Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 9, 1 September 2017 — VISITING ARTISANS WANTED AT WAIMEA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

VISITING ARTISANS WANTED AT WAIMEA

ByTreenaShapiro Waimea Valley is looking for visiting artistans to share traditional cultural forms with visitors to the sacred site on 0'ahu's North Shore. The Nā Po'e Hana Noe'au program allows artisans to create work inspired by Waimea's history and culture while providing an opportunity for visitors to learn about cultural practices and indigenous knowledge. The new program falls under Waimea's Hi'ipaka Cultural Program, whieh currently has eight resident artists and cultural practitioners. "We here at Waimea Valley believe it's important to have the Hawaiian cultural artisans and practitioners here to share their 'ike and mana'o whieh helps to tell the

mo'olelo of this wahi pana," said cultural programs director Ah Lan Diamond. "Visitors ean learn about life in an ahupua'a and what it takes to create everyday tools and implements, make food and oil, weapons

and feather work, weaving and fish nets in order to sustain daily life." Visiting artisan Alika Bajo, a stone carver, said visitors to the valley express appreciation for the program and have a genuine respect

for the culture and information the artisans share. "We want them to know that the Hawaiians are still here, we just look a little different," he said. "I feel it's important to teach our younger generation not only the language but our culture - not just speak but be Hawaiian." The visiting artists are expected to hold puhlie art demonstrations.

At the end of the year, a festival will give the artisans a venue to show and sell their pieces. "By hosting visiting artists throughout the valley, our visitors will be given a rare glimpse into Hawai'i's rich cultural past, offering an intensive look into the roles and practices that onee existed in this valley," said Richard Pezzulo, Waimea Valley's executive director. For Bajo, the reward is getting "to share our culture and the things that make our Hawaiian culture unique, to touch people's lives and hearts, and to have a profound effect on the younger generation to show them that they are stewards of our earth and the ones whose kuleana - responsibility - will carry our message of love and aloha in the future for the whole world to embrace." Interested artisans ean email wv@waimeavalley.net for more information or questions. Applications may be completed and downloaded at www.waimea valley.net. ■

y NĀHANANA > EVENTS

Left: Weaver Kawika Au shares mana'o with a visiting 'ohana. Right: A pōhaku display by stone carver Alika Bajo. - Photos: Courtesy of Waimea I /alley