Hawaiian Culture

Playing Games in Naiwa

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

By Catherine Aki

In our last episode our hero, Kalimahopu is longing for the red-hair beauty, Koa`ekea, who has been chosen to lead an evening of games during the time of Makahiki.  In the meantime she is fulfilling her role as a matchmaker choosing men and women as partners for the rest of the evening.

Koa`ekea is also looking for someone herself. She tells the master of ceremonies, Kalaeloa, that they should walk around together and when she sees the man she wants, she will give him a sign. As they approach our hero, he is standing with his mischievous friend. Since both men are handsome, Kalaeloa is not sure which one our beauty wants. He picks the wrong man. 

The metaphor used was that Kalaeloa had to “find another ship for this captain to man.”  When Kalaeloa selects the correct man, our hero, with the maile wand, Kalimahopu feels lucky she has chosen him. She in turn flings her arms around him and kisses him much to the delight of the watching crowd.

The author of the story then digresses to make a point.  He says, these were the things the ancestors did to multiply the race.  That is why the population was large until the time the Ka-haole-kaukau (white people) came.  In the times of wars many were killed and many were born.  But once the people were mostly monogamous, the race shriveled.  The story served as an illustration or explanation.

Once our beauty and hero become a couple, they had to decide where to go as dawn was on the horizon.  Being that our hero was from Kalaupapa, they go to her grandparents house close by along the road leading to Mo`omomi.  The grandparents welcomed them and began to prepare food.  When her grandmother saw the head lei of ohelo berries woven with red blossoms and green awikiwiki leaves, she remarked that her granddaughter must have been a favorite of the chiefs and is pleased.

What is interesting is how food was cooked.  Making a fire involved rubbing fire sticks and adding the sparks to wood with a few stones.  A chicken was cooked with stones in a closed gourd calabash with ananu, popolo, aheahea greens and a little water.  Poi was made from both sweet potato and pink taro poi from kaioea.  After eating the couple washed their hands and relaxed with full bellies.

While reflecting, our hero says that everything that happened the evening before went well and no one complained.  However, he is ashamed because he has no gift for her.   Our beauty answers that he has nothing to be ashamed about because he has not stolen from nor plundered the people.  They had simply to fulfill their desires in obedience to the voices of the chiefs of the land.

But, our hero has to go.  In our next episode, find out why.

A Princely Party

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

On a wind-swept Saturday morning, a few hundred Molokai residents gathered at Coconut Grove to celebrate one of their own. Although Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole never lived on Molokai, his presence as the first royal-born representative for Congress led to Hawaiian homeland settlements which still exist today. His birthday, March 26, is celebrated every year across the islands; here, March 27 celebrations were hosted by Ahupua`a o Molokai, the association representing Molokai homesteads. The always ono chicken lau lau, mac salad and mochi were available for the crowd, while a few Molokai bands entertained. Pili Pa`a, pictured below, sang many favorites.

A Royal Celebration

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

The year was 1921. Delegate to Congress for the Territory of Hawaii, and former heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole sat on the first Hawaiian Homestead Commission. Tired of seeing native Hawaiians struggle to adapt to Western living culture – where urban living ruled – Kuhio helped create the Hawaiian Homelands Act, giving back the ancient relationship Hawaiians share with their `aina.

The first few years of the program were to figure out how to make it successful – and the majority of the acreage released was on Molokai. This “case in point” divided up 23 lots of 25 acres each, and was called Kalaniana’ole Settlement after Kuhio – a name that still exists today in nearby Kalaniana’ole Road and Kalaniana’ole Hall.

The courageous challenge by Molokai settlers to farm on such “dry and almost barren wastes” was seen as a great success, and the homestead program continues to this day.

As Molokai gathers to celebrate the first native Hawaiian to serve Congress, and the only royal-born in Congress’ history, the day dedicated to him is full of Hawaiian, food, crafts and entertainment. A modern homestead association, Ahupua’a o Molokai, is hosting the Prince Kuhio Day celebration at Kiowea Park at Coconut Grove, Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.