Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1987 — Miloliʻi Hosts Kupuna Workshop [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
Miloliʻi Hosts Kupuna Workshop
By Ruby McDonald West Hawaii Community Resource Specialist
Hawaii kupuna from Waimea to Ho'okena attended a recent Hawaii District Department of Education inservice workshop at Miloli'i, South Kona. It was held under a halau dedicated to the crew of the Polynesian Voyaging Society's Hokule'a whieh this year ends
its Voyage of Rediscovery. It was conducted by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Community Kupuna Coordinator Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins who was assisted by Pearl Ulunuiokamamalu Garmon and Mailekamaialaupalaokekuahiwiokapiko'omaunaloa Vargo of the Waimea and Hilo districts, respectively. They spoke on Ho'olako 1987 and its basic concepts, wielding a mood of emotion brought on by the setting and ambience of the area. In the spirit of Ho'olako, Kupuna Garmon's fourth graders are collecting aluminum cans and donating the proceeds to the Polynesian Voyaging Society as their way of expressing mahalo to the crew of the Hokule'a.
"We are enriched by things you have done; this is our way of giving back," the fourth graders declared. "Ho'olako may seem like a new word to many people but in Miloli'i it is used often by the people on a daily basis," stated Kupuna Mona Kahele. She also pointed out that even their boats carry that name. It was learned that Miloli'i resident Raymond Kuahu'ia has had three boats named "Ho'olako." As related to fishing in the village, it means to "bring in." OHA Trustee and Ho'olako President Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui also recently was guest speaker at the evening lecture series of the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. He spoke on how Ho'olako started and the celebration itself. While in Kona, he also spoke to the employees of the Hotel King Kamehameha during its monthly program celebrating Ho'olako. It was coordinated by Moana Ching.
Blossom Sapp of the National Park Service presents kapu stick to Office of Hawaiian Affairs T rustee and Ho'olako President Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui Sr. from the staff of Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park.