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Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

DLNR Listens Up

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

DLNR Listens Up

Molokai residents brought a bag full of suggestions and concerns to a visit from the head of one of the largest branches of the state government – the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). From discussions about protecting subsistence lifestyles to management of wind, water and other resources, DLNR Chairperson William “Bill” Aila interacted with residents for nearly two hours during his first visit to Molokai. 

Aila, who was appointed DLNR chairperson by Gov. Abercrombie in November 2010, talked story with local residents as part of a statewide series. The meeting was unusual because Aila’s visit was not to address a particular project or issue, but instead simply to listen. The gesture was appreciated by Molokai residents, who repeatedly thanked him for his effort and openness.

a lot more significant” than on other islands, Aila said after the meeting.

Other issues included allowing residents to restore exposed graves in Mana`e, which Aila said he would directly address with the Burial Council during a return visit he’s planning in November; fixing the water supply so that new water meters may be allowed in East Molokai; supporting the Molokai Invasive Species Committee and Plant Extinction Prevention Program; removing asbestos from the old Coast Guard stations at Ilio Point; and formalizing DLNR outreach with `Aha Ki`ole.

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Reclaiming Hawaiian Lands

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Submitted by Duke Kalipi on behalf of the Lawful Hawaiian Government

In July, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 1520 into law, becoming Act 195. This act is the prelude to the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act, also known as the Akaka Bill. We believe its true intent is to have the Hawaiian people agree to give up their rightful claim to their national lands, identified by the U.S. government as ceded lands. These are the lands of the former Hawaiian Kingdom – government, crown and public acreage.

“Although the Statehood Act retroceded these lands to the State of Hawaii, nearly 400,000 acres of what was originally Hawaiian government lands are still owned by the U.S. government,” according to a report from Sen. Dan Inouye in Dateline Washington from 1972.

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Molokai Fights to Protect Its Fishing Lifestyle

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Molokai Fights to Protect Its Fishing Lifestyle

 

Community Contributed by Walter Ritte

For the past 15 years Molokai has been seriously trying to stop the decline of it’s near shore fisheries. In 1994 Governor John Waihe’e created the Governors Molokai Subsistence Task Force, which officially recognized the importance of the subsistence economy on Molokai. The task force found that up to 38 percent of our food consumption on Molokai came from gathering in the ocean and on the land. The task force identified three major problems, 1) Off-island people who take to much, 2) Taking of undersized juveniles and 3) Lack of access.

The Molokai Aha Kiole has been working for months with WESPAC (Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council), an arm of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in a state wide effort to bring management over our resources down to the local level.

Through state wide meetings, each island has been charged to present their three top issues. The Molokai Aha Kiole presented their top two issues on Friday Sept. 23 to WESPAC. First, the need to lift the federal ban on the Hawaiian Green Turtle to allow for traditional subsistence use, and second, the need to stop the practice of off island escort boats raiding our shorelines during canoe races and other Molokai to Oahu and Maui to Molokai races.

Five years of talks with the Canoe Racing Associations have proven no meaningful results. The issue is alarmingly headed to confrontational solutions.  

Molokai residence have taken it upon themselves to monitor and patrol the coast line to “educate” the escort boats and letters have been sent out to explain “nicely” the concerns of the subsistence users of our coastal fisheries. We hope the State and Federal Governments will help resolve this issue since the organizers of these races do not want to recognize their “Kuleana” when they come to Molokai to race. 

Subsistence use of our near shore fisheries is not a matter of recreational use, it is a matter of survival. 

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A Crossing to Remember

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

A Crossing to Remember

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A Day in Molokai’s History

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

A Day in Molokai’s History

Community contributed by Arleone Dibben-Young

Forty-eight years ago, on Sept. 30, 1963, Papohaku Beach was stormed in “Operation Dull Knife,” a military exercise involving 7,000 Marines and 17 Navy ships. The first two waves of the ship-to-shore assault beached without incident aboard LVTP-5 landing crafts, known for their superior surfing capabilities. The following three waves consisting of 21 LCVP landing crafts were not as fortunate and all vessels broached in the large surf, spilling troops into the rough seas.

Fifteen boats were demolished, in some cases the engine blocks being the largest surviving pieces. Marine Helicopter Squadron 161, on hand to support inland maneuvers, rushed to the coast to lift much of the troops, supplies and equipment safely ashore. Remarkably, there were no fatalities.

Remnants of military maneuvers, such as fencing and rolls of barbed wire dating back to WWII, can still be found today beneath the shifting sand dunes of Papohaku. In 2002, the dog tags of a pastor involved in the 1963 exercises were discovered during a native plant dune restoration.

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Exercising ‘Divine Right’

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Exercising ‘Divine Right’

Get ready to vote – and this time, instead of casting a ballot for the a U.S. government official, you can have a say in the future of the Reinstated Hawaiian Nation.

On Molokai, the Nation has been holding weekly classes to educate the community on the history of the lawful kingdom and how the public can get involved – particularly by voting in the upcoming elections on Nov. 5. Registration ends Sept. 30, though those who register after that will be counted in an unofficial vote, according to kupuna Moke Kim.

Anyone can vote, even if you are not a citizen of the nation or a Native Hawaiian.

“We need a little kokua for elections to see if people are willing to help and [contribute their] mana`o,” said Duke Kalipi, representative for the Molokai district – one of 24 districts in the reinstated nation.

