Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 7, 1 July 2016 — UNITY THROUGH ʻAwa [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UNITY THROUGH ʻAwa

Storytelling series creates a safe plaee to leam, connect and share By Lindsey Kesel n Hawaiian language, "āhā" indicates an exclamation of surprise, joy or wonderment - the emotion organizers of a new loeal event series want their guests to feel. Focused around the use of the traditional Hawaiian drink 'awa to promote relaxation and enlightenment, creators Keala Kahuanui-Paleka and Kiana-Jo San Agustin are gathering people from all walks of life to connect, share and imbibe. Modeled after the traditional kapu 'awa ceremony but with some modern twists, 'Aha'Awa and Storytellers eomhine the reverence of paying cultural respects to Hawaiian ancestors with the lightheartedness of talking story. The rich moments of the celebration recall deep island traditions without the kapu that prohibited women from drinking 'awa. As one of the first plants brought over in sailing canoes by early Polynesian voyagers, 'awa was a sacred beverage with ceremonial and medicinal uses linking men to gods and ancestors. Today, people drink 'awa to relax sore muscles, promote sleep and invigorate the body, as well as connect with the spiritual realm. Ultimately, the organizers hope the series will help revitalize the practice of drinking 'awa and foster kinship among inspirational leaders and people from all facets of the loeal community. Every first Saturday of the month, 'Aha 'Awa and Storytellers comes together, originally at Nā

Mea Hawai'i and most recently at the outdoor lounge area of the IBM Building to accommodate growing attendance. Kahuanui-Paleka serves as 'awa ka'i for the ceremony, first leading the circle of guests in a pikai, or cleansing ritual, with an oli kāhea (permission chant) and an oli komo (acceptance chant). A seven-foot tall bamboo stalk delivers the wai or wai niu to the kanoa 'awa (carved wooden bowl), where he strains the root in a mesh bag to create the drink. After the blessing and ceremonial presentation of 'awa, three storytellers offer their personal tales of happiness, change and hope with a raw vulnerability that momentarily intertwines a room full of strangers. You might hear artists, musicians, historians, activists and travelers speaking on a variety of topics, from the roles they play in the perpetuation of indigenous culture to insights on following their dreams from idea to fruition. Between speakers, 'awa from the community bowl is presented to eaeh participant in an 'apu, a half-coconut shell eup. The 'awa ka'i then offers a chant making the setting noa, or free, and opens dialogue to the group. No two events are alike, since the creators infuse the element of surprise through acoustic sets, ha'akoa (warrior dance), hula and other performances. A holistic guide, lā'au lapa'au practitioner and cultural event planner, San Agustin discovered her love for event planning while brainstorming ways to help elients develop more rich human connections. As her debut series, SEE 'AWA ON PAGE 19

y NĀHANANA > EVENTS

Held on the first Saturday of the month, the 'Aha 'Awa and Storytellers series puts a modern twist on traditional kapu 'awa ceremonies. - Photo: Lindsey Kesel

'Aha 'Awa and Storytellers was intended to create an environment for people to relate with one another while furthering their own personal growth. She often holds private sessions with the storytellers prior to eaeh event to help them tap the inner sources of wisdom that might leave the most impact on their audience. Raised in Palolo Valley, Kahuanui-Paleka is a eultural practitioner, actor and performer who holds a sublime appreciation for 'awa and uses it in his daily ritual to achieve clarity and focus. "My vision is to have 'awa available to everyone in ceremonies and celebrations to sustain Hawaiian culture and promote peaee," he says. "It's about having people sit down, enjoy a eup or two and start a dialogue of how we ean go about creating change." The storytellers are diverse in ethnicity and trade, but share the eommon characteristic of influencing

positive change in the eommunity. "People's guards eome down when they hear deeply personal stories, and that gift of storytelling encourages real empathy and the desire to contribute," says San Agustin. 'Aha 'Awa and Storytellers succeeds in bridging traditional values with modern times by creating a symbiotic session where speakers and guests ean gain nourishment, both of the body and spirit, through the sharing of knowledge and 'awa. Whether or not you walk away with a newfound taste for 'awa, you're sure to appreciate the specialness of the intimate setting and take home some food for thought. 'Aha 'Awa and Storytellers is held on the first Saturday of every month at various locations. The event is $10 for Hawai'i residents, or $15 for visitors, and includes unlimited 'awa. Visit www.coalescenceproject.com to learn more about the event or to volunteer to be a storyteller. ■

'AWA Continued from page 17