Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 11, 1 November 2001 — Lānaʻi education program enjoys community support [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lānaʻi education program enjoys community support

By Ola Ropa with contributions by Martha Evans ( Ola Ropa is Site Coordinatorfor Nā Pua No 'eau on Lāna 'i. Martha Evans is Vice Principal at Lāna'i High and Elementary School) Nā Pua No'eau is alive and well on the island of Lāna'i. Under the direction of Ola Ropa and with the wise and nurturing partnerships of the Hui Mālama Pono O Lāna'i, Hui Wa'a O Lāna'i, Lāna'i High and Elementary School, Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, the Lāna'i Youth Center and Coalition for a Drug Free Lāna'i, our children have been able to participate in a wide variety of programs and activities. This past year, the focus of Nā Pua No'eau - Lāna'i and fellow

organizations, was to give the Native Hawaiian students a sense of ownership for their 'āina - Lāna'i. Super Enrichment Saturdays were aimed toward activities involving songs and oli of Lāna'i. There were also field trips taken to the different

areas of Lāna'i where kūpuna shared their stories of these areas. Several activities were conducted throughout the year for the students with help from kūpuna and kumu from outer islands as well. One of these activities featured a workshop

where both hula and oli were learned. Another activity was a lauhala weaving workshop. These hands-on activities had kumu sharing their expertise in weaving lauhala. Lastly, a whole summer of Hoe Wa'a sessions including water safety, paddling techniques, eanoe rigging and steering took plaee. This year, Nā Pua No'eau, Hui Wa'a O Lāna'i, CDFL, and the Youth Center of Lāna'i incorporated a program with Kamehameha Schools titled "E Ola Pono." Here students learned Hawaiian values. There was one particular activity, whieh was considered the highlight of the year thus far. This activity was the Keōmoku Village Tour. Hope Kahu Reverend Lei Kanipae opened this session with a pule to give guidance and support to See LĀNA'I on page 6

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Music is an effective medium in education, fostering creativity and discipline. Here, keiki sing and piay 'ukulele as part of their ha'awina (lessons).

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LĀNA'I from page 5 this inter-generational tour to Keomoku village whieh is located about 9 miles east of Lāna'i City. Keōmuku Village was onee the thriv:ng town of Lāna'i before Lāna'i City was ever established. Families that lived in Keōmuku village made their living by either watermelon farming or cattle ranching. There was an attempt to do a sugar plantation there as well, whieh was not very successful. Kūpuna shared how in Keōmuku village there were no stores, one school, whieh held grades 1-9, and two churches. Driving down on the sandy dirt road and darting through rows of kiawe trees were sand, debris, kiawe trees, rocks, and little areas of old shacks, surrounded by rusty old ehain fences. It was hard for students to ever imagine a onee thriving community there. Onee the group reached their destination, they were greeted by Sol Kaho'ohalahala and directed to a small area within the dense kiawe trees. There students were intro-

duced to Keōmuku village through stories and pictures of people who onee lived there. Stories of a town where there were no kiawe trees and your nearest neighbor was a mile away. How simple life was back then. Kupuna Sol Ka'ōpūiki then led the group on a trail hike to view the different sites within that area. Deep within the kiawe forest were the remains of an old ship, shipwrecked on shore, half buried by sand and dating back to the early 1900s. He told a story of how his Papa use to be the captain of a ship that sailed to and from Lahaina to drop off or piek up people and supplies. Kupuna Irene Perry showed students where her home onee stood and shared her favorite childhood stories playing with her dolls out on the veranda. Kupuna Sam Ka'ōpūiki showed students how they used "iron roof surf boards" to surf the waves. And, 'Anakē Suilan took the keiki ranging from ages 69 to the water's edge and showed them how to "dig for crabs" still one of Kupuna Suilan's favorite pastimes. After the hike ended, everyone

gathered around the old fashioned Portuguese "forgo" to prepare for luneh. This not only gave the students, volunteers, kumu and kūpuna a ehanee to see how this old-fashioned "forno" (stone oven) worked, but it gave everyone a ehanee to reflect on the thoughts and stories of the day's event.

With exciting and educational activities such as these, we look forward to continued activities and opportunities for our students as we head into the new school year. With the help of the community and the many organizations here, Nā Pua No'eau will continue to thrive for the students of Lāna'i. ■