Aunty Rae Pacheco resides on Moku o Keawe in the rainy town of Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, and the banks of the Wailuku River are her favorite gathering places for flora to create beautiful lei for special performances or gifts. A former member and alaka‘i of Hālau Kaleinani o Ke Kukui, she is a lover of nature and all things Hawaiian. Aunty Rae was taught the art of lei making when she was just a teenager, helping a friend prepare her adornments for a Merrie Monarch performance. This art form turned into a passion, and since then, she has taught many students, keiki to kupuna, about the process of gathering, preparing and creating beautiful lei for all occasions. She is blessed to share her knowledge of lei making toward perpetuating the art of Hawaiian culture, one lei at time.