In 1893, under Queen Liliuokalani’s rule, the Hawaiian government was overthrown and went into “vacation” rather than fighting for the cause and losing lives, according to Kim, who helps teach weekly classes on the Nation The Hawaiian government was in exile until it was reinstated in 1999.

Since then, the government has been active, with nine registered “nationals” on Molokai. Statewide citizenship of the Nation has reached about 400 nationals, with another 7,000 citizenship applications in process.

Classes are held every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Mitchell Pauole Center and serve as a starting point for those interested in becoming citizens of the nation.

“One of the best ways to learn is to participate and ask questions,” said Kim.

“We’ve been here long enough to see…laws closing in,” said one attendee last week, referencing hunting and land tax laws under the Hawaii state government. “The pressure for us locals is getting bad.”

Kim taught the nearly 20 participants in last week’s class about the divine or God-given inherent right to sovereignty.

“We are all ali`i,” he said. “Is it our right? You bet!” he added, pointing to the chalk-written words “divine rights” on the blackboard. “We should all grow up teaching our children to be ali`i.”

In exercising that divine right on Nov. 5, voters will be casting their ballots on who they believe should be the next prime minister of the nation, and Molokai representative and noble.

“We want people to know that they have options,” said Henry French, filling the current Molokai seat in the House of Nobles.

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Fit for a Queen

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

A three-person conch shell ensemble harmoniously signaled the beginning of Ka La Hanau o Lili`uokalani, the annual observance of Queen Lili`uokalani’s birthday on Sept. 2, 1838. The occasion is observed every year by Molokai’s Hawaiian Language Immersion students from grades pre-K to 12.  This year’s celebration was held on Sept. 14 at Lanikeha, Ho`olehua with almost 150 of Molokai’s Hawaiian-speaking student population in attendance along with kupuna and family members.

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Kalaupapa Courage Recognized

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Kalaupapa Courage Recognized

In the face of great injustice, they lived exemplary lives – and for that, the patient-residents of Kalaupapa were individually honored last week with certificates from Hawaii’s state legislature. Mounted on plaques, the certificates honored the patients’ lives and apologized for their mistreatment.

An estimated 8,000 Hansen’s disease patients were abruptly taken from their families to live on the peninsula in forced isolation from 1866 to 1969. They were nevertheless “remarkably resilient and have responded to their plight with kindness, generosity, and forgiveness rather than anger, bitterness, and despair,” the plaques read in part.

House Representatives John Mizuno and Faye Hanohano spearheaded the resolution to individually honor the patient-residents and conducted the ceremony at McVeigh Hall last Tuesday. A total of 17 former patients in the state received plaques, including those currently living outside Kalaupapa.

“Thank you very much,” patient-resident Gloria Marks told them when she received her plaque. She was one of five Kalaupapa patient-residents who accepted her plaque in person on Tuesday.

Clarence “Boogie” Kahilihiwa, also expressed his appreciation of the honoring.

“It’s nice to get recognized,” he said after the ceremony.

The certificates also recognized Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 208. The resolution was passed in 2008 as the government’s first official apology to the residents of Kalaupapa for their exile. They made note, too, of Saint Damien de Veuster, who spent his life in the settlement.

The patient-residents are “living remnants of the history of Kalaupapa,” Mizuno said after the ceremony. He and Hanohano began discussing ways to acknowledge their lives individually around March, he said.

“This may be the last opportunity to thank them and apologize,” Mizuno said. “It’s very important as we’re getting to the end of a chapter.”

Mark Miller, the Department of Health administrator for the Kalaupapa settlement, said he found out about the representatives’ visit about two days before they arrived. He and the patients were unsure what was to be presented until the meeting actually happened, he said.

“It was getting time we recognized the circumstances surrounding the patients’ involvement with having to stay here,” he said of the plaques. “It’s a good thing.”

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Paddling Pailolo

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Paddling Pailolo

The 26-mile Pailolo Channel is one of the windiest but best courses in the state, according to its paddlers. Last Saturday, 70 teams assembled for the fifth annual six-person outrigger race from Maui to Molokai known as the Pailolo Challenge. Molokai’s Wa`akapaumua men completed the race in 4th place overall with a time of 2:59.48. The club also paddled a women’s crew, finishing 10th in the open women’s division.

Maui’s team Primo won the race with a time of 2:42.59. For Primo paddler Kekoa Cramer, the toughest part of the race is “leaving Molokai.”

Molokai’s Clint Labrador said the course held five to six foot swells on race day. “The finish was intense as we were battling with Hawaiian Canoe Club's first crew from about One Alii Park for 3rd place,” he said. “They got us by a half canoe length at the very end, but we managed to give them a run for their money.”

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Become a Voice in the Reinstated Nation

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Share mana`o and become educated on the Kingdom of Hawaii, also referred to as the Reinstated Hawaiian Nation. Register to vote in the upcoming election. We need more mana`o and ike so we can shape what the government will be like. Meetings are held every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Mitchell Pauole Center. This is also an opportunity for those who want to become participants or citizens of the nation, to start the process. All are welcome to attend and register to vote. The time has come for us to stand up for our basic human right called sovereignty in Hawaii, and especially on Molokai. This effort is supported by Hui Kane.

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