Culture & Art

A Return to Konohiki

Thursday, October 10th, 2013

Community-based proposal to manage Hawaii’s resources

Last month in Kalaupapa, the state-mandated Aha Moku Advisory Council presented a plan that could change the way natural resources are managed in Hawaii. The plan calls for a return to the konihiki system, in which those knowledgeable about the ways of the ocean set guidelines for marine food gathering using traditional Hawaiian methods.

“The Aha Moku is set up to look at evolving power back to the communities as far as resource management,” said Sen. Kalani English, who was among a handful of legislators who attended the Kalaupapa gathering. “How do we do that within state law… that’s what we’re figuring out.”…

Inspired and Fired

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

Inspired and Fired

Ceramic Show a Hoot

A lively mix of music, talk and laughter radiated from The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) last Saturday night as artists, art lovers, friends, and families gathered to celebrate the opening of MAC member Kathleen Mendes’ first solo exhibition of ceramic works entitled, “Inspired and Fired.” Live jazz music as well as hors d’oeuvres and a wine bar set the stage for the warm evening.

The exhibition, which features an array of ceramic techniques and subject matter, will run from Oct. 5 through the 18 at the He `ike Lihi Showroom, behind Coffees of Hawaii. Mendes’ work will also be available for purchase until the last day of the exhibition.…

Celebrating Kalo

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

Celebrating Kalo

In the ancient days of Hawaii, each of the islands’ estimated 500,000 people would eat one seven- to nine-pound kalo plant per day, according to Alton Arakaki, a Molokai extension agent with the University of Hawaii College Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR.) Ancient Hawaiians carefully selected more than 300 kalo varieties to ensure food security and successful growth in many environments. Today, only about 70 of those varieties still exist — and without vigilant cultivation, that number may dwindle.

Last weekend, Molokai residents got the opportunity to select among more than 50 kalo varieties to grow in their own gardens, helping to carry on a tradition that can yield health, cultural understanding and economic benefits.…

Aka`ula Art Show

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

Aka`ula Art Show

Friends, family, community, students and staff of Aka`ula School gathered last Friday evening to celebrate art as the sun set over Kalae`s cool hills. The annual event, held for the past seven years at the home of Bronwyn and Rikki Cooke, featured a lively display of student work as well as pieces donated by Aka`ula staff and board members and local artists — all on sale to support the school.

Dara Lukonen, teacher and head of school, said the show represents the work of about two dozen of the school’s 35 students in grades five through 12. This year’s theme was sand art, guided by art teacher Paul Riel.…

Channel Riders

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

Channel Riders

Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club’s Team Boomski wahine paddlers placed 10th out of 69 crews at the 35th annual Na Wahine O Ke Kai race last Sunday. Paddling 42 miles from Molokai to Oahu against top teams from around the world, the open women’s Molokai crew crossed one of the most difficult channels in the state in 6 hours 46 minutes 11 seconds. They met their goal of placing in the top 10, improving from last year when they finished 14th.

“The biggest struggle is trying not to hit the wall,” said Team Boomski paddler Teon Simmons. “You cheer on your teammates and you try to get into your Zen mode–whatever you got to do to get it done.”…

Defending the Departed

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

More than 20 years ago, the state approved the creation of island burial councils, to give Native Hawaiians a voice to protect their iwi kupuna, or ancestral remains, after plans to build a Maui Ritz Carlton at Honokahua had uprooted 1,100 unmarked graves.

“There is a connection between our [kupuna] and us. We’re not who we are without them.” said Opu`ulani Albino, a past Molokai burial council member. “You should never, ever have iwi [bones] in the sun. That’s the highest desecration you can do to iwi in our culture.”

Each island has a council made up of community members and land developers who decide whether remains found on a development site must be preserved in place or relocated.…

Inspired and Fired Art Show

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) will present an exhibition of new works by local artist Kathleen Mendes from Oct. 5-18 at the He `Ike Lihi Showroom. Called “Inspired and Fired by Kathleen Mendes,” the exhibit will feature ceramic pieces composed with a variety of techniques, including slab, coil, and wheel.

When Molokai’s master potter Dan Bennett opened his studio doors in 2007 to those eager to explore ceramics, Mendes had the opportunity to pick up a ball of clay and turn it into a useful object.  Since then she has been working with this medium, discovering all the exciting possibilities it holds for the artist. …

Local Filmmaker Receives Worldwide Support

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

Local Filmmaker Receives Worldwide Support

Last month, Molokai filmmaker Matt Yamashita set a lofty goal: he wanted to raise $22,000 to fund the completion of a new documentary he calls “the most exciting project I’ve worked on.” The film, called “Return to Halawa,” is about Halawa Valley and the life of Anakala Pilipo Solatorio, one of the last Hawaiians born, raised and still living in the east Molokai valley.

As of Sunday night, 150 backers from around the world had pledged $21,831 to the project on Kickstarter.com, a website that’s been coined the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Funding on Kickstarter is all or nothing — project creators set a goal amount and deadline, and if the goal isn’t reached, they don’t receive any of the money pledged by backers.…

Taro Variety Field Day 2013

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

UH CTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

Not too long ago, rice, pasta and bread were not a major part of our diet in Hawaii.  Instead, taro, or kalo, was the main source of food that provided dietary carbohydrate for Native Hawaiians.  They produced kalo on all the islands and on as many as 50,000 acres of the best upper and river valley lands in order to maintain the health of the population of 500,000 or more.  In order to improve their food security, Native Hawaiian developed more than 300 varieties of taro.

Today only about 70 of the varieties are left. …

Hawaii Orchids Today

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

Hawaii Orchids Today

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH County Extension Agent

Dendrobium orchids are a major export crop for Hawaii, and are broken into two segments, cut flowers and potted plants. Potted plant production is fairly new, and focuses on compact plants with short sprays facilitating ease of shipping.

The Hawaii dendrobium cut flower industry is based on one dendrobium cultivar, Dendrobium Jaquelyn Thomas, a primary cross of two species, Dendrobium phalaenopsis and Dendrobium gouldii. Together, the best qualities of both parents emerge in an intermediate-sized flower with a shelf life exceeding four to six weeks. This cultivar’s flower color can be found in white, pink, blush, two-tone, and purple.…