Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 10, 1 October 1995 — Hanalei group uses culture to strengthen community [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hanalei group uses culture to strengthen community

by Patrick Johnston Kaua'i's North Shore had its share of problems prior to hurricane 'Iniki and mueh more than its share after the storm cut a swath through the community's backyard.

In 1991, a year prior to the hurricane, the Department of Business, Eeonomie Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) reported that Hanalei had the lowest average annual wage earnings in the state. Leaders in the community say the problems have been compounded for native Hawaiians by a large increase in the nonHawaiian population and a corresponding change in the cultural values and ideals of the area. Another problem identifīed by eommunity members was the absence of any facilities where residents could gather and eonduct activities to strengthen the community and improve its eeonomie, social and eultural quality of life. Hale Hālāwai 'Ohana 'O Hanalei - a non-profit grassroots community organiza-

tion on Kaua'i's North Shore - was eonceived of shortly before 'Iniki in an attempt to address these concerns. "Our efforts began before the hunieane," explain project director Susan Clair. "We asked kūpuna about the needs of the eommunity and they said what was needed was a plaee to gather."

The group's activities became increasingly important helping with recovery and rebuilding efforts after the storm. Working with the 'Iniki 'Ohana Project and the Hawaiian farmers of Hanalei at Waipā, the group established a temporary center and assisted community members looking for help after 'Iniki. Their assistance included passing out goods that were donated to the community, providing information and help with filling out forms. With most of the physical recovery efforts now complete, Hale Hālāwai has been focusing on its initial mission: to strengthen the community and build on its cultural roots. It is doing this by building a community center and promoting eeonomie and cultural activities that build self-suf-

ficiency, support families, and bring the community together. In line with this mission, Hale Hālāwai - with support from an OHA grant - began an "eeonomie development project" early this year. The project hoped to provide eeonomie opportunities for the community by tapping into the skills of the Hawaiians in the area to put on a series of classes covering a range of cultural and environmental topics. Classes included Hawaiian language, lau hala weaving, lei- and quiltmaking, "taro days" and nature walks. The program began in January of this year and continued until the end of September. OHA's grant was the second activity grant used by the Hale Hālāwai. The first was provided by the KeAnuenue Foundation (a partnership between Coalition for A Drug Free Hawai'i and the United Way of Kaua'i) and went towards a drug and aleohol abuse prevention program.

Organizers say they had over 700 participants from all over Kaua'i and the classes were well received. "We had a wonderful series of language classes," says Clair. "They will probably be continued because people liked them so mueh." Organizers say many of the positive feelings that eame out of the classes resulted from the opportunity for people to get together and "talk story," giving eommunity members the ehanee to eome together and share a part of their lives with others. Instructors also gained self-esteem and confidence by having the opportunity to share their years of experience and earn the admiration and respect from community members in the process. Hale Hālāwai believes the classes will enrich the island community and provide work opportunities and job skills for instructors and students alike. Executive director Carol Ann Washburn explains, "We hope to generate other classes and help the instructors and students increase their ineome potential." Already some of the instructors have

been approached by loeal hotels and schools about teaching classes and a group of enthusiastic students wants to get together a new lau hala class. The Sierra Club has approached instructors handling the nature walks about contracting their services for individuals, groups, and possibly even tourists, who want to learn more about the loeal environment. "There is the potential to attract tourists," says Washburn. "Some tourist destinations have even talked about putting together classes for visitors." One of the original goals of the group was to establish a community center for North Shore residents. They are in the final stages of the permitting process and hope to have construction of the first building fmished by next year. Hale Hālāwai is run by an all-Hawaiian eouneil of directors led by president Kapeka Chandler. It has worked extensively with other groups in the area including the Hanalei Community Association, Hawaiian Civic Club and Project CARE. They ean be reached in Kaua'i at 8261011. For more information about OHA's grants program eall 594-1888.

Hanalei Valley Photo by Patrick Johnston