Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 4, 1 April 2010 — Hoʻokahe Wai Hoʻoulu ʻĀina [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hoʻokahe Wai Hoʻoulu ʻĀina

T\ūs month 's article is an excerpt ofa speech given by Nahoa Lucas, who accepted the I Ulu I Ke Kumu 2010 award on behalfofHo 'okahe Wai Ho 'oulu 'Āina, a group that works to preserve Ka Papa Lo'i 'O Kānewai Cu\tura\ Garden at the University ofHawai'i at Māinoa. t is hard to believe that in November of this year, Ka Papa Lo'i 'O Kānewai will celebrate its 30th year of serving the University and larger Hawaiian community

as a community resource learning tool. We are truly awed and amazed by the fact that what was onee begun as a regular weekend project by certain members of the Hui Aloha 'Āina īuahine Hawaiian language club, has grown to a separate program operating institutionally within the Hawai'inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge with its own program staff and budget. At the time we began this venture, we wanted more opportunities for practical experience and insight into the Hawaiian language and culture. Back then, practicing your Hawaiian culture was limited to some cultural activities like arts and crafts, but primarily it consisted of reading about your culture from a book, as well as translating archival documents. The lo'i provided this portal for us to experience the subsistence, cultural and religious practices of Native Hawaiians. We had no idea that the work that we were doing at the lo'i back then would now be captured in today's buzzword concepts such as "experimental learning," "collaboration," "outreach," "land stewardship" and my favorite: "epistemology." We live by the philosophy of "don't talk about it, just go and do it," and always sought to educate and build strong working relationships with everyone, Hawaiian and Hawaiian at heart. That is the reason and the success why Ka Papa Lo'i 'O Kānewai has been able to survive for all of these years through plant diseases, pollution, an occasional hihlieal flood, encroaching development and budget cuts. Along this journey of life, we have been enriched by the following individuals who made a difference in the lives of Ho'okahe Wai Ho'oulu 'Āina members, and all who worked at the lo'i. These individuals continue to guide us in spirit in all of the good works that we do on this earth today: 1. First and foremost is the late Unele Harry Kunihi Mitchell, our founding kupuna of HWHA, who provided and shared with us the entry portal to visit the world of culture and language of our kupuna. We will remain eternally grateful for his oversight and supervision by regularly coming from his home in Wailua Nui, Maui, to O'ahu to be with us as we worked to restore the 'auwai, lo'i and surrounding area. 2. For the many resident kupuna who regularly eame to Kānewai, and who touched all of our lives by breathing life into the values of 'Ike and Nohona Hawai'i: 'Anakala Kolo, 'Anakala Ka'ai, 'Anakala Silver Piliwale, 'Anakala Iokepa Maka'ai, 'Anakala Kawika Ka'alakea, 'Anakala Eddie Ka'anana and many others. 3. For our dedicated Lo'i Coordinators, past and present, who serve as the point persons and true ambassadors of Hawaiian experiential learning at Kānewai: Keoni Fairbanks, Charley Kupa, Pomaika'i Kaniaupi'o Crozier, Kekailoa Perry and our present Lo'i Coordinator Makahiapo Cashman. 4. For all the individual groups who helped in coming to the lo'i on first Saturday and other times, and especially for classes from the Ethnic Studies program who helped members of HWHA with the iniīial clearing and planting of Kānewai. 5. For one of our founding members who passed at an early age, Walter Kaleialoha Laymance, and all that he gave us during his years as a member of HWHA. 6. And finally, to all of you, many who are seated here tonight, who have grown up with Ka Papa Lo'i 'O Kānewai, first either as children or college students, and who are now in full-time professions that promote Hawaiian language and culture. Mahalo nui for your ongoing and continuing support of the lo'i and all things Hawaiian. May the lo'i continue to inspire you and all the generations to eome. ■

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i