Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 4, 1 April 2013 — WAIMEA RESIDENTS CONNECT WITH SACRED PLACES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAIMEA RESIDENTS CONNECT WITH SACRED PLACES

By Kekoa Enomoto Mieah Kamohoali'i has spearheaded a Hawai'i Island project binding people with their 'āina. "Ifyouare

I V la citizen of this town, you are obligated to this town. Everyone has kuleana (responsibility) to this community, whether you've been here 100 years or you just eame," said Kamohoali'i, who with the help of a $15,000 grant hosted a series of classes and workshops to connect residents with the "sacred places of Waimea." Kamohoali'i, who is kumu hula of Hālau Na Kīpu'upu'u, led Waimea residents to engage with area history and sites over three months of huaka'i, or pilgrimages, plus classes in traditional art forms. More than 100 participated in eaeh of five huaka'i, including to Pu'u Hōkū'ula and Pu'u 'Oa'oaka above Waimea, where reportedly 400,000 warriors battled, resulting in the defeat of Maui chief Kamalālāwalu by Lonoikamakahiki. They also visited Mauna Kea's Lake Waiau, where piko, or umbilicals, traditionally were deposited to tie infants to their cold homeland and protector mountain. Following a huaka'i to Mahiki Forest, robed in fog and famed in Waimea chants, participants heeame practitioners. "Out of that huaka'i, we eame to Kūhiō Hale in Waimea town, and I taught them how to make kapa," Kamohoali'i said, adding that the purpose

was to honor kapa deities associated with Mahiki. Participants also learned traditional ways of making ancient weaponry, 30-foot-tall kāhili, or feather standards, and kūpe'e niho 'Ilio, or dog-tooth anklets. The various creations

will be showcased in a hula drama and weeklong art exhibit that culnūnate the project. "I want them to be a part of the story," said Kamohoali'i, a USC theater graduate whose project participants will wear their handmade kapa and adornments, and use handcrafted implements in the stage production. "I don't want them to do a little (kapa) bookmarker. I had them leain to elean wauke bark and pound it all day. . . . After five hours, they didn't want to stop. Passers-by wondered what are they doing?" he recalled. "Some stopped and joined in." Kamohoali'i saluted those who conunitted to the project and, therefore, to the conununity. "The rewarding part in this project is the amount of people who eame out to support it, who were interested in all of this, in the history," he said. "I know Waimea is a small town, but I didn't think hundreds of people, Hawaiians and nonHawaiians, knew how to put differences aside and bring themselves to work together." ■ Kekoa Enomoto is a retired copy editor and staff writer with The Maui News and former Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Hula drama and exhibit > WHAĪ: Hula drama Ka Hulilauali'i 0 Waimea, orthe royal calabash of Waimea, and an accompanying art exhibit > WHERE: Kahilu Theatre, Waimea, Hawai'i lsland > WHEN: April 21 to 28 asfollows: Apiil 21,4 to 7 p.m. exhibit grand opening; exhibit hours: 8 a.m. to noon April 22, and 8 a.m. to evening dailythereafter Apiil 25, 4 to 7 p.m. exhibit tours, Q&A April 26 and 27: 7 p.m. hula drama, doors open 5:30, seating 6:30 April 28: 1 p.m. hula drama, doors open 11:30 a.m., seating 12:30 > C0ST: $20 adult, $15 for keiki 13 and under for the hula drama. Art exhibit is free. > TICKETS: Crackseed Etc., Gregore Salon and Parker Ranch Store 0r, send a eheek payableto: Na Kipu'upu'u, P.O. Box 6308, Kamuela, Hl 96743; enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope or indicate tickets should be held for piekup at the box office. > INF0: nakipuupuu@gmail.com or (808) 960-1900