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Culture & Art

The Kalaupapa Canoe Project Takes Shape

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

The Kalaupapa Canoe Project Takes Shape

Community Contributed
By Michael Neubauer

Just about any given day around 5 p.m. or so, you can catch Michael Neubauer and Kevin Gavagan working hard to restore an old Hawaiian canoe at Kihei Canoe Club.  The boat, which was donated to The Earth Trot Project, a Maui-based nonprofit organization, is being repaired for a journey that will take it from Maui to the secluded peninsula of Kalaupapa, Molokai.

Michael, Kevin and other volunteers have been working hard to revive the old outrigger, named Kamali`i.  Sanding down the hull, reshaping the nose and gunnels, filling pukas and reinforcing some of the weathered parts of the boat have made for a long process for the volunteers from The Earth Trot Project.  When finished, they’re planning to paddle Kamali`i over to Kalaupapa in October.  Once there, the canoe will be given to the people of the settlement as a significant Hawaiian cultural gift.

“We’re trying to do what is pono,” Michael said.  “Kalaupapa is one of the most significant places in Hawaiian culture. It’s really a paradox in a sense.  You’ve got one of the most beautiful and pristine places on Earth, and yet a great overwhelming somberness hangs in the air.  In many ways the peninsula still feels like a prison.”

Residents and workers in the area agree.  This past spring heavy rains eroded the pali trail leading down to Kalaupapa and traversing it has become increasingly difficult.  If that wasn’t bad enough, passenger airlines flying into the settlement raised their rates to over $250 for the ten minute flight to topside Molokai.

“The gift of the wa`a is one we hope helps to rejuvenate a bit of Hawaiian culture that has been lost in Kalaupapa.  Right now the area doesn’t have a canoe, and to a voyaging people like the Hawaiians, that’s just not right,” Michael said. “Whether it’s used recreationally, for sport, or not at all, we feel the people of Kalaupapa are entitled to have that symbol of Hawaiian culture on their land.”

For more information, or to follow this project, please visit EarthTrot.org.

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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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Common Threads

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Common Threads

By Catherine Cluett, Special to the Dispatch

There’s a lot that small islands in the Pacific Ocean have in common. But Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, and Molokai have some personal ties. Molokai’s Brigid Mulloy is the daughter of William Mulloy, the archeologist who restored the well-known statues in Rapa Nui known as Ahu Akivi in 1960. The seven statues of Ahu Akivi comprise the first ceremonial site ever restored on Rapa Nui.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of their restoration, and Brigid Mulloy and her family are traveling to the South Pacific island to celebrate the historic event. They are bringing with them another piece of Molokai – T-shirts to commemorate the event printed right here on Molokai.

Molokai artists Ann Van Eps and Steve Legare purchased a printing press from Bamboo Pantry after the store closed several months ago. Since then, they have been printing shirts on Molokai for sale and various events by special order. The Ahu Akivi anniversary shirts feature a historic photo of the restoration, printed smoothly on silky polyester shirts. Mulloy said she will take 100 of the shirts to Rapa Nui for the celebration, and more will be printed afterward to share on Molokai.

The printing machine, known as a heat press, uses a technology that permanently bonds ink to the fabric. It’s a labor-intensive process, explained Legare – one shirt at a time. First, the image must be digitized. Then, the design is printed onto transfer paper. The transfer process of the ink onto specialized polyester fabric occurs at a temperature of 400 degrees as the ink vaporizes and adheres to the polyester.

Mulloy said she will take 100 of the shirts to Rapa Nui for the celebration, then more will be printed afterward to share on Molokai. Mulloy and her family will travel to Rapa Nui for the month of October. She said several events to honor her father’s work will take place during that time.

October 12, 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the blessing of the completed restoration. The main event will be a celebration at the site will take place that day, attended by public officials, community members and family members of those who worked on the restoration. The population of Rapa Nui is about 6,000 people, and Mulloy said she expects many to attend the celebration.

