Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 10, 1 October 2001 — Innovative educational program leaves lasting impression on student [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Innovative educational program leaves lasting impression on student

By Miki'ala Ayau

In 1987, the very first class of Hana Kūpono began, a program designed to encourage 7th graders to do research and create a literary pieee at the end of the year, that would be published in an anthology. Moloka'i High and Intermediate School was selected for the project, and Moke Kim, the Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies teacher was given the honor and privilege of being the kumu. Kumu Kim made sure we ūsed all of our senses to learn,

not just reading about people and places (our kupuna and wahi pana) but encouraging us to 'ikemaka, and see for ourselves. Onee, during a marine life project, we crossed Pailolo ehannel by boat sharing with eaeh

other our family shark encounter stories. We drove across to Kahului, pointing out places like Olowalu where shark sightings are eommon. Then we got on a plane to Kona, and took a submarine dive to study sharks with a marine biologist. Back home Kumu told me to ask grandma what we saw today. Before I could even say anything, grandma began to tell me about Kamohoali'i, Nanaue and Kauhuhu, my shark ancestors, and my identity unfolded before me. We studied Mo'omomi and went holoholo with the old timers, learning to dive, lay net, to eook fish, and use every single part without wasting. We learned kuleana, taking care of equipment, ourselves, eaeh other, the beach, and always taking fish to kupuna and 'ohana in the area. The best part was we always drove away with watermelon, piekled mango, tomatoes, daikon, anykine fruits and vegetables. Then Kumu would show us twenty different ways to prepare them. No such thing as wasting. We studied the oeean, wind, waves, tides, and all along the way, Kumu's fatherly wisdom drew parallels between currents and life's journeys. He gave us survival skills,

not just those we use to sustain our bodies but those we use to sustain our spirit, and sustain our families and communities. 1 remember our first trip to Pelekunu valley, where my grandmother was born and raised. I was breathless before majestic Oloku'i mountain and Kahiwa waterfall. In Pelekunu we worked, packing up trash others left behind or washed up on shore. Then, the real work began. An unele took us hunting and we eame back with a

pig, a deer and a goat. We threw net, and brought back moi. We found some kalo, 'ulu, watercress, mountain apple, prawns, hīhīwai, 'o'opu, 'opihi, pa'akai and made 'inamona. Then we built an imu and a smoke house and cooked and

cooked. When our feast was ready, laulau, kālua pig and smoked deer meat waiting in the air, we were drooling and Papa Kim said, "Okay, paek it up, we going Aunty Joyce's." Now, Joyce Kainoa lives on the next point, in an area where there are only two ways in, by boat or hunting trail ... and we didn't have a boat. Ever tried to haul a five gallon bucket of laulau over a steep mountain on a muddy trail with a watermelon in your haekpaek? I didn't think so, and boy, it wasn't pretty. But I made it. And Aunty Joyce was so happy to see us and the feast we brought. She shared with us her home, her mo'olelo, telling us of how she brought her family back to be raised and how lucky we were to have this plaee as our legacy from our ancestors. Yes, we are all indeed blessed. Celebrating 14 years, Hana Kūpono continues to thrive, we invite you to eome visit us in Ho'olehua and 'ikemaka for yourself.

KWO's monthly eāueaūon eolumn is coordinated by Dr. David Sing, director, Nā Pua No'eau. ■

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Moloka'i's northern coastline looking east to west. oha photo

Ayau