Lifestyle Lore

Ikaika Kalua

Senior Correspondent

As Senior Correspondent for Lifestyle Lore, Ikaika Kalua documents the stories of makers and their materials across the globe, focusing on artisans, craft, travel, and place. His writing explores Indigenous craft techniques, sustainable travel, and maritime traditions, capturing the cultural heartbeat and ancestral knowledge embedded in every handmade object. Through a deep focus on oral history and natural building materials, he offers readers a thoughtful guide to the timeless artistry that enriches modern life. His immersive approach seeks to capture not just the 'how' of a craft, but the 'why'—celebrating the wisdom that shapes our world.

Expertise

Indigenous craft techniquesSustainable travelOral history and storytellingNatural building materialsMaritime traditions

Coverage Areas

Artisans & Craft
Travel & Place

Latest Articles

Artisans from 66 countries showcase traditional wicker and weaving crafts at the World Festival in Nowy Tomyśl, Poland, fostering global sales.
Artisans & Craft

Artisans Leverage 2026 Global Festivals to Sell Traditional Crafts Worldwide

In Nowy Tomyśl, Poland, representatives from 66 countries gather for the World Wicker and Weaving Festival, a vibrant showcase of local craft traditions rapidly expanding their global reach.

Sep 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Vibrant red Japanese maple leaves in peak autumn foliage with a misty mountain backdrop and a traditional wooden teahouse.
Travel & Place

Coziest Fall Getaways for Your Autumn Trip

This autumn, a favorable exchange rate makes Japan a surprisingly accessible fall getaway, offering everything from Tokyo's bustling streets to the serene beauty of Yakushima Island.

Sep 5, 2026 · 5 min read

Luxurious traditional Japanese ryokan room with modern amenities, overlooking a tranquil Zen garden, symbolizing high-end experiential travel.
Travel & Place

Japan Hotels Lead Luxury Experiential Travel Trends in 2026

In Kyoto, 5-star accommodations now command an average of 1,100 euros per night, ushering in a new era of ultra-premium travel pricing in Japan.

Sep 4, 2026 · 3 min read

Intricate brass watch components of the Romanian 'Genesis' watch, meticulously crafted and engraved, highlighting traditional artistry on a global stage.
Artisans & Craft

Global Initiatives Champion Traditional Craftsmanship, 2026

For the first time ever, a Romanian-made watch, 'Genesis', will compete in the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2026.

Sep 2, 2026 · 2 min read

Saudi artisans exhibiting intricately carved Najdi doors and contemporary metalwork at the Venice Biennial, showcasing traditional craftsmanship on a global stage.
Artisans & Craft

Saudi artisans bring traditional crafts to Venice Biennial

In Venice, three Saudi artisans will unveil works ranging from intricately carved Najdi doors to contemporary metalwork.

Aug 31, 2026 · 3 min read

Women artisans in a bright workshop proudly display their handcrafted goods, symbolizing community resilience and empowerment through ethical craft initiatives.
Artisans & Craft

Ethical craft initiatives empower women artisans 2026

After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville in 2024, Etsy awarded a $100,000 Community Resilience Grant to the city’s River Arts District, a lifeline for its more than 750 artists.

Aug 29, 2026 · 3 min read

Young Indian artisans skillfully practicing traditional crafts like weaving and pottery in a sunlit workshop, highlighting a global resurgence.
Artisans & Craft

Ancient Indian crafts boom, proving global resurgence beyond 2026

In 2023, the London Lace Club introduced a growing number of young people, mostly under 30, to bobbin lacemaking, a craft often seen as antiquated.

Aug 25, 2026 · 3 min read

Futuristic AI interface showcasing exclusive luxury travel destinations, highlighting AI's role in booking bespoke itineraries to remote locations.
Travel & Place

AI drives luxury travel destination growth at ITB Americas

At ITB Americas, a leading luxury travel consortium revealed that AI-powered platforms are now booking 30% of bespoke itineraries to previously obscure destinations—a figure up from virtually zero two

Aug 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Minister Oram inaugurates the 2026 Tribes Art Fest, celebrating Jammu & Kashmir's rich handicraft traditions and supporting local artisans.
Artisans & Craft

Minister Oram Launches 2026 Tribes Art Fest to Boost Craftsmanship

In Jammu & Kashmir, handicraft exports soared to ₹817.

