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Culture & Art

Remember Your Roots

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Remember Your Roots

Community Contributed
By Brandon Roberts

Their laughs rolled from the soul and the valley echoed back – it knows this mele, familiar and not forgotten. Energy, ever out. No body could hold such joy. Eyes bright with life. Brighter than any candle on a 70th birthday cake.

Ramona Kuulei Mililani Solatorio's la hanau united sister and older (but only by a year) brother Pilipo Kamaki with roots planted deep in the `aina. The siblings celebrated in their birthplace, Halawa, a valley they both chose to leave as young adults, but have since returned to malama as kupuna.

One took to the seas aboard Naval tankers and traveled the world, throwing palu with the ship's swagger as a sea-sick sailor. He enlisted at the age of 16 as a ticket to see the world's wonders.

The other slipped eight-wheels underfoot – bruising and battering her way to the top, the first Hawaiian professional roller derby wahine. A frame of five-feet and a hundred pounds to match, she rounded the rink and I know that laugh reverberated with the raucous crowd as it did from the Halawa mauka.

Ramona remained until 1963 when she said "a hui hou" to Halawa and went to California to live with Pilipo and his new wife, Dianna.

Keiki o ka `aina, they were adopted to Rose Aukai and Elino Solatorio after the death of their mother, Helen Lahapa Kawaa in 1943.

Their life in the lo`i was difficult. It was respect, strength, tradition and culture. These qualities have accompanied them through their journeys and now 50 years later stand side-by-side sharing laughs and tears about those early years.

Ramona now calls Las Vegas home but makes a yearly return to Molokai Nui a Hina and energizes her ohana with contagious vivacity.

Pilipo and Dianna live in Halawa and with the help of ohana, haumana and volunteers are restoring generational lo`i on kuleana lands.

Whether konking the competition in Portugee horseshoes or making o`opu at the bridge with bamboo and worms, these siblings carry a glow that attracts all, determination that will run you over and mana that twinkles in their eyes.

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Bon-a-Fide Good Time

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Bon-a-Fide Good Time

Elaborate kimonos mingled with T-shirts and slippers, paper lanterns lit the dusk sky and Taiko drumming filled Kaunakakai last Saturday evening as the Guzeiji Soto Mission held its annual Obon festival, a religious and cultural event that honors the dead.

Members of the temple, joined by the community, circled the stage for the traditional Bon dance.

“It’s symbolic of dancing with your ancestors,” said Rev. Shuji Komagata, who came from Soto Mission Aiea on Oahu for Saturday’s festival. “It’s a reunion.”

The celebration began in the morning with a prayer service at Kapa`akea Cemetery, followed by a service at the temple to honor those who have passed away in the last year.

The Obon festival had been held at Mitchell Pauole Center for over 20 years, but this year organizers moved it to its original site, the temple grounds on Hotel Lane, allowing the evening’s service to flow into the performance.

“We just thought it would be really nice to bring it back to its original place,” said volunteer Koki Foster.

Komagata called the festival a time for “everybody, even if they’re a different religion, to take a moment and remember the ones who have passed on.”

Over the stage hung a line with slips of paper on which people wrote the names of loved ones who had passed away. At the end of the night, the slips were burned, symbolically releasing the spirits.

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Hokule`a: A Dream Come True

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Hokule`a: A Dream Come True

Community Contributed

By Matt Yamashita

There are some images from growing up that are forever imprinted in my mind.  One of them is the sailing canoe, Hokule`a.  A symbol for the Hawaiian cultural renaissance that began in the 1970s, this iconic wa`a kaulua, or double hulled sailing canoe, was often the topic of classroom discussions and local TV news during my childhood.  I remember names like Mau, Nainoa, Eddie, Herb Kane, and Buffalo.  All the crewmembers were legends.  And Hokule`a, so celebrated as she sailed across the Pacific, was something almost beyond legend.

In my early years I would not have thought that I too would one day help unfurl her sails and steady her steering blade as she raced across the swells by day and night.  But the possibility stood in my mind as a dream.  This is why, many years later, when the invitation came to join Hokule`a on a trip from Kaunakakai to Kawaihae, I could not say no.

We left early Monday morning the second week of August.  We had 14 crewmembers, six were from Molokai.  Our kapena was Molokai’s own sailing legend, Uncle Mel Paoa.  The winds kicked up early and we opened sails just outside Kawela.  Many of us had never opened a sail in our lives.  When the sheet lines were attached and drawn tight and Hokule`a picked herself up and began cutting through the oncoming swells, it was pure exhilaration.

She was fast and smooth and when we hit the whipping winds and rolling swells of the Alenuihaha she showed us just how steady she was.  She held course in the headwinds, outran our escort boat, and seemed to come alive under the starry night sky. 

I remembered once being corrected for having referred to Hokule`a as “the Hokule`a,” for implying that she was an object.  I understand why now.  Hokule`a is not simply a canoe, she is alive and her spirit is strong.  As Uncle Maka would explain to me during our journey, when we are on the ocean, Hokule`a is our mother.

If  Hokule`a was our mother, then I travelled with great brothers and sisters on that trip.  My Hokule`a experience was most special because of those who travelled with me.  There were some unforgettable moments…  Keoki wrestling the bronco line in his malo; Kawika and Mahinahou holding course on the bouncing steering sweep across the Alenuihaha; my best friend Josh and I steering Hokule`a into Kawaihae as shooting stars filled the early morning sky. 

While our 24-hour trip was far short of a voyage to Tahiti, for me, it was a voyage of a lifetime.  Hokule`a continues to change lives and she has reminded me that dreams come true.  She has also taught me that the images of our childhood become reality, so let us work hard to inspire our youth by giving them their own dreams to pursue.

