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Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

Halawa Valley Clean-Up

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Lavinia Currier, Pu`u O Hoku Ranch

I wish to make public to the people of Molokai the intentions of Pu`u O Hoku Ranch in regards to the camping in Halawa Valley. Historically, the ranch has welcomed campers in the summer season on the far side of Kama`alaea Bay for short periods, hoping that by limiting the length of any family’s stay there will be room for all interested families to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Halawa. Over time, certain campers extended their stay to the entire summer, and we at Pu`u O Hoku received many complaints about these long-term campers dominating the beach area. Long-term campers make it difficult for others to feel comfortable to picnic and or to find places where they can camp with their children.

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Hawaiian Roots

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Hawaiian Roots

Musician, songwriter, producer, and educator Patrick Landeza will be performing a Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar concert, featuring special guests Herb Ohta, Jr and Kevin Brown, at Hotel Molokai on Nov. 13.

Born and raised to Hawaiian parents on the island of Berkeley, California, Landeza cultivated his craft by studying slack key as a teen from the masters of the genre.  Patrick’s mother, Francine O’Sullivan Landeza (class of 1957) was raised on Molokai and helped tend their Hawaiian homestead on Ho`olehua. Landeza’s grandfather, Francis “Honey” O’Sullivan was an engineer who constructed many of the water tanks on the island.  


“I grew up with stories about Ho`olehua, about mom growing up on a farm, about music, faith and hardship,” Landeza said. “My dream was to return to Molokai and to do a show” – now becoming a reality.

Landeza is considered to be a leading force behind Hawaiian slack key guitar, or ki ho`alu, on the mainland. He recently completed his third CD entitled “Ku`u Honua Mele” (My Music World) which includes all-star guest appearances by George Winston, Cyril Pahinui, Dennis and David Kamakahi, Sally Van Meter, Bobby Black, Steve Boughman and Herb Ohta, Jr.

Currently Patrick balances music and teaches 12th graders at St. Elizabeth High in Oakland, California, where he organizes students and participates in community service around the Bay Area. He also continues the family catering business, Landeza’s Island Catering, and raising (along with his wife Jennifer) his three young sons. Patrick (somehow) finds time to tour the country teaching and performing ki ho’alu and continues weekly slack key lessons in Berkeley, at the Freight and Salvage. Landeza has also released a slack key instructional DVD, slack key play along CDs, and has published slack key lessons in Acoustic Guitar magazine as well as other publications.

For additional information please contact Jennifer at (510) 703-7763 or email landezapresents@gmail.com  Also visit us at www.patricklandeza.com

 

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He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Check out a selection of photos from this year's Festivals of Aloha.

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First Timers Channel Success

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

First Timers Channel Success

Setting a new record turnout, 123 crews with over 1,000 paddlers from Russia to Australia navigated the Ka`iwi Channel through wind, rain and choppy water at the 58th annual Molokai Hoe last Sunday.

This year, Molokai was represented by many fresh faces to the race. Team Molokai, formed by paddlers from Wa`akapaemua, Kukui O Molokai and Mana`e canoe clubs, had five first-timers to the Hoe challenge and a father-sons trio.    

Rookie paddler Troy Heen said while he may be nervous for his first run of this race, he is excited to be a part of the Molokai team.

“We are just a bunch of friends together that want to have fun out here,” Heen said.

The men had a great race – beating their personal goal by finishing 24th  with a time of 5:44:28.

“Coming in the top 25 is really an accomplishment,” said relief paddler David Gilliland.  “We had a fantastic start and the team really muscled through the tough water to keep us ahead of the pack.”

Tahiti’s Shell Va`a won their fifth consecutive Molokai Hoe with a time of 4:38:50 and Team OPT #1 finished second in 4:51:34.

Members of Team Molokai included Clint Labrador, Dane Dudoit, Kevin Dudoit, Bozo Dudoit, Troy Heen, Asa Ward, Chad Lima, Kawika Crivello and Dave Gilliland.

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Sovereignty in Action

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Sovereignty in Action

The Obama administration and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) joined around 600 Native Hawaiian advocates at the largest annual gathering of Native Hawaiian organizations – the Native Hawaiian Convention.

This year’s topic was sovereignty in action, according to participant and Kalama`ula Mauka Homestead secretary Candice Davis-Bicoy. After attending the last Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homesteads assembly, where she learned more about the Akaka bill, she said she attended the convention to learn more about politics.

Davis said she attended the debate between Democratic candidate Neil Abercrombie and Republican Duke Aiona, to learn “which governor is going to address Native Hawaiian issues, and homesteaders’ issues.”

“I’m still an opio [youth], most issues were discussed on a higher level with kupuna,” she said. “As an opio I appreciated being at that conference, to take in all that knowledge – what is pono, what is the right way to go.”

language and culture,” Ahuja said of what she learned from the convention. “There’s a number of charter schools to perpetrate that. We make sure the Department of Education knows about that, to make sure that doesn’t get lost.”

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing community in the U.S. – expected to make up 10 percent of the population by 2040, according to Ahuja. The initiative’s responsibility is to take the mana`o of groups like this, and work directly with 30 federal agencies to make sure their voices are heard.

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He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Aloha indeed – as adults relaxed, chowed down and talked story, keiki ran off the sugar from shave ice and braddah pops in the popular annual event, Festivals of Aloha.

