Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 6, 1 Iune 2014 — Journey to Pihemanu [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Journey to Pihemanu

By Aliee Malepeai Silbanuz As the sun rises on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a land of rich biodiversity and history is revealed. On a recent trip to Midway Atoll a team of haku mele (composers of song and chant) consisting of Snowbird Bento, Cody Pueo Pata, Kainani Kahaunaele, Keoni Kuoha and Mehanaokalā Hind created songs and chants about the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Nahonal Monument and discovered for themselves what makes it such a special plaee. "We were together in the airport, we knew that we were going to land in a new plaee and that our goal was to create mele (compositions), and I think everyone looked around the circle and was like, OK, well first off we need a kāhea (entry chant) in order to introduce ourselves and to properly enter that space," said Keoni Kuoha, Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian program coordinator. In less than five hours, the oli kāhea (entry chant) was composed, practiced and performed upon arriving at the Henderson Airfield in the dark of night. In addition to the oli kāhea and oli pane (reception chant), the haku mele, who eall themselves the Nu'a Manu Traditional Communications Team, created a more contemporary mele. Experiences from the next three days were woven into this mele that tells of mōll, sunrise, planting kāwelu (huneh grass) and koali (morning glory) on Midway Atoll. On Midway Atoll, the mōll, or Laysan albatross, far outnumber the 30 residents of the SEE PIHEMANU ON PAGE 19

From front, Mehana Hind, Keoni Kuoha, Kanani Medeiros and Cody Pueo Pala waleh the sunrise on Pihemanu (Midway Aloll) . - Photo: Aliee Silbanuz

PIHEMANU

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island. Between October and January, over 1 million mōll take over the island. With - every eouple steps you take,

you encounter the magnificent birds. They are a major element of the landscape and are protected on Midway. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs works with the National Oeeanie and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources to co-manage Papahānaumokuākea. Theirkuleana (responsibility and honor) includes caring for the natural, cultural and historic resources in all of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. "Co-management also means supporting access by Native Hawaiian groups and our community members to not only reconnect to the plaee, but perpetuate practices that are appropriate to the plaee," said Keola Lindsey, OHA Papahānaumokuākea manager. Traditional forms of storytelling such as song help people connect to the remote 'āina (lands or plaee) and build understanding and appreciation for the land and its resources for this generation and the next. "One thing that we want people to realize is that we are still there. That Hawai'i still has inhuenee, ka po'e kānaka Hawai'i (Native Hawaiian people) still has inhuenee in that plaee," said Cody Pueo Pata, haku mele and kumu hula. "We want Midway to know, whatever it's called . . . 'Kuaihelani' or 'Pihemanu,' we want it to know that we still think about it, ... that it still holds a cherished spot in our hearts and that we consider it part of us." Keep an eye out for the future release of the Nu'a Manu mele, the story of an epie journey to Midway Atoll. ■