PUHI — Easter eggs are a symbol of new life, said Gladys Okda during a class Thursday on creating Ukranian Easter Eggs at the Regency at Puakea. “I’m giving one to my son-in-law, Dr. Kerry Ishihara, who will become a
PUHI — Easter eggs are a symbol of new life, said Gladys Okda during a class Thursday on creating Ukranian Easter Eggs at the Regency at Puakea.
“I’m giving one to my son-in-law, Dr. Kerry Ishihara, who will become a kidney donor on April 24,” Okada said. “He’ll be going in at the University of California, San Francisco.”
Ron Horoshko has been teaching the art of pysanka, or Ukranian Easter Eggs, for the past 10 years to senior citizens and students.
“Tears came to my eyes when she told me the story,” said Horoshko, who owns Birdie’s Cafe at the Kukuiolono Golf Course.
One of the traditions surrounding the Ukranian Easter Eggs is the eggs dyed in one color were thought to have magical powers. If a person had a serious illness, an egg which was blessed on Easter eve was hung around that person’s neck by a string and the disease was thought to pass into the egg.
Another legend surrounding the birth of the Ukranian Easter Eggs is there is a huge evil ceature chained to a hillside. Each year when Easter Eggs are made, the number of eggs is counted, and if only a few eggs are made, the creature’s bonds are loosened and evil flows through the Earth. If many eggs are decorated, the creature’s bonds are tightened and its evil is kept in check.
“My brother in Nevada loves Ukranian Easter Eggs and collects them,” said Cynthia Hannan who was helping kupuna Carmen Yasis, Jeanne Palmer and Ada Geuber apply the wax stippling which would create the designs when the eggs were dyed. “I’m going to make one to send to him for his collection.”
Horoshko said Ukranian Easter Eggs are made from fresh, uncooked eggs. During the 10 years he’s been instructing on Kauai, there are eggs still intact, contents dried out, but their beauty remains.
