalepuna says. "She'll call out to people looking in the window, 'Come inside! Come inside!' "

Kekuewa first learned featherwork in the 1950s when she volunteered as wardrobe mistress for Aloha Week. She helped to repair and maintain the clothing for the Royal Court, but also had to fix feather lei and kahili. She learned featherwork from her mentor, Leilani Fernandez. She began teaching in 1970 and worked at Bishop Museum teaching and displaying her work for more than 20 years.

Her husband, Paul Kekuewa, a tug boat captain, was her partner in artistic and cultural projects. Together they made 10 pairs of kahili that stand in the Kamehameha School Kapalama chapel and numerous other art pieces that are in collections throughout Hawai'i. Though he died 14 years ago, he is prominent in every conversation about Aunty Mary Lou's work.

"He is the love of my life," Kekuewa says.

And the feathers are her life's work. Her pieces have traveled the world and served as a connection between the ancient art and the modern world. Kekuewa and Kahalepuna created the feather pennant for the first Hokule'a voyage. They make the lei hulu for Office of Hawaiian Affairs investitures. They travel often to give lectures and workshops.

Kekuewa has several feather projects going at one time. All day long, people are stopping by the shop to say hello. They are so busy, but Kahalepuna feels it's important for her mother to continue to share her knowledge of this art and to feel the aloha from students and friends.

"People who are in her presence will later reflect on that time with her," she says.

Kekuewa's health is a concern, and even to mention it brings tears to her daughter's eyes. Kahalepuna doesn't want to know how much time her mother has left. All she will say is, "Mama is living every day."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.