Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2017 — Meahilahila Kelling: Community Educator [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Meahilahila Kelling: Community Educator

POKENŪHOU V NEWS BRIEFS "

Dr. Meahilahila Kelling received Kamehameha Schools 2017 Native Hawaiian Community Educator of the Year award in October in recognition of her work engaging learners in Hawaiian culture and language. Kelling is the director of Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School, a K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school. The mother of three found her calling while volunteering with preschoolers at Pūnana Leo o Kawaiaha'o to fulfill her Hawaiian language requirement while attending the University of Hawai'i. "At that moment, I was eommitted. I realized the power of education and especially the significant impact that Hawaiian language and culture have on the total well-being of families and communities," Kelling said. Her own educational journey earned her Doctor of Education certification from the University of Southern California. "I would weleome and encourage anyone considering Hawaiian culture-based education as a career with this 'olelo noeau: 'E lauhoe mai nā wa'a; i ke kā, i ka hoe, i ka hoe, i ke kā; pae aku i ka 'āina,' whieh translates as 'Everybody paddle the canoes together, bail and paddle, paddle and bail and the shore is reached,"' Kelling said. "It takes everyone to paddle in unison to get to our destination and when we arrive, there are always other places to go." "Dr. Kelling has devoted countless hours to the Hawaiian Focused Charter Schools (HFCS) and Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Surrounding Environment Schools), and her dedication to the educational well-being of all Native Hawaiian learners exemplifies leadership in Hawaiian education," said Kūamahi Community Education Managing Director Wai'ale'ale Sarsona. Yosihiko Sinoto: 19242017

In 1977, anthropologistYosihiko Sinoto unearthed the remains of a

l,000-year-old Tahitian voyaging eanoe on Huahine Island, material evidence that confirmed accounts of ancient deep-water voyages remembered in Polynesian legend and chant. Sinoto's discovery of the 65-foot oeean voyaging eanoe renewed interest in Hawaiian navigation and voyaging and, along with other archeological finds and

restoration work, spurred cultural j reawakening on several islands in i

French Polynesia. 1 Over six decades of work at i Bishop Museum, Sinoto's field i research led him to island groups < throughout the Pacific, significantly 1 advancing what is now known I about Polynesian voyaging and ( the Pacific's indigenous people. As an advocate, he called for stronger preservation laws and educational

to raise awareness of the need to protect Hawai'i's cultural legacy. On Oct. 4, Sinoto died at age 93. Born in Japan in 1924, Sinoto eame to Hawai'i in 1954 and worked as a research assistant to Kenneth Emory at Bishop Museum while attending the University of Hawai'i. After earning his doctoral degree at Hokkaido University in Japan, Sinoto returned to Bishop Museum to serve as chairman of its anthropology department. In 1989, he was named the Kenneth Pike Emory Distinguished Chair in Anthropology. "Dr. Sinoto is recognized globally and will long be cherished for his tremendous achievements and contributions to the world's understanding of Pacific peoples and their history," said Linda Lee (Cissy) Farm, Bishop Museum's interim president and chief executive officer. y/Keaualaka" film to pre-

miere in December Ka 'Imi Na'auao o Hawai'i Nei Institute has scheduled two Kaua'i showings of its documentary "Keahualaka," about a signficiant ancient plaee that is part of the Ke'e heiau complex. The first showing on Dec. 2 is a "red-carpet invitational" to supporters of the institute and the restoration and maintenance of Keahualaka, and will take plaee at the Līhu'e Lutheran Church Hall. The public showing will be in Kaua'i Community College's new theater on Dec. 7. Exact times will soon be announced. The film documents efforts to recreate the site, drawing on archival photographs and video footage, including work days and hula. Onee nearly forgotten, the restoration has drawn not only cultural practioners and hāumana hula, but others interested in this important archaeological and beautiful site. DVD copies of "Keaualaka" will be available for purchase at the showings for a nominal price, with proceeds benefitting Ka 'Imi Institute. For futher information, visit www.kaimi.org or Ka 'Imi Institute's Facebook page. Applications accepted for farm apprentice program The Hawai'i Farmers Union United, the Sustainable Living Institue of Maui and UH-Maui College are accepting applications for the Farm Apprentice Mentoring Program (FAM) through Nov. 22. The program has two phases. In Phase 1, a series of 10 modules will help hone skills and techniques of organic and regenerative agriculture. The second phase is an in-depth farm business planning course. More details are available at http://hfuuhi.org/education/ farm-apprentice-mentoring-fam-program or by emailing fam@ hfuf.org. Applicants will be caled for an interview the week after Thanksgiving and apprentices will be announced on Nov. 28. Apply online at https://goo.gl/ forms/lyvNpeCOagZgkKVw2. ■

. k..-,, i ^ Yosihiko Sinoto's unearthing of an ancient eanoe building workshop and the remains of a l,000-year-old Polynesian voyaging eanoe in the 1 970s help build understanding of Polynesian migration. - Pholo: Courtesy Bishop Museum .

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