Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 2, 1 February 1999 — Weaving culture though Kaho ʻolawe' s future plans [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Weaving culture though Kaho ʻolawe' s future plans

B y HōkOlanl Holt Padilla, K I I? C Cultural Coordinator ,

Īhe long-term plans for Kaho'olawe are etched in the Vision Statement adopted by the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) in 1995. The simple statement contains the primary goals the Commission wants to achieve on the island. Using the Vision Statement as a guide, the KIRC integrates a cultural focus into its management activities and tries to incorporate cultural principles and ideals into all that it does. A portion of the Statement reads "Nā po'e Hawai'i care for the land in a manner whieh recognizes the island and oeean of Kanaloa as a living spiritual entity. Kanaloa is a pu'uhonua and wahi pana where Native Hawaiian cultural practices flourish." As part of the overall cultural design for the future of Kaho'olawe, the "Kaho'olawe Land Use Plan" and

"Kaho'olawe Cultural Use Proposal" identify areas of speeial cultural significance. These will function as learning eenters for various cultural activities such as land restoration, stonework, oeean management, astronomy, voyaging and weather study. Currently, one of the KlRC's primary cultural activities is cultural orientation classes for everyone who works on Kaho'olawe, either on the eleanup or in a support function. These classes introduce the Reserve through historical information, videos, maps and pictures and provide instruction on the Hawaiian language, creation stories, environmental ethics, cultural practices and values are provided. The KIRC hopes that eaeh person who works on Kaho'olawe will develop a See KAHO'OLAWE on page 13

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Imu use on Kaho'olawe has both practicai and ceremonial functions. Food is prepared as ho'okupu to Lono, and to sustain the island's visitors. Such activities illustrate how Kaho'oiawe ean become a model cultural learning center.

EMMETT ALULI PHOTO

personal connection with the island and will incorporate Hawaiian values into his or her daily behavior. Another important aspect of the cultural plan for Kaho'olawe is the on going effort to conduct ceremonies recognizing and integrating cultural, spiritual and environmental needs. These ceremonies support all work on Kaho'olawe such as ordnance eleanup, land restoration, area preparation and cultural practices. These ceremonies are the bridge between traditional behavior and contemporary need. The KIRC's reforestation and erosion control projects and the oeean management and monitoring efforts are guided by another portion of the Vision Statement whieh says: "The kino of Kanaloa is restored. Forests and shrublands of native plants and other biota clothe its slopes and valleys. Pristine oeean waters and healthy reef ecosystems are the foundation that supports and surrounds the island." The activities of the Protect Kaho'olawe "ohana continue to be an important part of the cultural practices of Kaho'olawe. The eultural and educational programs implemented by the 'Ohana during their regular trips to the island provide a model for how the island ean serve as a learning center. On Kaho'olawe, cultural knowledge will be used in its appropriate context. Through the support of cultural practitioners, eommunity groups, educational institutions and dedicated volunteers; the cultural programs for Kaho'olawe will complete the Vision Statement when, "the piko of Kanaloa is the crossroads of past and future generations from whieh the Native Hawaiian lifestyle is spread throughout the islands. " For a copy of the KIRC Vision Statement, eall 586-0761 . ■

KAHO'OLAWE Continued from page 12