Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2013 — WALKING IN THE VALLEY OF THE PRIESTS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WALKING IN THE VALLEY OF THE PRIESTS

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ew places on O'ahu ean match Waimea Valley's lush natural beauty, let alone its rich Hawaiian his- ■ tory and culture. Onee a popular North Shore adventure park, today Waimea Valley is less commercial and far more tranquil, drawing in visitors with world-class botanical gardens and glimpses at native and endangered birds, such as the Hawaiian moorhen, the 'alae'ula. Visitors no longer find all-terrain vehicles and diving shows within the gates, but are pointed instead to historical and cultural H attractions, such as the significant archaeological sites on the property that include a heiau, living areas, a burial site and agricultural HU terracing walls.

MO'OLELO NUI \ www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org C0VER FEATURE / NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

Ah Lan Diamond, cultural programs manager, stands near the hale mua, men's eating house, in the kauhale.

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"We feel like we're the only site on O'ahu that ean m| 10 'i offer that authentic cultural experience," says Waimea • , J ValleyExecutiveDirectorRichardPezzulo."Thiswas '*€ W a sacred valley. It still is and it was occupied by kāhuna nui." [ Infact, it's because of the kāhuna nui, or high priests, 23 HP that Waimea is known as "The Valley of the Priests." i Descendants of the kāhuna nui lived in the valley until K 1886. Numerous planned improvements to the valley include restoring the high priests' ancient living site. ££ "We have a eouple hale there now," Pezzulo notes. | Visitors ean walk up to the kauhale, thegroupofhouses Sl I that comprised a home, and see the types of dwellings the ancient Hawaiians lived in, with separate cooking and eating areas for the two genders. REFOCUS ON CULTURE, HISTORY The shift away from adventure theme park since j I 2002 has allowed the stewards to refocus on the most important elements of the sacred valley, with its unique natural resources and more than seven centuries of his- H tory. This has continued since the Office of Hawaiian 51 Affairs assumed ownership in a cooperative land purchase in 2006 and Hi'ipaka LLC was established to manage the property in 2008. Since Pezzulo took over as executive director just ■■ over a year ago, operations of the l,875-acre property have been overhauled to focus on a streamlined, guestoriented mission. The former chief operating officer and interim executive officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs made sure the staff was involved in the changes, assembling a team of managers to help develop a five-year strategic plan for Waimea Valley, one of OHA's first significant landholdings. "What this document has done is it's really made it very clear to staff what we're trying to do," Pezzulo says. "We're really focusing all our staff on the cultural i ^9 sites, the cultural relevance of this valley." ■ In addition, Pezzulo says, part of the valley's suc- jff cess is attributed to Hi'ipaka LLC managers "for their support for our new vision and plan." While visitors still flock to the famed Waihl water- | fall, Waimea Valley staff I members, beginning with SEE WAIMEA ON PAGE 26

Artisans and cultural practitioners

Since 2012, Waimea Valley has doubled the numberof artisans and cultural practitioners who share their craft and expertise with its visitors. In addition to earning wages, they have the opportunity to sell their creations, further supporting their livelihoods. Here is a list of the cultural practitioners and artisans, all of whom are on site at least twice a week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please eall (808) 638-7766 fortheirscheduled days.

Lynette Akana • Lomilomi (Healing Massage) Days vary Alika Bajo • Kalaipōhaku (Stone Carving) Mon. and Fri. Ruben Cambra • Mea Kaua (Weapons) and Makau (Fishhooks) Sun. and Mon. Kaupena Miranda • Launiu (Coconut Frond Weaving) Days vary

Clement Paishon • Kaha Ki'i (Drawing) and Pena Ki'i (Painting) Days vary Reni "A'ia'i" Bello • Mea Kapa (From Wauketo Kua) • 'Ohe Kāpala (Kapa Making/Dying Techniques) • Mea Hulu (Feather Work) Days vary

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Hawai'i-made goods are sold in the valley store, Kūono Waiwai.

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Upright stones found in the valley were put, in the 1 970s, in this plaee of prominence where they were thought to be significant.

I Severo Raimundo tends the site's largest taro exhibit. Raimundo, a gardener, | | has worked for more than four decades at Waimea Valley, where nearly one I ^ in three employees has 1 5 years or more.

Changes abound at Waimea Valley, where the shuttered Proud Peaeoek restaurant may onee again open its doors.

WAIMEA

Continued from page 19 a greeter at the entrance, try to ensure that eaeh guest leaves understanding the cultural and historical relevance of the valley. Cultural tours have increased from onee or twice a day to onee an hour, and visitors ean see demonstrations of Native Hawaiian arts and games throughout the valley. Ah Lan Diamond, cultural programs manager, points out, "There are places and cultural sites still on O'ahu that have that mana, that essence of our kūpuna, and they exist untouched." Diamond, a four-year employee, said Pezzulo's leadership and guidance has made a significant difference. "He definitely has the vision and has organized in a way to keep us focused. That's enabled us to holomua," says Diamond, referring to the ability to progress. "We did strategic planning and we stuck to it." Facilities manager Randy Hoopai, who has worked at Waimea Valley for 29 years and lives in the caretaker's residence, says things have definitely improved since Waimea Valley's days as an adventure park. "There's more serenity," he says. "It's more humhle. Things are being done more in the pono way." OPERATING IN THE BLACK The new vision appears to be working. In 2010 and 2011, the valley lost about $900,000 annually. In 2012, however, operations were sustainable, Pezzulo said. Heading into the busy summer months, the average visitor count was 767, close to the 2015 goal of 800 visitors a day. Part of the strategic plan calls for attracting more loeal residents to the site. "They should feel like they are part of this valley," says Pezzulo. The weekly Hale'iwa Farmer's Market helps accomplish that, as will a summer concert series that began in June. A large pavilion is available to rent for weddings and other events and, in time, the Proud Peaeoek restaurant, housed above the snack bar, may onee again be

serving meals. An advisory panel that includes respected North Shore kūpuna and other area experts helps keep new improvements on target. A loeal presence is felt throughout the gift shop and snack bar areas, whieh both feature Hawai'imade items. In the gift store, jams and dressings, serving bowls and hand towels, jewelry and soaps all have a loeal touch and work by Hawai'i-based authors, artists and crafters line the shelves. The snack bar menu has even more loeal flavor, offering salads made with Pūpūkea greens and

Hau'ula tomatoes, Waialua soda, Moloka'i beef, eggs from Wahiawā and sweet potatoes from Mililani. For dessert, organic sorbets eome in flavors like Haden mango, white sapote and mountain apple. The botanical gardens, home to 5,000 plants, are another big draw. Recognizing that, a new 5,000-square-foot greenhouse was recently erected and sprinkler upgrades are in the works. Some of the older garden beds will also be rehabilitated, Pezzulo says. Visitors ean wander through brilliantly-hued ginger gardens,

smell fragrant lei blossoms and see tropical

fruits and nuts, along with coffee beans and ti leaves. Canoe plants - those that the first Hawaiians brought with them to the Islands - like taro and sweet potato are also prominent. Several plant species on site are endangered, such as a Tahitian hanana tree that may no longer grow anywhere else. Botanists at Waimea Valley are trying to breathe new life into some of the endangered species, mirroring more large-scale efforts

to restore and protect what is believed to be 0'ahu's last intact ahupua'a. Since the city first eondemned and took ownership of the former adventure park property in 2002, there has been an emphasis on returning Waimea Valley to its former glory. Under Pezzulo's leadership, the improvements are evident throughout the property, as well as in the books. Last year, visitor counts were up 37,000 over 2011 and revenue grew, as well. In 2012, operations brought in $4.4 million, compared to $3.4 million in prior years. Meanwhile expenses were down slightly - $4.26 million compared to $4.28 million the year before. "We all believe that part of the reason for our success is we really are trying to respect the valley and

do what is right for the valley and as a result, I think the valley is mueh more welcoming. We really feel that its almost a force onto itself and that the ancestors are here," Pezzulo said. "If they don't feel that they want people here, it's not going to feel welcoming." ■

Treena Shapiro, afreelance writer, is aformer reporterfor the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser.

FINANCIAL MILESTQNE

Waimea Valley is in the blackforthe first time since 0HA acquired the property in 2006. 0wned and managed by Hi'ipaka LLC - a subsidiary of 0HA's Hi'ilei Aloha LLC - Waimea Valley is drawing more visitors and has refocused its efforts on promoting nature, culture and history. Executive Director Richard Pezzulo says its ability to generate revenue shows that land-based projects ean be self-sustaining. "We should be a model of (eeonomie) sustainability because of our mission — conservation and cultural preservation — and forthe first time we are economicallvsustainable. It's a good model moving forward."

Here are some recent highlights: EXPENSES VISITOR 9m9 COUNTS REVENUES 2012 2012 §4-23 niillion 247,277 $4.4 million 2011 20,, 201, $4-29 mi||ion 209,979 $3.4 million Aup 37,298, ▲ up $1 million, ▼ down $56,000, 18 percent increase 29 percent increase 1 percent decrease Soutce: Unaudited Hi'ipaka financial report

www.oha.org/kwo | kwo@OHA.org NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS

Executive Director Richard Pezzulo uses a eell phone to take a picture of a group of visitors.

A basket of small items catches the eye of a Kūono Waiwai shopper. Right, The snack bar menu showcases loeal flavors: from Pūpūkea greens to Moloka'i beef and eggs from Wahiawā.