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Add your commentPaka`a Flees Big Island
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Second in an ongoing series
By Catherine Aki
What led up to Paka`a leaving the Big Island and living on Molokai? In a word, jealousy.
As a powerful man in the court of Keawenuiaumi, ali`i of the Big Island, Paka`a was unaware that two jealous men had begun to plot against him. As a court favorite, he managed numerous resources including farming and fishing. He could live in the uplands. He was an accomplished waterman who knew all about astronomy, navigation, sailing the seas and steering a canoe. His attention to detail enhanced his abilities care for the personal needs of his ali`i. Paka`a treated those with high and low status equally well so that many affectionately attached themselves to him. It was a happy time before the betrayals of Paka`a were set in motion.
In one version of this story the two jealous men are called “enemi” or enemy even though they had names.
Pretending to “talk story” with Keawenuiaumi, his enemies would instead tattletale on Paka`a making up stories and lies in order to deceive the ali`i. They boasted of their abilities while criticizing Paka`a. Unfortunately, Keawenuiaumi was blind to the truth. Believing their slander, the ali`i began to strip away power, responsibilities and land from Paka`a.
This allowed the two enemies to take what was not theirs, from Keawenuiaumi. When the ali`i received gifts from the district ali`i and commoners, Paka`a’s enemies would take the best things for themselves, blaming Paka`a for the shortages. It was through their cunning fault-finding in Paka`a that they became Keawenuiaumi’s favorites. In the meantime, Paka`a began being mistreated by all.
Before realizing how conniving his enemies were, Paka`a tried to maintain the needs and services to his ali`i despite the greed of his enemies. But after a while, he realized how much he had lost in both status and wealth.
Kamakau’s summary of Paka`a’s story states that Paka`a deserted his ali`i`, but in another account, dramatic details tell of Paka`a fleeing for his life.
As Paka`a prepares to leave from the Big Island, he hides a canoe for his escape; but his enemies have been staking him out. When Paka`a enters the ocean, they follow him trying to swamp his canoe in an attempt to drown him. But Paka`a has mat coverings which prevent the water from entering his canoe.
Between Waipio and Hilo, his enemies pursue him for 18 hours, from the middle of the night until dusk the next day. Eventually his enemies lose him in the dark and hope he is gone for good.
Paka`a visits his half brother in Hilo briefly before leaving the Big Island.
Stay tuned for the next installment where Paka`a makes his way to Molokai finding safety and shelter, for a while.
To be continued.
Staking a Claim
Cultural and environmental healing for the DHHLBy Catherine Cluett
A place to call home may be on the horizon for many Hawaiians waiting to receive Hawaiian Homeland property. Not only would future generations be given an inheritance of land, but thanks to a new energy policy, they could be left with a legacy of renewable resources and sustainability they would be proud to call their own.
Representatives from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) held a “beneficiary consultation” meeting with Molokai community members last Wednesday to discuss what additional land the Department should acquire on Molokai. They also sought residents’ feedback on a new DHHL energy policy that will affirm Hawaiians’ commitment to sustainability and make renewable energy resources more accessible to the community. DHHL’s Administrator Darrell Yagodich and Planner Bob Freitas both gave presentations to a large gathering.
Happy Holidays Molokai Style
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By Molokai Dispatch Staff
A long line of Christmas floats made its way down Main Street for the first time in over three years, attracting hundreds of people who came out to see the fanciful lights.
Almost everything that could be pushed, pulled, carried, dragged or rolled was dressed up as a float, including a giant coffee picking machine, an outrigger canoe complete with paddlers, a fishing boat and a golf-cart sled pulled by human reindeer. Guest-stars included Molokai veterans, 4-H Clover Lopers, Boy Scouts, Councilman Danny Mateo, and, most importantly, Santa Clause.
“Everybody was blown away,” said Molokai Chamber Foundation’s Barbara Haliniak, who spearheaded the event’s planning. Over the decades, the event has been passed from one organization to another until finally going dormant for several years. After successful fundraising, the Chamber Foundation brought the parade back to life.