Now in its 64th year, the Festivals of Aloha began as a way to preserve Hawaiian culture and traditions. The free musical and performance entertainment, as well as plenty ono food stands and game booths attracted hundreds each night to the Mitchell Pauole Center, and nearly 1,000 turned out for the finale parade and ho`olaule`a last Saturday. County Council Chair, and Molokai representative Danny Mateo was this year’s Honorary Chair for Maui Nui’s festival. Its theme, He Mana`o Aloha `ia, means ‘gaining knowledge through aloha.’

Aloha Week Contest Winners:

`Ulu/`Uala/Kalo
Taste
1. Tere Neuhart
2. Laurie Rapanot
3. Vonda Stone

Presentation
1. Vonda Stone
2. Tere Neuhart
3. Amber Nakihei

Poke
Taste
1. Marion Dudoit
2. Amber Nakihei
3. Stef Bush

Presentation
1. Marion Dudoit
2. Amber Nakihei
3. Stef Bush

Aloha Wear
Youth Muumuu
1. Tylea Cuello
2. Lelia Cuello

Youth Aloha Shirt
1. Waikaika Augustiro
2. Buzzy Augustiro

Adult Muumuu
1. Larie Loria
2. Scarlett Ritte-Camara
3. April Torres

Adult Aloha Shirt
1. Frank Parrino
2. Levi Yamazaki-Gray
3. Leimana Ritte-Camara

Couple
Sol and Paula Alcain

Bed Races
Men’s
1. Pepsi
2. Bicoy Men
3. Friendly Market Center

Women’s
1. Bicoy Women
2. Tutus
3. The Dispatch

Best Sportsmanship
Bicoy Men

Parade
Best Float
1. Punana Leo
2. Cabalar `Ohana
3. Royal Court

Best Pooper Scooper
1. Lanai
2. Ni`ihau
3. Molokai

Pa`u Unit
1. Maui
2. Kaho`olawe
3. Molokai

Court
2010 King/Mo`i Kane: Robert Ahsee Kalawe, Jr.
2010 Queen/Mo`i Wahine: Kauwela Ritte-Camara

Prince: Kaio Kalawe
Princess: Kealalehua Kalipi

Counselor: Keoki Pescaia

Matriarch: Mikiala Pescaia

Lady in Waiting: Laulani Walker

Red Kahili: Keoki Johnston Kalanilani

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Hula Uniki Class held on Molokai

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Hula Uniki Class held on Molokai

The Hula Pa at Keawanui held its first Hula Uniki on September 18, 2010, a weeklong process full of Hawaiian protocol. Kumu Hula Tony Conjugacion picked Molokai and needed the Uniki to be on the eastern side of the island. "This is a perfect place for an Uniki, with the fishpond the Hula Pa and the many Hawaiian plants, especially the three beautiful Ulu trees, we are so glad we pick Keawanui,” he said.

In the picture are the Kumu and elders of the halau watching over one of the students who is preparing for her graduation presentation after some twelve years of being a student.

Walter Ritte

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Another Step Towards `Aha K`iole Creation

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Molokai has been taking a statewide leadership role in the creation and implementation of a new state law which calls for the creation of an `Aha K`iole – a state wide traditional governance system. Each island is to create an ahupua`a-based governance system, and to organize a group of ahupua`a into a Moku – Molokai has organized their 60-plus ahupua`a into five Moku. Leaders are elected in each Moku by those who live in that Moku. The Moku elected leaders then come together under an island `Aha Moku, and join with the other island’s `Aha Moku into an `Aha K`iole. This new system of resource governance is actually an old traditional Hawaiian way of managing the limited resources.

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Aloha Kakou

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Ke mahalo aku nei a papa M – 3 i na makua a me na po`e e kokua me na mea a pau i ka makou `imi kala no na keiki a makou ma ka Po Ki`i`oni`oni. Ua holomua no makou. He mahalo nui i keia mau kako`o a kokua: Raquel Dudoit no ke kanake pulu, Shirley Rawlins no na ki`aha, Kahea a me Lulu Maliu, Braddah a me Jannah Maliu, no na ipuhao a me ke kapuahi, Kahealani Maliu, Corinne Young, Clara Calairo, Molly Tengan, Po`okela Napoleon, “Tita” Moana Maliu-Calairo, Heli Silva Ducaroy a me Kalua Kanuha i ka`oukou kokua ma ka makau ku`ai, Mike Shizuma no ke kokua ma ka hale `aina, Kamalu Poepoe, i kou lumi papa, ia Loke Han, Joran Dudoit, Dani Dela-Cruz, Tarrah Horner, Sonja Domingo, `Opu`ulani Albino a me ike po`o kumu o Lydia Trinidad i ka `oukou kako`o a alaka`i. I hana kakou i keia mua aku.

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How You Gonna Act?

Friday, October 1st, 2010

How You Gonna Act?

It’s not Shakespeare, said Lydia Trinidad, principal of Kualapu`u School. But the point of last week’s student performance was about gaining confidence. Kindergarten through second graders joined together to perform “`Opae`e,” a story about a brother’s quest to save his sister from an eel, written by Pilahi Paki and Irmgard `Aluli.

The student’s were showing off their talents they had learned in their new art class, which combines performance art and visual art. It also includes Hawaiian history and culture lessons, called `ike (knowledge) Hawaii. 

“Studies show that [art] helps kids perform better in other subjects,” said Kari Haggler, the visual art instructor. “[And] Molokai kids are really creative.”

enriches the keiki, gives them community,” he said. “This is the future of our islands right here.”

Kualapu`u’s third through sixth graders will have their own performance night Nov. 18.

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