Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 2, 1 February 1998 — Nā Pua Noʻeau summer institute [ARTICLE]

Nā Pua Noʻeau summer institute

I have been attending Nā Pua No'eau (Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children) since the third grade. When I entered the eighth grade, I applied to their summer program. The program is held for two weeks at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. We got to stay in the UH dormitories while we took classes. The first class I was accepted to was called "Rocks and Rolls" with Kumu Jim K. and Kumu Lei. We leamed about Hawaiian volcanoes and different types of lava flows, rocks and even native plants. It was a fun, hands-on class with lots of hiking. Every day, we went camping, hiking and exploring in

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and leamed about many interesting things. What I remember most was the day we hiked a mile-and-a-half out to the lava flow and took lava samples. It was an experience that I'll never forget because that day is when I really felt the power and the creative force of Pele. He mea kūpaianaha. In the moming, everyone had to attend a class called Kūkulukumuhana. Our kumu was Kaipo Frias. We leamed about Hawaiian values, chants, the hula and especially protocol (the conrect way to do ceremonies). We made 'ohe kāpala and made our own klhei, whieh we got to take home along with a new understanding of Hawaiian values, special memories and new friendships. At first, the thought of living with strangers for two weeks was weird, but by the end of the two weeks, we were all 'ohana, and we didn't want to leave eaeh other. The next summer, I attended Kupulau, a program for retumees. I attended the hana kapa class with Aunty Mililani and Aunty Barbara, where we leamed to make

kapa (bark cloth). This second year was the best because we saw our friends again and were given an opportunity to leam more about our culture. Making kapa is a real ait. When we were sitting there pounding kapa, I could imagine how it was back in the old days when Hawaiian women would sit outside pounding kapa and drying it in the sun. This year in Kūkulukumuhana we leamed about Princess Ruth Ke'elikōlani through chants and dances. Being part of the Summer Institute helped me leam about my culture and values. It also gave me confidence and helped me realize that I ean achieve anything I want to if I put my mind to it. I think other kids should attend Nā Pua No'eau Summer Institute because it is a wonderful way to leam about our native Hawaiian ancestry . I know I'll never forget the things I leamed there. ■ Haleaka Reveira Grade 10 Waiākea High School