Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 12, 1 December 2013 — Ko Lānaʻi mau ʻanoʻai -- news from Lānaʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ko Lānaʻi mau ʻanoʻai -- news from Lānaʻi

Trustee's note: This month 's eolumn is written by Kepā and Onaona Maly, residents ofLāna'i, euhwal historians and ethnographers. The Office of HawaiianAffairs, Lāna'i Culture & Heritage Center (Lāna'i CHC) and the Native Hawaiian Education Act (NHEA) program, Lāna'i 'ohana, Pūlama Lāna'i and field specialists are engaged in

partnerships of cultural stewardship and sustainability. We are focusing on building Hawaiian cultural literacy through place-based knowledge and cultural practices; connecting 'ohana with hands-on experiences in traditional and customary practices. Living aloha 'āina, not just speaking the words. Sept. 30 through Nov. 12, Lāna'i CHC with the NHEA program and OHA's I Mana Ka Lāhui hosted a class titled "Beginning Conversational Hawaiian Language for Adults through Plaee Names and Traditions of Lāna'i," taught by Kepā Maly. The classes are part of a growing movement to establish a Hawaiian Language Immersion Program on Lāna'i, in partnership with Lāna'i High & Elementary School. Initially, the classes were planned for 20 participants, but in less than 24 hours the class was filled and a waiting list established. Forty people attended the first day of class, and by the end of the course many 'ohana participants were asking for a eontinuation of the program. Language is the foundation of culture, beliefs, practices and the perpetuation of a living Hawaiian heritage. Through knowledge of Hawaiian traditions, plaee names and language, a growing sense of pride and kuleana in stewardship of the Honua ola (living environment) is awakening on Lāna'i. Island 'ohana - many of whom are descended fromMāhele 'Āina period residents of Lāna'i - along with many other island residents, Pūlama Lāna'i and partners from across the pae 'āina, are now engaged in planning for

_ programs of cultural sustainability. Maunalei Valley, onee the sole source of kalo grown in lo'i on Lāna'i, is to be restored. The vision of Lāna'i 'ohana is to establish a community-based living history center where residents, students and visitors may gather to participate in a wide range of cultural j programs and the cultivation of kalo and other crops to feed the 'ohana of Lāna'i. A part of the

vision is to begin making and delivering poi to our elder 'ohana. Other crops such as 'ulu, 'uala, hō'i'o and 'ōhi'a 'ai are planned for cultivation. In addition to food crops, plants such as wauke, olonā, 'awa, māmaki, palapalai and maile are also planned for cultivation. Another major initiative is the restoration of Waia'ōpae Fishpond fronting the ahupua'a of Pāwili. Last used over 120 years ago, Waia'ōpae is one of at least five major loko i'a built on the windward reef of Lāna'i in ancient times. Environmental degradation as a result of grazing by feral sheep, goats and deer has buried mueh of the reef and kuapā under mud. Wave wash has also scattered the rocks, but the foundation is still present. The pond restoration will offer valuable opportunities for community members, Lāna'i High & Elementary School and Lāna'i CHC/NHEA programs to engage participants in a wide range of plaeebased experiential education that will fill cultural and natural resources, STEM and literacy requirements. Successful completion of the pond will also serve to feed the families of Lāna'i. Lāna'i's families see great opportunities in bringing these legacy programs forward as a living cultural hālau, where residents and visitors alike may be enriched through acts of stewardship and care of the honua ola. E ka wahine lokomaika'i Colette Pi'ipi'i Machado, Po'onui o Ke Ke'ena Kuleana Hawai'i, na ke Akua no i malama mai iā 'oe a me na Po'o pū. ■

<LEO 'ELELE V www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org TRUSTEE MESSSAGES ' NATiVE HAWAiiAN » NEWS l FEATURES I EVENT S

Cūlette Y. Machade ChairpErsūn, TrustEE Mūlūka' and Lāna'i