Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 Mei 2008 — E Mālama i ke Kai [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

E Mālama i ke Kai

By Sterling Wūng Now in its 1 Oth year, the E Mālama i ke Kai Oeean Awareness Festival eontinues to expand, as its organizers pursue new and fun ways to connect Hawai'i's residents, particularly keiki, with the oeean and Hawaiian culture. This year's festival, whieh is scheduled for May 17 at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, will be packed with a wide assortment of activities ranging from live performances by

some of the best in island music, including Natural Vibrations, to keiki rides and games, to a swim and surf elinie taught by professional surfers and lifeguards. Every year, the parent group of Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o preschool organizes the festival, with kōkua from the coimnunity. Chevron is onee again the title sponsor for the festival. The event aims to educate the eommunity about the need to protect and conserve Hawai'i's fragile oeean resources. The festival marks the culmination of the yearlong E Mālama i ke Kai Campaign, whieh included a paddling race, and eleanup days at One'ula Beach and He'eia Fishpond. "With this event and the entire E Mālama i ke Kai campaign, we're trying to remind people that it's our kuleana to take care of the oeean so our keiki and future generations ean eonhnue to enjoy it,"

said Brandon Wong, president of Hui Mākua o Kawaiaha'o. "At the same time, we want to let people know that caring for the oeean ean be a lot of fun, and something you ean do with your 'ohana." Proceeds from the festival benefit Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o, one of eleven 'Aha Pūnana Leo preschools in the state. Located on the grounds of the historic Kawaiaha'o Church in Honolulu, the preschool opened its doors in 1995. As a Hawaiian language iimnersion preschool dedicated to preserving the native language of Hawai'i, Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o preschool's entire curriculum is conducted in Hawaiian, and the school currently serves 16 students. As always, one of the highlights of the event will be the hve perfonnances at the bandstand. This year's perfonners include: Natural Vibrations, Kāwika Trask, Kupaoa, Nā 'Iwa'iwa, 'Ai Pōhaku, Nā Pua Lei o Liko Lehua and the keiki and kumu of Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o. In addition, the festival is

unveiling a new activity this year: a surf and swim elinie organized by professional longboard surfer and Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o parent Duane Desoto and his nonprofit group Nā Kama Kai. The elinie will be run by loeal surfers Bonga Perkins, Desire DeSoto, Kainoa McGee, Iohnny Boy Gomes, Kekoa Uemura, Ned Snow, Bobby and Tiare Freidman, Kamu Auwae, Robin Johnston and Tom Pōhaku Stone. The elinie will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaimana Beach. Eaeh session will run about one hour, and pre-regis-

tration through emalamaikekai.org is reconunended, as limited sameday registrations will be taken. The festival will also feature

children's games and free access to inflatable keiki rides, oeean

conservation exhib-

its, crafts, food, a silent auehon, Hawaiian cultural presentations and a mo'olelo, or talk story, session about the WaikM area. This event was made possible by the generous contributions of the following sponsors: Chevron, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, Mobi PCS and First Hawaiian Bank. Editor's note: Sterling Wong is a former publications editor of Ka Wai Ola o OHA and a proud parent of a Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o student. I

E Mālama i ke Kai Oeean Awareness Festival May 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Kapi'olani Park Bandstand For information, eall 536-7999 or visit emalamaikekai.org

NĀ HANANA - EVENTS

Pop/ rock/reggae band Natural Vibrations stirs it up for oeean awareness on May 17 at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand. - Pholo: Courtesy ofHatural Vibrations

Mālama i ke kai in action. - Photo: Sterling Wong