Poke Nūhou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Loa Staff

Volunteers help to restore Waikalua Loko on a previous lā hana. Courtesy photo.

Volunteers sought to restore ancient fishpond

The Waikalua Loko Fishpond Preservation Society announces a lā hana, or workday, 8 a.m. to noon June 27 at Waikalua Loko fishpond in Kāne'ohe, O'ahu, just makai of Pū'ōhala Elementary School. Volunteers will help remove invasive limu and mangrove, an invasive tree that traps silt and prevents water circulation in the ancient loko i'a. If tides allow, volunteers may help rebuild the 350-year-old pond wall.

For those interested in mangrove removal, bring covered shoes, long work pants and shirt, work gloves and a chain saw if you have one. For limu removal, bring tabis or old athletic shoes and surf shorts. Everyone should bring sunscreen and a reusable water bottle. Volunteer 'ohana, individuals and schools and community groups will also learn about how fishponds were built and maintained, and the types of fish grown and harvested.

The workday will accommodate the first 150 registrants. Pre-registration is required by contacting Andrea at (808) 263-8202 or jepsona001@hawaii.rr.com.

NFL center in Nānākuli NFL stars and Nānākuli keiki mingle in the multi-purpose community room of the NFL's Youth Education Town Hawai'i grand opening May 30. Photo courtesy Monte Costa NFL center set to nurture Nānākuli youngsters Everyone knows that the NFL stands for National Football League and super-stardom in sports. Last month, NFL also served notice it stands by a special commitment to the Hawai'i community. Even if it will no longer hold its popular post-season Pro Bowl in the state, the NFL on May 30 opened the multi-million dollar YET Center next to Nānāikapono Elementary School in Nānākuli, O'ahu. The hopefully soon-to-become-household acronym stands for Youth Education Town. The NFL YET's are designed to help middle-school-aged youngsters succeed by providing educational assistance, job training, technical instruction, life-skills development, and fitness and recreational outlets. The 10,000-square foot facility, located on Hawaiian Home Lands, will be managed by the Boys and Girls Club of Hawai'i. It includes an outdoor amphitheater, a garden with Hawaiian plants, a large multi-purpose community room, a library, an arts and crafts room, a learning center, a computer and technology center and a multimedia studio supported by the Forever Young Foundation. "This is an especially exciting and welcome event during a bad economy when so many of our parents need to work extra jobs making it too easy for kids to get into trouble. Now they have a place, where they can channel their energy into something positive," said Debbie Siah of the Boys & Girls Club. The Nānākuli facility is the only NFL YET Center built in a locale that has no NFL franchise. It is also the NFL's first "green" YET center. Specifically constructed to meet standards in line with Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification, the building features energy-saving cooling and lighting systems and recyclable materials. Memberships for the new NFL YET Hawai'i will be available to youth ages 7 to 12 for just a $1 a year. For more information, visit BGCH.com or call (808) 949-4203.

Anderson, Kapuniai, Stockes

CNHA announces new hires, promotion

Lisa Anderson has been named loan fund manager at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, overseeing the nonprofit's newest initiative, Hawaiian Lending and Investments. Anderson, who has more than 15 years of experience in banking and lending, came to CNHA from Hawai'i Lending Services, where she trained new loan officers on investor and compliance requirements and underwrote and analyzed mortgage loan applications, among other things. CNHA plans to launch three loan programs this year. The Homestead Self-Help Program will provide low-cost loans to families building homes in groups. The Homestead Energy Program will support converting residential electric water heaters to solar-heating systems and the Credit Builder microloan will help families build good credit. In addition to these programs, Anderson will manage programs that involve matching funds for down payments on homes, foreclosure-prevention campaigns and tax credits for working families and nonprofits.

Meanwhile, Brian Stockes has been named senior communications specialist, overseeing communications, outreach, member services and fundraising, including administering its giving program, the Hawaiian Way Fund. Stockes' resume includes serving as Washington bureau chief for Indian Country Today, the nation's largest newspaper and leading source of news on American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, and more than five years managing issues ranging from cultural and historical preservation to economic development at the National Congress of American Indians, the nation's largest American Indian and Alaska Native organization. Stockes also worked as lead advocate for Hawaiian Governance with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and spent two years at the Honolulu public relations firm Becker Communications Inc.