Aug 19, 2026 · 3 min read

A beautifully designed Arts and Crafts living room featuring handcrafted furniture, stained glass, and natural light, showcasing the movement's influence on home decor.
Artisans & Craft

What is the Arts and Crafts Movement's influence on home design?

Despite its reputation as a nostalgic rejection of industrialization, the Arts and Crafts Movement actually advocated for using machines to relieve tedious tasks, not to replace human joy in labor.

Aug 11, 2026 · 3 min read

Kashmiri artisans Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani receiving the National Handloom Award from President Droupadi Murmu for their Chanddar Kani Shawls.
Artisans & Craft

Jammu Kashmir artisans win National Handloom Awards for traditional crafts

Artisans Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani from Jammu and Kashmir stood before President Droupadi Murmu, accepting the National Handloom Award for their exquisite Chanddar Kani Shawls, reported

Aug 10, 2026 · 2 min read

A bustling EPCH Pavilion at Hospitality Expo 2026, featuring a wide array of high-quality Indian handicrafts and attracting international buyers and designers.
Artisans & Craft

EPCH Pavilion Showcases Indian Craftsmanship at Hospitality Expo 2026

A single artisan collective from Jodhpur recently secured a $5 million contract to furnish a new luxury hotel in Paris, signaling the burgeoning global demand that the EPCH Pavilion at IIHE 2026 aims

Aug 6, 2026 · 2 min read

Indian artisans proudly displaying their diverse handicrafts in a lively marketplace, highlighting the success of the ODOP initiative in connecting them to global customers.
Artisans & Craft

India's ODOP Initiative: Global Market for Artisans

Exports from Uttar Pradesh have more than doubled, increasing from ₹86,000 crore in 2017-18 to ₹1.

Aug 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Intricate handwoven textiles displayed in a modern exhibition hall at the National Crafts Museum, highlighting social, historical, and cultural narratives.
Artisans & Craft

Worlds Within Cloth exhibition opens August 5, 2026, at National Crafts Museum

At New Delhi's National Crafts Museum, the 'Worlds Within Cloth: New Orders of Woven Making' exhibition will unveil handloom works that explore social, historical, and cultural contexts.

Aug 3, 2026 · 2 min read

Diverse artisans working diligently in their workshops, showcasing traditional crafts and a blend of resilience and growing global appreciation.
Artisans & Craft

Artisan communities adapt to challenges as global recognition grows

In Britain, the art of making scuttle baskets has not been practiced since about the 1950s, a quiet disappearance that echoes across many traditional crafts.

Jul 31, 2026 · 4 min read

A vibrant yet sparsely populated city street during the FIFA World Cup 2026, showcasing the paradox of high prices and lower attendance.
Travel & Place

FIFA World Cup 2026 boosts tourism revenue, not volume

Tournament-wide occupancy across the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup settled at 61.

Jul 18, 2026 · 4 min read

A picturesque European city street with historic architecture, hinting at affordable and unique travel opportunities for 2026.
Travel & Place

11 Affordable Unique Travel Destinations for Summer/Fall 2026

Bookings for the Czech Republic are up 149% and Kyrgyzstan is up 135% for summer 2026, according to Sacramento Bee .

Jul 4, 2026 · 6 min read

Diverse group of South Florida artists engaged in creative work, with symbols of opportunity and funding integrated into a sunny cityscape.
Artisans & Craft

South Florida Opens New Artist Opportunities and Grants for 2026

A South Florida filmmaker stands to receive $50,000, mentorship, and equipment access through Oolite Arts' Cinematic Residency, a powerful commitment to nurturing local talent, according to Artburst M

Jun 28, 2026 · 2 min read

A highly detailed, 223-megapixel image of the Cigar galaxy (Messier 82) captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, showcasing stars, dust, and gas.
Artisans & Craft

NASA's Webb telescope captures 223-megapixel image of Cigar galaxy

The James Webb Space Telescope spent nearly three days observing a single galaxy, Messier 82, to capture a 223-megapixel image.

Jun 27, 2026 · 2 min read

Diverse media artists working together in a high-tech studio, surrounded by holographic displays and digital art projects, preparing for the VH AWARD.
Artisans & Craft

VH Award Announces 2026 Open Call for Media Artists

In the first half of 2026, media artists worldwide will vie for a share of over $30,000 in production grants from the 7th VH AWARD, a crucial boost for their careers.

Jun 27, 2026 · 3 min read