Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 8, 1 August 2015 — Moʻolelo O Molokaʻi -- Kamalō to Hoʻolehua [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Moʻolelo O Molokaʻi -- Kamalō to Hoʻolehua

Through Papahana Kuaola and its Lelekamanu division, four classes from Kiialann'n kohool

I had a unique opportuI nity to tour various sites on Moloka'i. Papahana Kuaola is a 50 1 (c) (3) nonprofit organization located in Waipao, He'eia, Ko'olaupoko, O'ahu. Its mission is to create quality educational programs focused on environmental restoration and eeonomie sustainability fully integrated with Hawaiian knowledge in order to exemplify a lifestyle respectful of kānaka, 'āina and ākua. It is a

multifaceted program servicing O'ahu and Moloka'i that looks to ensure that the future we build today ean actually sustain us into tomorrow. Lelekamanu is Papahana Kuaola's outreach and service project division on O'ahu and Moloka'i that encompasses a variety of educational opportunities that occur outside the ahupua'a of He'eia. These include field trips to marine and terrestrial conservation areas and active restoration sites, partnering with other community organizations on mālama 'āina-based initiatives and participating in native vegetation restoration projects throughout Hawai'i and the Pacific. The four Kualapu'u classes participated on an island field trip where they heard mo'olelo of the different sites and the lessons to be learned fromeach mo'olelo. They also learned about mo'olelo in general and why they are important and the connection they have with eaeh plaee. Prior to western contact, the Hawaiian language was entirely spoken, Hawaiians used stories or mo'olelo to communicate values, preserve history

and explain the unknown. Through these mo'olelo we learn how our ancestors lived, theirhe1iefs anH as these mo'olelo

are told over and over again the Hawaiian Culture lives on. The field trip encompassed sites from Kamalō to Ho'olehua. Students were transported to the various sites around the island via a bus, and Penny Martin, who is the Moloka'i Education Specialist with the Lelekamanu division, conducted the tour for the students and teachers. Students were also provided with an Exploration Notebook, whieh is specific to Moloka'i. It contained informa-

tion on understanding mo'olelo, a map of Moloka'i listing the places they stopped along the tour and specific plaee names around the island. The book also offered experiences that the students could share with their family and friends after they had their field trip. This section in the book contained information to share and learn as a family. There is also a list of vocabulary words that were translated from Hawaiian to English and there is also a list of various children's books that students could go and borrow from their loeal library andlearn other mo'olelo of Hawai'i. On Moloka'i, the Lelekamanu classes and field trips that are offered are in response to specific community requests and needs. While focusing on the same general topics as those on O'ahu, audiences are not limited to grade level or age. Field experiences include trips to the rainforest of Kamakou, the dunes of Mo'omomi, select wetlands, streams and reefs. If you would like more information please visit www.papahanakuaola. eom and the Lelekamanu division. ■

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