Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 5, 1 May 2016 — ʻAimalama [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAimalama

Ā Solution Based on Ancestral Knowledge

By Hui 'Aimalama As we continue through our 'Aimalama series, we will begin to look into recent contemporary efforts to revitalize kaulana mahina. One effort, The Moon Phase Project, began in late 2013 with the goal to inspire others to be an active part of their environment and to pay attention to their surroundings. Through sharing daily observations on Instagram ( @moonphaseproject) and their website, the Moon Phase Project is creating a timeline whose foundation is kaulana mahina. Eaeh post includes the pō mahina, anahulu and malama of that particular day. The project began with 14 volunteers from throughout Hawai'i. These volunteers share their observations from their unique places on their scheduled day. Since its ineep-

tion, the project has flourished and currently has 27 volunteers. In this month's article we would like to share observations from 2014 that were collected through the Moon Phase Project during the malama of 'Iki'iki, whieh is this current month. Let's be sure to take note and see if we ean see the same kinds of seasonal changes during 'Iki'iki this year or if there has been a change due to our drought-like conditions so farin 2016. During the malama of 'Iki'iki 2014, we observed the blooming of the wedding flower ( Stephanotis floribunda) and noni ma uka in Mānoa, O'ahu, and bleached manauea-look-ing limu floating in small mats and bunches ma kai in Kona, O'ahu. We also had observations of extreme kai emi (low-tide) in Keaukaha, Hawai'i, revealing the amazing hale

i'a built by the Keaukaha community in Loko I'a Honokea and witnessed pahaha (pl'ā sized mullet) congregating in the pond. Closing off the anahulu ho'onui, we saw manini, kole and mā'i'i'i spawning in great numbers, as well as pua'ama (baby mullet) recruitment along the shoreline in He'eia, O'ahu. Ma uka, we saw the native pōpolo'aiakeakua and 'ala'alawainui flowering.

During the anahulu poepoe, ma kai we saw manini still spawning, and some of the larger 'aholehole and 'ula (spiny lobsters) still carrying eggs. Ma uka, male flower buds on numerous mai'a emerged, fruit of Malay variety mountain apple began to mature while loeal ohi'a 'ai were still flowering, kalo and other veggies were showing vigorous growth. On the moon of

Hua (meaning seed, egg, productivity), mango, lychee and mountain apple trees were producing fruit in Waiākea Waena. Lehua, mamo, gardenia and pikake bloomed profusely. The oeean was ealm in Hilo and we notice that all of our kōlea birds had gone. At the end of anahulu poepoe, the kōlea plant was putting out pink liko and 'ōhi'a started to wind down its flowering season and began to form seeds. During anahulu ho'emi, a few early season Kaimana lychee were SEE 'AIMALAMA ON PAGE 21

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i Observation from i the pō mahina of I Hilo during the ! malama 'lki'iki 2014: Wedding I flower blooming and limu patches floating.

Observation from the pō mahina of Hua during the malama 'lki'iki 2014: All of our Kolea birds have gone.

'AIMALAMA

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aboutready to harvest. Grofflychee were mueh more delayed, with green fruits still very small. Avocado cultivars such as Kahalu'u, Malama, and Sharwil were carrying golf ball-sized or larger fruit. Other varieties such as Yamagata, Ota, and Murashige were carrying fruit as well, but were mueh more delayed in their development. Ma kai, bubble snails were floating about and seahares aggregated to mate. Moi and aholehole gathered in the ealm waters of west and north O'ahu. Consistent easterly tradewinds had not returned, whieh made the oeean great for fishing. And after years of absence, 'alae 'ula were spotted at Loko Ea fishpond feeding. Rounding out anahulu ho'emi and the month of 'Iki'iki, mai'a began fruiting in Ola'a, Hawai'i, and the oeean provided niee high tides for all to cleanse and reset for the next month. We encourage everyone to

begin, or continue, to make observations of your own plaee while utilizing kaulana mahina. Pictures are a great way to keep records of changes in any environment and with the help of a moon phase journal or planner you ean create a well rounded timeline of your plaee. The observations of today and ancestral teachings of our kūpuna will inform us to do what is best for all of our hanauna yet to eome. For more informaton about the Moon Phase Project - moonphaseproject.com ■

Observation from the pō mahina of Lono during the malama 'lki'iki 2014: Mai'a begining to fruit in Ola'a, Puna.