Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 7, 1 July 2008 — Heʻeia fishing days [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Heʻeia fishing days

It's sununertime and Paepae O He'eia asks, "Are you hooked up and ready to go?" The nonprofit hosts fishing days Iuly 26 and Aug. 24, when up to 30 people per day ean bring their fishing poles to help remove predator fish, like Barracuda, Papio, Toau and others, from the He'eia fishpond in Windward O'ahu. Fishing days run from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There's a $10 entry fee per pole, children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and

hotdogs, chips and drinks will be available for purchase. Bring a cooler to take your fish home and other necessities like sunscreen, chair and tabis. First aid will be available. Call 2366178 or email kelii @ paepaeoheeia.org to

reserve a spot.

Students of the Hawaiian youth leadership program 'Aha 'Ōpio Alaka'i - a program of Nō Pua No'eau funded by OHA - spent an hour with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka via a June 1 6 video conference in the OHA boardroom. Speaking from Washington, D.C., Akaka told the group of 1 Oth through 1 2th graders, whieh included his grandson La'akea Akaka and great grandniece Ka'ano'i Akaka, thatyoung Hawaiians have to prepare themselves for leadership roles in all areas, including politics and other fields in whieh they are underrepresented. He also spoke of his upbringing in Pōuoa Valley, known as "taro patch valley" at the time, where he caught 'o'opu and 'ōpae in the stream and shared a two-bedroom home with seven brothers and sisters. Answering the students' questions, Akaka covered a range of topics, such as the Apology Bill, perseverance, puhlie service and the Akaka Bill, whieh he said he hopes to bring to the Senate floor by July. The hill passed in the House in the fall. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom