Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 4, 1 April 2010 — LET THE OCEAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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LET THE OCEAN

! By Nara Cardenas

With the end of the school year in sight and summer fast approaching, the Hui Makua o Kawaiaha'o is gearing up for another E Mālama I Ke Kai. The annual oeean awarei ness festival benefits Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o, a I Hawaiian language-immersion preschool on the

grounds of Kawaiaha'o Church. This year marks the 12th annual E Mālama I Ke Kai, whieh promotes Native Hawaiian language and culture and the perpetuation of our oeean resources. Staff and parents of Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o started the "original" ocean-awareness festi-

I val as a natural way to give back to the community I through educational outreach while raising funds to j support the preschool. The school has always been i "pili i ke kai" - close to the oeean - many Kumu I have been surfers, divers and fishermen. At one i point the school's curriculum even included weekly I swimming lessons for the keiki. I E Mālama I Ke Kai is unique because it's "geared i See next page

E Mālama I Ke Kai ! Saturday, May 15 ! 9 a.m. eanoe race ! at Maunalua Bay ! 10 a.m. festivities ! at Kapi'olani Park ! Bandstand ! Free admission i ■ I emikkhoolaha@ ! gmail.com or | 536-7999

k nā hanana ™,s

! Halialaulani Crail-Naluai, a former student at Pūnana Leo o i Kawaiaha'o, surfs the waves during a elinie by Nā Kama Kai as part i of E Mālama I Ke Kai. - Photos: Courtesy ofE Mālama I Ke Kai

! Keiki learn how to shape a traditional wiliwili surfboard provided ! by Pohaku Stone.