Stockes replaces Lilia Kapuniai, whose promotion to community development manager was announced in April. The nonprofit, which will host the eighth annual Native Hawaiian Convention Aug. 25-27 at the Hawai'i Convention Center, serves a network of more than 100 organizations statewide and nationally. CNHA works to improve Hawai'i's well-being through cultural, economic and community development of Native Hawaiians.

Kumu Kahua's Kālā-Bash to be held June 27

Kumu Kahua Theatre's annual Kālā-Bash Fundraiser and Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, June 27 from 5 to 9 p.m., next to the theatre at 46 Merchant Street in downtown Honolulu. This marks the 39th season for the private non-profit and its support for local playwrights and theatre productions with Hawai'i-focused content. Kumu Kahua has been a launching pad for the acclaimed works of Native Hawaiian dramatists, including Lee Cataluna, Victoria Kneubuhl and Alani Apio. The annual fundraiser features food, entertainment, live music and door prizes. Tickets for this event are $40, $20 of which is tax deductible. All proceeds go to support Kumu Kahua Theatre's mission to produce theatre relevant to Hawai'i. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit kumukahua.org or call (808) 536-4222.

Kaumakapili Church lū'au

Enjoy Hawaiian food homemade by church members and staff at the 38th annual lū'au supporting Kaumakapili Church, July 18 at 5 p.m. at 766 N. King St., across Tamashiro Market in Kalihi, O'ahu. For $25, the lū'au sitting offers Hawaiian entertainment and all-you-can eat traditional lū'au fare, including kālua pig, chicken long rice, poi, lomi salmon, raw fish and 'opihi, pineapple, sweet potato, cake and haupia. Take-out boxed meals will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $15. Pick up is on Kanoa Street, one block mauka of North King Street. The historic church first held services in 1873, when it was located at another site. For information or to buy tickets, call the church at (808) 845-0908.

Kumu hula Noelani Chang and Hālau Nā Mamo O Ka'ala return to Bishop Museum this month in Music and Dance of Hawai'i. Photo courtesy Bishop Museum

Hula program returns to Bishop Museum in June

Hula aficionados in June will be able to enjoy a one-month return of Bishop Museum's popular Music and Dance of Hawai'i hula program thanks to an $11,750 grant from the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The program runs daily at the Hawaiian Hall Atrium through June 29 except Sundays and Tuesdays. It features half-hour hula shows of kahiko and 'auana at noon and 2 p.m. At 12:45 p.m., there is a 45-minute hula implements craft demonstration and easy hula lesson.

"We once again will share hula amongst the treasures of Hawai'i," said kumu hula Noelani Chang, whose Hālau Nā Mamo O Ka'ala had provided the hula program at Bishop Museum for eight years before it ended in September.

"We will share our mana'o, and perhaps enlighten visitors by providing a deeper understanding that hula is a way for us to keep our culture alive." She said the program's return is especially exciting with the re-opening of a restored Hawaiian Hall planned for August.

The program is free with museum admission: $15.95 adults, $12.95 youth ages 4 to 12 and seniors 65 years and older, and $8.95 kama'āina and military. Admission for youth and senior kama'āina and military is $7.95.

Bishop Museum president and CEO Timothy Johns said the staff welcomes the hālau's return and is "grateful to the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for granting us the funds to enable this program even if only for a short time." The museum's mission is to study, preserve and tell the stories of the natural and cultural history of Hawai'i and the Pacific. For information, visit bishopmuseum.org or call (808) 847-8511.

HIFF call for entries

Filmmakers of all genres have until July 6 to submit entries for the 2009 Hawai'i International Film Festival, which has premiered movies such as Once Were Warriors, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the Japanese release Departures, which went on to win the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

This year, entries are only being accepted online at hiff.org. Films must have been completed after Jan. 1, 2008, and have had no commercial, theatrical or TV play in the United States. Feature films that have had public or festival screenings in Hawai'i are ineligible. Entry fees may apply. Films from 1 to 40 minutes long are considered short films; those longer than 41 minutes are feature films. Genres include narratives, documentaries, Pacific Panorama, Made in Hawai'i, music videos and Student Under 18.

To qualify for this year's Oct. 15-25 festival, entries must be received by the HIFF office no later than July 10. For Student Under 18 films, entry deadline is Aug. 1, and submissions must be received by HIFF by Aug. 7. For information, call (808) 528-3456 ext. 117 or email program@hiff.org.