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Long Live Art on Molokai

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Long Live Art on Molokai

Known for its close community of musicians and artists, Molokai inspires with its rich culture, history, and natural beauty. Recently a group of artists, including Molokai keiki, had a chance to share their own inspiration translated into art. 

The piece is comprised of several art mediums hewn together. Several kapa-patterned batik screens as wide as 12 feet hang from overhead. Below, on the floor, copper kalo leaves stretch skyward from their metal stalks. Bamboo, rock, and other natural materials compliment the organic vibe of the piece.



Over a year ago, the Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA) decided to give the state’s 13 community health centers the opportunity to heal their patrons with more than medicine. They sent out applications for grant money to create wellness art projects, and the MCHC hopped on board.

“We liked the idea of trying to use indigenous art in a healing or therapeutic kind of way,” said Cyrus Siu, MCHC’s chief financial officer. Molokai received $19,000 for supplies, shipping, and artist stipends – money secured by Sen. Dan Inouye.

While the art piece made its debut at the MCHC groundbreaking, it later displayed at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Molokai and two other community health center’s projects were featured in an exhibition called “Maoli Arts in Real Time.”

Siu added that once the health center completes its renovations of the old Pau Hana Inn, a permanent exhibit space will be planned for the Healing Project and other community art.

“The more people, the more ideas, the more mana`o you get, the more people it’s going to touch,” Tangonan said.

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Molokai Halau Victorious

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Molokai Halau Victorious

Community Contributed

By Kim Markham

Raymond Hiro and his band pulled a fast one on some unsuspecting old folks on the morning of Thursday, September 16, 2010. The kupuna were the senior members of Kumu Raquel Dudoit’s halau "Na Kupuna o Moana." At 7 a.m., they were up early for their final rehearsals before the 28th annual Kona Kupuna Hula Contest being held at the Keauhou Sheraton Convention Center.   Molokai’s hula dancers, who are all over age 55, have been practicing their Mixed (Men and Women) Division hula to the tune of “Hilo E” for almost one year. It is a challenging hula because the dancers must spin around and around while changing formations and beating bamboo pu`ili sticks. When Raymond and the musicians started to play their guitars, ukuleles and bass, they double-timed the music. They strummed so fast that the poor old hula dancers tripped over their own feet trying to keep up with the music. After collapsing in laughter and catching their breaths, the band and halau rehearsed the song one final time at a reasonable rhythm.

With over 26 halau presenting hulas in various divisions, it was a very long day for Molokai’s senior citizens who were scheduled for the last performance of the evening. In fact, the audience and judges seemed a little sleepy by the time Molokai was finally called to stage.  Once again Raymond and the band pitched a fast and jazzy version of Hilo E.  Not surprised this time, Na Kupuna o Moana came out strong, whirling and twirling their ti leaf skirts and executing precise moves. The audience woke up quickly and many in the audience jumped to their feet clapping in time with the music. With huge smiles, our Molokai dancers thrilled over 1,000 spectators who gave a standing ovation before the dance was even finished.

After five judges tallied their scores based on the dancers’ movements, appearances, costumes, flowers, and expressions, the decisions were announced. Molokai’s Men took third place for their performance of Kaulana Molokai. Molokai’s Men and Women Combined won first place for Hilo E. Na Kupuna o Moana wish to thank everyone who made the exciting trip to Kona possible by purchasing pizza tickets, candy, plants, baked goods, soup and lucky number tickets from halau members throughout the past year of fundraising.  Na Kupuna also wish to thank their beloved kumu Aunty Moana and Aunty Raquel who spend so many hours teaching beautiful hula to keep their students young and smiling, no matter how old they are!

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Tax Relief Workshop for Native Hawaiian Organizations

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Honua Consulting News Release

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is sponsoring free workshops for small Native Hawaiian serving organizations, to help them come into compliance with tax requirements by the Oct. 15 deadline.

A network of Hawaiian organizations and businesses have banded together to help small Native Hawaiian organizations maintain their tax exemption status. The IRS recently announced that October 15, 2010 will be the final day for small charities to take advantage of a one-time tax relief program before losing their tax exemption status.   

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