“We’ve been hearing a lot in the community saying they miss the electric light parade, so we decided to do it,” said Haliniak.
The Parade of Lights was much more than just glitz and glam. Last Friday’s event featured a full-blown Ho`olaule`a that, besides food and live entertainment, featured festive contests with hundreds of dollars of cash motivation on the line.
Winner of this year’s contests are as follows (from first to third place): Best Store Window: Friendly Market Center, Dr. McGuire, Kaunakakai School. Best Float: Aloha Connection, Deluna Trucking, Mycogen Seeds. Best Dessert: Ku`uipo Ka`ai, Winona Ka`awa, Kalani Garces. Best Christmas Tree: Friendly Market Center, Lori Higa, C&C Manley. Best Ornament: Lori Higa, Penny Martin, Jazz Bishaw.
The mission of Molokai Chamber Foundation is to lead, support, and serve community needs. Support for this year’s Parade of Lights comes from County Parks and Recreation, County Office of Economic Development, Young Brothers, Maui Hotel Association, Hawaii Telecom, Maui Electric Company, and community volunteers.
The season of community
And yet a moment’s reflection reveals so much of real, lasting value. Just about every story of economic bad news was matched by another story of how we come together to help those who suddenly found themselves in need. Aloha Airlines workers who continued to meet and offer each other support in the wake of their employer’s sudden closing. Food banks that found extra donations to offer those who unexpectedly found it hard to make ends meet. Neighbors who forged new bonds with those around them who wanted nothing more than reassurance that we are in this together.
Nationally, we learned that a message of hope and common goals can overcome old boundaries of race and gender. A self-described skinny kid from Hawai‘i—hapa like so many of us, the product of an African father and anthropologist mother—can become the most powerful man in the world, despite anger and racist challenges from those who would rather things remain exactly as they always have been. A woman can compete at the highest levels of elected politics, attracting the support of 18 million voters in the most hotly-contested primary in memory, before demonstrating the utmost in class and loyalty by becoming a singular supporter of her former rival.
What should have divided us brought us together. What could have become a deafening chorus of "Me first" grew instead into an irresistible wave of "Us, together." As families, as friends, as a community and as a nation, we showed an almost limitless capacity for sharing, for commonality, and for compassion. We showed the resiliency and strength that can only grow from a confidence in ourselves individually and as a united force against the temptation to surrender.
Whatever the economy has thrown against us, whatever our fates may have delivered, we have stood shoulder to shoulder and faced them the protectors of our community. Our common victory has been in the way that we have remained steadfast, the way that we have fought adversity not with closed fists, but with open hands and open hearts.
I am thankful that I am a part of this community, however we might define it. I know that as the season progresses, I will find myself walking among my friends and neighbors, sitting at kitchen tables and on lanais. Those that have will share, that those who find themselves momentarily unable to contribute will pledge to return the hospitality and the good wishes. No one will count how many cookies get baked or how many lau lau get eaten. We will count how many friends we spent time with, and how many laughs were shared.
This is our season, together, and I cannot think of any other place I would rather spend it.
The Beauty of Molokai Remains
By Steve and Linda and the D'Agati Family
Mahalo to your beautiful island and people. We enjoyed all of your smiles, kind guidance and knowledge, and patience for our many silly haole questions during our visit.
Molokai was very gracious, something I would like to take home and practice in our Ohana. We learned the spirit of many things: Ha, Ohana, Aloha, Mahalo, Keiki, and Kupuna.
We learned the story of Mau, the great Master Navigator, and Nainoa Thompson, his sailing student, at the Kulani Oiwi. Thank you to the families that helped put on this presentation and the delicious treats of poi and sweet potato you made. I was amazed and inspired by his great story- and your kindness of family.
Molokai: Model of Sustainability
Community members explore the options.
