Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 12, 1 December 2015 — MOʻOMEHEU --CULTURE [ARTICLE]

MOʻOMEHEU --CULTURE

OHA has made it a priority to preserve, practice and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. To do this we facilitate Native Hawaiians participating in cultural activities, especially as it relates to experiences that engage our lāhui with the 'āina. "It is a primary goal for us to increase our awareness and knowledge and allow others to do the same," Wat-kins-Victorino explained. "A few examples of celebrating our culture and moving this area forward are: The 3,079 students that are in our Native Hawaiian focused charter schools that we help fund. On a daily basis, they are learning about and learning to value their history and culture. This is a part of their curriculum." "This is really exciting because they are going to be our adults as we more forward." Watkins-Victorino noted that since 2010 OHA published over 1,000 articles with a Hawaiian cultural or historical focus in Ka Wai Ola, whieh reaches over 60,000 subscribers monthly. Another way we present our history and culture is through the OHA databases: PapakiloDatabase. eom, KipukaDatabase.com, ohadatabook.com, Mooaupuni.com, and Kamakakoi.com. "With nearly 80,000 visits we know we have got people coming, looking and learning at these websites." OHA has supported both large-scale culture grants to well established organizations as well as smaller grants tailored to focused audiences. For instance, OHA helped with supporting the ceremonial opening and closing of the Makahiki held at Hālawa Prison twice a year for the past three years. "When the pa'ahao (inmates) reconnect with their cultural identity, and what it means to ho'okanaka, they find the strength to make better decisions on a daily basis not just for them, but mostly for their families waiting for them on the outside, as sons, fathers and brothers," said Kai Markell, OHA Compliance Enforcement Manager. "They hold their heads high, and seek forgiveness, redemption and new beginnings." It took years of advocacy and litigation by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and OHA, who partnered with the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center and the Native Hawaiian Church to bring the ceremonial Makahiki to Hālawa. It has been such a positive ināuenee that the program has expanded to the Waiawa Correctional Facility, starting their inaugural program this year. "I am finally getting ready to be released. I'm scared of how mueh has changed since I've been locked up for over twenty-years," Markell recalls one pa'ahao telling him after one of the ceremonies. "I don't know if I ean make it, but I have never felt so proud to be Hawaiian, and so proud to feel my ancestors all around me, helping me, encouraging me, and loving me no matter how messed up I was. I wish we could celebrate with Lonoikamakahiki and peaee all year around." 71

Ullllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Mo'omeheu/Culture 51% ofNative Hawaiians living in the State of Hawai'i participating in cultural activities, including language, and who interact with the 'āina for cultural, spiritual, religious and subsistence • $5.2 million incultural grants awarded since 2010

///////////////////////////////////// • 3,079 students participate in cultural activities in Native Hawaiian focused charterschools • OHAonline resources: • PapakiloDatabase.com • KipukaDatabase.com • Mooaupuni.com • ohadatabook.com • Kamakakoi.com