I want to express deep gratitude to all who accompanied me on this journey, and to my wife and children who supported me in going.  Mahalo to Uncle Mel and Uncle Maka for sharing your wisdom.  Also, a deep thanks to the many, many individuals and families, from the legendary to the unknown, that have kept the dream of Hokule`a alive.  And to you, Hokule`a, for sharing your mana. I am humbled, honored and grateful.

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An Earthy Tribute

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

An Earthy Tribute

and I said, ‘I love dirt!’” she said.

She began her earthy endeavors with a series of magnets. Tice stained small pieces of wood with dirt and painted scenes of the island on pieces of watercolor paper. The magnets are also on sale at Kalele Bookstore. Owner Teri Waros said they are selling “like hotcakes.”

Waros said Tice’s work has attracted a lot of attention from customers.

“People think it’s actually a photograph,” she said of the sugar mill painting. “They just can’t believe it.”

Tice said she plans to continue the series, making art out of the island – literally.

“This place is so ancient and spiritual,” she said. “When I’m using that dirt, it’s a part of Molokai.”

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Lights, Camera, Aloha!

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Lights, Camera, Aloha!

As the sun went down on Saturday, the lights went up on the silver screen at the seventh annual Molokai Film Festival.

Nearly 200 people came out for the festival at Hotel Molokai, organized by MauiFEST Hawaii. It hosts a similar event on Lanai, and organizers said they are meant to bring movie- watching to communities without access to theaters.

“It’s a great way to bring high quality entertainment, fun and aloha,” said Ken Martinez Burgmaier, a filmmaker with MauiFEST Hawaii.

In years past, Molokai filmmakers were featured at the lineup, but this year none submitted films. The Friendly Isle was not missing from the screen, however, as Burgmaier premiered two films on Saturday festival that were filmed on Molokai – “Journey to Kalaupapa” and “Massacre at Kaupoa Beach,” which showed community reaction to the destruction of a cultural site.

The festival is not just about the films. During the day, musicians and cultural performers entertained the crowd. Brother Noland – who preformed with his brother Tony C for the first time in nearly 15 years -- had the crowd Hi! Hello!-ing along.

Calvin Hoe held a workshop on making and playing the nose flute. He later preformed with instruments made on-site and gave a few away to lucky keiki and visitors.

“It’s important to keep the form of story telling alive,” Hoe said. “Ingenious people need access to tell our stories.”

In previous years the festival was held at the ballpark in Kaunakakai and Coffees of Hawaii. Organizers said they were excited about the move to Hotel Molokai.
   
“We’ve wanted to have it here before – it’s so intimate, and the stage is all set up for live music,” Dave Lower said.

MauiFEST will be in Lanai City next weekend and moves to Hana in October.  

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Honoring Hokule`a Master

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Honoring Hokule`a Master

A 12-member crew from Hawaii and abroad is sailing to all the islands during August and September to honor one of its own – Mau Piailug.

Piailug began working with the Polynesian Voyaging Society in 1975, after years of learning navigation in his native Micronesia. He navigated the double-hulled canoe, Hokule`a, in its maiden voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976. The crew is currently sailing the original Hokule`a on its honor voyage.

Known as a master navigator and mentor of many by bringing back traditional Polynesian sailing techniques, it was sad news when he passed away on July 12, 2010, at age 78.

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OHA Asks for Mana`o

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Office of Hawaiian Affairs News Release

Native Hawaiians on Molokai will have an opportunity to meet with the administration of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) at an upcoming community meeting. This will be a chance for residents to share their mana`o with the agency and learn about OHA’s involvement in their community. The public is invited to attend. The OHA meetings on Molokai will be held on:

There will be a community meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Kulana `Oiwi Halau in Kalama`ula.

There will also be an OHA Board of Trustees Meeting Thursday, Aug. 19, at 9 a.m.

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New book challenges U.S. right to Hawaiian Islands

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

Reader Contributed

By Keahi Felix

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No Pest Zone

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

For years, the Molokai branch of the Maui Invasive Species Committee, otherwise known as MoMISC, has battled stubborn invasive species with science and technology. But when science just isn’t enough, Molokai’s environmental crusaders have begun using cultural might.

The eco-crew recently headed to privately owned forest acreage to expunge the area of albizia, a large and fast-growing tree that has begun dominating other island’s lowland forests. Before beginning removal of the pest, they sought the advice of the cultural caretaker of the site.

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Praising In The Heart Of Town

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Praising In The Heart Of Town

Community Contributed

By Randy Manley

The moon was aglow and the cool breezes were blowing as hundreds of people gathered at the Kaunakakai Ball Field for the first ever Molokai Summer Praise Concert last Friday evening. The free concert featuring various musical groups from around the island was sponsored by eight Molokai churches as a way of sharing the ministry of music with the island community.

Concert goers filled bleacher seats, reclined on blankets spread on the field, and sat at picnic tables enjoying a mixture of musical styles which included contemporary praise, choir, reggae, and gospel.

While the adults listened to the tunes, the keiki had the opportunity to participate in various games and activities that were designed to keep them entertained and occupied throughout the night.

As the musical smorgasbord was being served from the stage those looking for physical food needed only to follow their noses to the large food tent where musabee, chili and rice, and fresh malasadas were available free of charge.

Adding a special touch to the event was Dawn O’Brien master of ceremonies for the evening. O’Brien, the morning DJ for Christian radio station 95.5 The Fish, entertained the crowd with her quick wit and stories of growing up in the islands as she helped transition between performances.

If you missed the opportunity to attend be assured that the organizers of this event plan to make this an annual affair.

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