By Catherine Cluett
Molokai is a place full of strong opinions and occasional disagreements. But who can argue that we need food? The thought of “what if the barge doesn’t come?” is a reoccurring concern for many. The question of food security held top priority last week at a meeting of Hui Ho`opakele Aina, a group dedicated to creating a sustainable Molokai.
The meeting was attended by over three dozen Molokai residents. A variety of speakers addressed issues such as food shortages and solutions, education, and community development. Experts, as well as community members already active in the effort, shared their knowledge and experience with an attentive audience.
Glenn Teves is a University of Hawaii Extension Agent who specializes in community development. “Hawaiians produce less than 20% of the food we eat,” he said. “And 95% of Hawaii’s agriculture is non-food crops.” He gave a bleak picture of the state’s current resource insecurity, explaining that almost all assets such as airports and power plants are located on the coastlines – in danger zones for tsunamis and other natural disasters.
“There is little agriculture infrastructure compared to tourism infrastructure in Hawaii,” Teves said. He emphasized the need to create an infrastructure for local farmers to successfully sell their produce on-island, instead of relying on off-island business. He also suggested crop diversification and the production of local fertilizers as examples of ways to improve Molokai’s agricultural assets.
GMO Clarification
Dear Editor,
Regarding the issue of human genes in sugar cane, and the role of HARC, I would like to respond.
I was misquoted, but it was a minor and understandable error. Actually, the reporter did a much better job than most reporters do on this technical and controversial topic. Her October 10th article captured both the spirit and content of my presentation fairly well.
Ordinarily, a simple misquote doesn’t deserve any further attention. A few well placed commas would change the meaning of the sentence attributed to me completely, as I explain below. However, Ms. Whalen and HARC’s effort to insult me and confuse the issues deserves a response.
1. In 2002, a permit was issued to HARC for the testing of sugar cane genetically engineered with human genes. This information comes from a data base listing all permits for the field testing of genetically modified plants.*
A time for peace
With the harvest completed, everyone rested and let the land lay fallow. They offered food in tribute to their chief and to Lono in thanks for their wise stewardship. Without wisdom, the land would become barren, and the people’s life and culture were tied to the land.
While almost no one among us could afford to stop work for an entire quarter of the year, Makahiki stills serves as a reminder of the values that should guide us. Appreciation for the things we are given by our culture, our efforts, and our fates. The abundance that marks so many of our lives. And the wise stewardship that the best among us offer.
Even in a place that enjoys a year-round growing season, it is difficult to fathom allowing productive fields lie unused through four long months. Simple math tells us that ancient practitioners could have increased their annual yields by a quarter just by keeping fields in use. Yet the concept of fallow fields is critical to understanding true stewardship.
A fallow field is not wasted space; it is land in renewal. The period where a land remains unplanted allows the soil to replenish it moisture and nutrients. It regains the texture that provides roots with air. Decaying matter slowly develops into a loamy compost that shows its strength with the next planting.
Today, when every moment is consumed by meetings and activities, when we cannot stop checking our Blackberries and iPhones or worrying about cellular coverage, we seldom stop to replenish. It’s a drive-through, satellite-fed, multi-tasked life. The only fallow time we have is while we’re asleep, unless we dream about work, too.
And then there’s peace. We should marvel at a society where everyone accepted that whatever was happening the day before Makahiki, no matter who was arguing with whom, what group was set upon the defeat of what faction, it all stopped. Four months of peace. I would guess that enemies did not necessarily celebrate together, but the fact that they were celebrating separately instead of fighting on the same battlefield is pretty remarkable.
On November 20, 2008, the State of Hawai‘i observed its first Makahiki Commemoration Day. It wasn’t a holiday, so you probably had to work. Still, it stands as a reminder of what Makahiki was, and how our sometimes more-civilized ancestors made the best use of their time.
Even if you missed Mahakiki Commemoration Day, remember that Makahiki lasted four months. There is still time for all of us to reflect on the many blessings we have been given, slow down, let our minds lie fallow for at least a little while, and offer each other peace. Happy Makahiki, everyone.
