Ikaika Mays, center, learns how to butcher a pig in preparation for the closing pā'ina for Hō'ea Ea. Teaching him is Keoki Kahumoku, left, and Lourdes Paller. - Photo: T. Ilihia Gionson

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola

On 11 acres of land between Keaukaha's Onekahakaha Beach Park and the ocean, there's more growing than kalo and fish. For five days in June at the Lihikai Hawaiian Cultural Learning Center, participants in Hō'ea Ea were growing independence.

"Hō'ea Ea's purpose is to develop the mana in people to take care of themselves by farming, fishing and hunting," said coordinator Pāhana Mandoe of the June 10-14 event.

Keone Turalde, another coordinator, said: "It's important for the keiki to bring them to talk about what life was before barges. To put them back in the garden, to get back in the soil. To mālama the māla and the loko i'a, the two resources that can feed everyone. Our kūpuna would be happy to see us continuing the work they did long ago."

Hō'ea Ea's 150 learners from keiki to kupuna were split into groups to tackle a variety of projects from mauka to makai. While the most monumental task at Lihikai was to restore a fishpond that had been filled and grown over, there were weeds to be pulled, kalo to be pounded and food to be cooked. Some went on field trips, including visiting a pig farm in Pana'ewa.

The majority of those who participated in this year's Hō'ea Ea were teenagers from Hilo, Ka'ū, Kona and Puna. The conference will be held twice more in Keaukaha, then move to Pū'āla'a in Puna.

"It is hard work, but for some of these 'ōpio, this is where they shine. It's good to provide a place for them to shine," Mandoe said.

Kāhea Wailani, a Waiākea High School graduate now attending Hawai'i Community College, said she learned a lot about how Hawaiians kept enough food to feed the community. "We have to mālama 'āina, because if we don't, we won't get anything back," she said.

The idea for the program came from MA'O Farms, in Wai'anae, O'ahu, which hosted a similar event called "Hands Turned to the Soil" in 2005. Such programs have become a growing movement statewide, with Hō'ea Ea among the four this year. 'Āina Ho'ōla O Mā'ilikūkahi took place in Kahana Valley, O'ahu, in June. Maui and Moloka'i will host conferences this month: KUPUA'E on Maui and Sust'ĀINAble Moloka'i in Ho'olehua. (See boxed information.)

Hō'ea Ea was put on by a partnership of He Ola Hou O Ke Kumu Niu, 'Ike A'o and the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. Supporters included the Hawai'i People's Fund, the Hawai'i Community Foundation, Young Brothers Ltd., the Kohala Center and the families and community of Hilo.