Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 7, 1 July 1989 — being Hawaiian" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

being Hawaiian"

After the video, her daughter Ulu Garmon (whose children were in the video) said her mother taught her children that what you are is important, but what surrounds you is where you get your mana (energy). She said her mother stressed knowing your personal (Hawaiian) name, and caring for it. Kupuna rose to share their reaction to the film and their memories in appreciation of "Auntie" Edith, who passed away 10 years ago. Following a delicious buffet luneh and entertainment by kupuna Irmgard Aluli and Puamana (her family group), and Ed Kenney, the kupuna divided for workshops on reading the Bible, family prayer, lauhala, hula kapa kuiki (Hawaiian quilt), kapa, leimaking, hula, storytelling, and oli (chant). In the "Heluhelu Paipala," bible reading session kupuna Sarah Nakoa, a kupuna from Kamehameha Schools' Hawaiian Studies Institute, spoke entirely in Hawaiian with occasional English translations. She explained how the Bible was important to Hawaiians, but most of the session allowed for participating kupuna the opportunity to read aloud selected scripture while Nakoa coached them on pronunciation. Kupuna Pikake Wahilani from Alu Like, ine. led a session called "pule 'ohana" where the basic elements and purposes of family prayer as practiced by Hawaiians were discussed. According to Wahilani, Hawaiians were eonstantly in tune with the gods. They always strived for "lokahi" or unity.

The purpose of pule ohana was to keep the family together — to keep lokahi. Wahilani said that in ancient times the kupuna helped transmit the practice of prayer to the mo'opuna (grandchildren). With so many problems in the family unit today, it is important that prayer is practiced to keep families together, she said. "We have to spend time to pray for eaeh other and our families," said Wahilani. "As kupuna we must show our families that prayer is acceptable in our homes and eommunities." "Pule builds us as a people, builds us inside and therefore our culture is transmitted to all." Kumu hula Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele led the session on oli, Hawaiian chant. She shared different styles of chant, pointing out their structure,

explaining how certain features, such as repetition, add power, irony, emphasis and drama to the story being told. She spoke on the use of kaona, or hidden meanings, in oli whieh gave poetical shades of meaning that sometimes only the parties eoncerned would understand. Everyone has a story to tell, was the message of three storytellers who enchanted their listeners in the afternoon "mo'olelo" session. Nyla Fujii, a librarian, told a story of a bygone era in KailuaKona when country neighbors left food and drink in their homes for children coming home from school. No one locked their doors in those days so a child could simply go in if no one was home, and help himself. Woody Fern told a charming tale of romance in turn of the century Honolulu, whieh turned out to be the story of his grandmother and grandfather. Fern is a frequent storyteller for the Mission Houses Museum, known for his tales of old Honolulu and of ghosts and supernatural events. Brenda Freitas-Obregon, also a state librarian, shared dramatic tales of old Hawai'i, such as the tale of the chief who angered the goddess Pele at the holua slide, and who had to flee for his life from her wrath. Also participating in the 'Aha Kupuna were 19 selected kupuna brought together by the Native

Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program. During the weekend they met in bilingual discussion sessions to develop, from a grassroots cultural level, what they felt were important Hawaiian values. They also took time to kukakuka on this topic with other kupuna at the conference on such concepts as pule, ho'oponopono, 'ohana, lokahi and family traditions. NHCAP, a federally-established non-profit institution to revitalize Hawaiian arts and culture, asked these kupuna, representing all the islands of Hawai'i, to help NHCAP better define Hawaiian values and traditions. This initial gathering will be followed by other meetings to review their findings from the 'Aha Kupuna and to eome to some kind of a summary statement to take back to their respective islands. The OHA kupuna team will also eonhnue the discussion as the three kupuna visit other kupuna groups on eaeh island. All will be contributing to what is expected to be just the beginning of a list of values and traditions that will assist NHCAP in making its plans to fund research on Hawaiian art and culture, and programs to help apprentices leam these traditions from masters today. Ka Wai Ola O OHA intem Lynn Oamilāa eontributed to this report.

Quilter Meali'i Kalama demonstrated the art of "kapa kuiki."

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Sarah Nakoa spoke in Hawaiian about family bible study.

The Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program asked these kupuna to begin defining Hawaiian values and traditions.