Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 6, 1 Iune 1997 — Sailing canoes reflect culture and show need for viligance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Sailing canoes reflect culture and show need for viligance

When the full assembly had gathered ashore, the crews of the canoes were as bombastic as the renowned Alenuihāhā as they proclaimed their presence to us. Their voices first eame to us while they were still upon the sea, but the force of voices carried across the water is quite different from the roar of a block of crewmen but paces away. The wa'a kaulua, Hokule'a and Makali'i, had eome to rest at Kīholo. A single voice called from the land proclaiming the names of the anchorage, the elders of the welcoming family, and the beloved uplands above the lava plain. The visitors were welcomed with aloha. In tum, greetings and ho'okupu were

exchanged and the hospitality of Klholo, of family, and of supporters enveloped the crewmen and their captains. Sunset at Kiholo is always a weleome time and this time was no exception. We had taken the better part of the day to walk from our home Kukui'ohiwai in the uplands of Ka'ūpūlehu, to Klholo at the shore of Pu'uwa'awa'a. We walked the ala kahiko through the

dryland forest of the uplands, across the lava plains below, and finally through the pāpā lima behind the shoreline. Throughout the walk we had paced ourselves according to the progress of Hōkūle'a and Makali'i from Uluweuweu Bay at Kūki'o, across the waters off of Kalaemanō, and finally to their approach to Klholo. The dryland forest was spectular, the waiahe'e scent was rich, the leaves of the 'iliahi were turned light colored side against the sun, the red lehua were vivid contrast to the lava lands surrounding. Ola aku la ka 'āina kaha, ua pua ka lehua i kai.

Life has eome to the kaha lands for the lehua blooms are seen at sea. "Kaha lands" refers to Kekaha, Kona, Hawai'i. When the season for deep-sea fishing arrived, the canoes of the expert fishermen were seen coming and going. (#2478 'Ūlelo No'eau). Just like in the 'ōlelo no'eau, the lehua on land and sea were the stuff of my senses and imagination. The lehua, the waiahe'e, and the 'iliahi are remnants of the dryland forest whieh onee blanketed the lands of Ka'ūpūlehu and Pu'uwa'awa'a. The forest remnants eonūnue to be degraded by wild land fires, competition with noxious introduced plant species, and browsing by grazing animals. In recent years the koki'o, the uhiuhi, the 'aiea, and the kauila all species native to these ahupua'a, have been named to the Federal Register of Endangered Species. As realistically endangered as the plants are, so is the sight of Hawaiian sailing canoes upon Hawaiian oeean waters. This realization made the view of the canoes through the shade of lehua and 'ohi'a leaves all the

more poignant. But as our collective understanding is growing that eanoe programs are good for nā 'ōpio, for nā mākua, and for the eommunities whieh support them, so is our understanding that the wet, cloud, and dryland forests are part of our cultural landscape even as the shoreline and near shore waters are, and that these

landscapes are essential for our cultural practices. While we have become painfully aware of the machinations to legislate eultural expression and have participated in the vigorous debate surrounding these efforts and have been vigilant in our practice and our prayers at the Capitol District, it was a weleome opportunity to be walking our 'āina hānau for the purpose of greeting the wa'a kaulua with aloha. Mahalo nō iā 'oukou o nā wa'a kaulua 'o Hōkūle'a a me Makali'i. Mahalo nō iā 'oukou o ka 'āina aloha o Klholo. Mahalo nō.

TAe * kAulliA, WkuU^A ah4 MAkAllK<, AA4 to wt A t KlAolo.

Ka Wai Ola o OHA ' -

Trustee Messages OHA tfustees' ināwiāual views expre$sed do not neces$arily represent the offieial position of the Board of Trustee$. OHA is not responsible for accuracy of these commentaries. The trustees weleome comment. Write to Ka Wai Ola o OHA, 711 Kapi'olani Blvd. Suite 500, Honolulu 96813.

MahhaA 50 Trustee, Hawai'i Island