Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 7, 1 July 1994 — Our Readers Write [ARTICLE]

Our Readers Write

Native Peoples' Week Your readers are undoubtedly familiar with the various ethnical-ly-based holidays that are eelebrated across America every year. They include St. Patrick's Day (Irish parades and marathon races), Oktoberfest (German eultural celebrations), Black history month (February) and Kwanzaa (African-American Harvest Festival Dec. 26-Jan. 1). While the native peoples of Ameiiea do hold loeal or regional celebrations. there is no national holiday. I believe that the time has eome to rectify this situation. I therefore propose that we establish the week leading up to Nov. 23 (the day prior to Thanksgiving Day) as Native Peoples of America Week. It could also be celebrated (if one was so inclined) as an alternative to Thanksgiving Day, Thursday Nov. 24. While this would be a week of celebrations and parades, it should also be time of intertribal and cross-cultural education. Cross-cultural education

would certainly help to dispel those historical fictions that have been accepted as objective, distilled historical truths. As a regional conduit of information and influence, your publication is an important part of the larger picture. Your participation in getting the word out is crucial, if Native Peoples of America Week is to become a reality. David Brill Seattle, Washington Indian-Hawaiian learns about mana I recently retumed to my home in Canada after visiting O'ahu. I went to Hawai'i as a student, to learn about a portion of my mixed-blood heritage. I went to see and experience my Hawaiian heritage, that has only recently been awakened. It is hard to put those nine days in Hawai'i into words. Any attempt to plaee the experience into a few simple words would be impossible. My feelings would fit a book. Therefore I will share my

feelings about my one best experience. My heart burst at Pu'uomahuka heiau. Though I did not know the history of that holy plaee, I knew enough to listen. I knew to walk slowly. There, I felt the lava move. Its presence shoved me to the core. Pu'uomahuka heiau is where the heartbeat stops and plants take root. It is where tears eame from this man's bones. It is there, that I understood mana. Larry Bell Abbotsford, British Columbia PKO says Mahalo, OHA Aloha. I am writing on behalf of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana to express our appreciation and aloha for the support given to us in the return of Kaho'olawe. In particular, sponsorship of the healing ceremony in August 1992 was of special significance and importance. The Mua Ha'ikūpuna O Kahualele continues to be used for ceremonies on Kaho'olawe. In addition, there have been other

long term benefits from that healing ceremony. A desalinization unit was installed to provide irrigation for the coconut grove and other plantings in Hakioawa. When we went to the island to weleome the dawn of the new era, free of Navy control, we drank 40 gallons of sweet desalinated water. There is also a l,300-gal-lon water bladder to store the water and a 2,400-watt generator for the drip irrigation system for the regreening of Hakioawa. Other eamp improvement for the ceremonies continue to benefit the students, kūpuna and groups who have eome to the island during monthly access. There are five composting toilets, kitchen cooking utensils, pots, storage containers and Coleman lanterns. Again, mahalo for your ongoing support of Kaho'olawe, the newest addition to our ceded Hawaiian lands trust. And a speeial aloha to Trustee French DeSoto for her unwavering stand to protect the island as a

pu'uhonua. Davianna McGregor PKO O'ahu Access Coordinator