Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 2, 1 February 2016 — ʻAimalama [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAimalama

Ā 8olution Based on Ancestral Knowledge

By Hui 'Aimalama

aulana maMna is a traditional tool that our Hawaiian ances-

tors used to track changes .by recording

environmental observations such as migration patterns of animals, nesting or spawning cycles, and shifts in weather. Traditionally, this practice allowed

our ancestors, here in Hawai'i and throughout the Paeihe, to prepare and adapt to the changes they observed. The cycle of one year in the kaulana mahina lasted 12 malama (months) and sometimes 13 before starting again. Eaeh malama is based on the rising or setting of a particular star, whieh gave that malama its name. The names and order of the malama vary fromplace to plaee tMoughout the Hawaiian arcMpelago, but the names and order of the 30 pō mahina (moon phases) are generally

the same tMoughout Hawai'i. Kaulana maMna may not have been an everyday household tradition for many of us growing up, but we are in an auspicious time for the revitalization of tMs practice. Kaulana mahina is being taught and practiced in schools tMoughout our pae 'āina and utilized daily by commuMties and 'ohana. The growing interest in kaulana mahina even sparked a small group of kaulana maMna practitioners to organize a lunar symposium and conference to get a clearer picture of how kaulana maMna is being utilized today. In the coming months, tMs series will include observations recorded by kilo (observers) who continue tMs practice today in order to inspire the

rest of us to keep our eyes on the environment and understand our world, the changes occurring, and the methods we ean leam to adapt to those changes.

The 'Aimalama Lunar Conference was held in September 2015 at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. People from Hawai'i and throughout the Paeihe who are revitalizing lunar practices gathered to share their

methodologies. One of the many conference organizers, Kalei Nu'uhiwa shared her history with kaulana maMna and her research from her Kaulana Mahina MA Thesis. She encouraged everyone to begin making their own correlations between the pō mahina and malama in their own environments. Kalei also publishes an annual Kaulana Mahina calendar that is a great tool in supporting this revitalization. Another tool that was presented at the conference was the Moon Phase Project.

This project is an interactive, webbased observation platform that is run by a team of kaulana mahina practioners who share daily observations correlated with the pō mahina and malama. It is a wonderful platform for many people tMoughout Hawai'i and beyond to share their observations. The Moon Phase Project team also eollahorates with other loeal companies to produce moon phase journals (Kealopiko) and moon phase planners (Konohiki Honua). There are several tools andresources available wMeh play a large part in educating our commuMties about kaulana maMna. For more information, please go to www.aimalama.org. ■

y AIMALAMA v > LUNAR CALENDAR f

Kaulua (February 8th - March 8th, 2016) The ruling star for this lunar month is also called Kaulua. During this time the cold and warm weather vary. Quick storms with thunder and lightning have occurred. Lehua blossoms are seen on 'ōhi'a trees. Lehua (Antares) is anticipated to rise shortly after sunset soon. The soil is fertile and wet whieh is perfect for the planting season. The large cultivation and production of food began on this month too. Look for halalū aggregating in large bays.

Ka pō mahina 'o Hoku. - Photo: Kalei Nu'uhiwa