Poke Nūhou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Loa Staff

NEW BOOK

A serialized story culled from a Hawaiian language newspaper is the basis for Bishop Museum's latest release. – Photo: Courtesy of Bishop Museum

KIRC commissioners to meet on O'ahu

Members of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission will meet Feb. 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the Kalanimoku Building, Land Board Conference Room, 1151 Punchbowl St., in Honolulu.

At their monthly meeting, commissioners will review public comments and approve the culture "Kūkulu Ke Ea A Kanaloa: The Culture Plan for Kanaloa Kaho'olawe." The plan may be downloaded at kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.

Also on the agenda is a presentation by staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plant Material Center and Soil Conservation Service, discussion on the 2009-13 strategic plan, and updates on the budget and programs.

To provide testimony on agenda items, send 10 copies of your testimony to: Executive Director, 811 Kolu St., Suite 201, Wailuku, HI 96793, or fax one copy to 808-243-5885 at least 48 hours before the meeting.

For information or special assistance, call the Maui KIRC office at 808-243-5020.

Story of Ko'olau comes to WCC stage

The true story of Kaluaiko'olau, a Native Hawaiian who famously resisted exile to Kalaupapa in the 1890s after contracting leprosy, will be shared through a multi-media puppetry performance at 7:30 p.m. March 5 at Palikū Theatre at Windward Community College.

"Ko'olau: a True Story of Kaua'i" employs music, animated projects, shadow puppets and Japanese kuruma ningyo, or wheeled puppet figures, to tell the 19th century tale based on Francis Frazier's poetic translation from the original words of Pi'ilani, the wife of Kaluaiko'olau.

When Kaluaiko'olau learned that he and his son had contracted leprosy in 1892, rather than be separated from his wife, he moved his family from Waimea, Kaua'i, to Kalalau Valley. While living there, he shot a deputy sheriff and two soldiers of the provisional government who attempted to arrest him.

Ko'olau and his son evaded capture in the valley, succumbing later to the disease. After burying both of them, Pi'ilani returned to her home in Kekaha and in 1906 published "Ka Moolelo Oiaio O Kaluaiko'olau" in 'ōlelo Hawai'i with Kahikina Kelekona, aka John Sheldon.

Advance tickets are $15-$23 until 4 ½ hours before showtime, or $20-$28 at the door. Tickets are available online at etickethawaii.com, by phone at 944-BOWS (2697) or at any UH ticket outlet: Kennedy Theatre, Stan Sheriff Center, Rainbowtique stores, UH Mānoa Campus Center ticket office and Palikū Theatre. Service charges apply. For ticket information, call 956-8246.

'Epic of Kawelo' now in bookstores

Bishop Museum Press' latest release is the Hawaiian-language book "Ka Mo'olelo Hiwahiwa o Kawelo," the legendary epic of Kawelo.

Edited by Hiapo Perreira of the University of Hawai'i-Hilo's Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, the story of Kawelo was culled from the archives of the early 20th-century Hawaiian language newspaper "Home Rula." The story was among the several stories serialized in the newspaper by writer Ho'oulumāhiehie from 1909-1910.

"Ho'olulumāhiehie masterfully weaves ha'ako'iko'i (formal) and kauhale (informal) styles of language, utilizing oratorical expressions, exhaustive explanations, precise terminology and conventional discourse," the museum said in a press release, adding that the 444-page book is "an addition to the corpus of Kawelo literature that in unparalleled in scope, depth and literary artistry."

"Ka Mo'olelo Hiwahiwa o Kawelo," the latest volume in the "Legacy of Excellence" series produced through Bishop Museum's Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program, is presented in modernized Hawaiian text with an English introduction. Available at the museum's Shop Pacific and other booksellers, the book costs $24.95 for the hardcover and $14.95 for the softcover.

For information, visit bishopmuseum.org/press or call 847-3511.

Speakers focus on climate change

A free presentation on climate change and the environment will be held Feb. 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Waikiki Aquarium classroom.
Chip Fletcher, University of Hawai'i professor and chair of the Department of Geology and Geophysics, will speak on climate change, global warming and sea level rise and its effects on a local and global level.

Samuel M. 'Ohukani'ōhi'a Gon III , The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i senior scientist and cultural adviser, will speak on climate change from a Hawaiian perspective.

The presentation is open to public.
The talks, sponsored in part by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Pacific Services Center, are part of the Nānā I Ke Kai series of presentations which feature discussions on climate change, coral conservation, ocean acidification and other related topics.

For more information, call 440-9027 or e-mail maryloufoley@waquarium.org.

"The Insular Empire" to be screened

A screening of the documentary, "The Insular Empire," will be held Feb. 21 at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Architecture Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the film will be shown from 4 to 5 p.m. Following the film, a panel of Chamorus, Hawaiians and the filmmaker will answer questions.

2010 Call Initiative announced

The Native Community Development Financial Institutions Network announced its 2010 Call Initiative.

The initiative is a series of six calls scheduled throughout the year to engage members on important policy and Native Community Development Financial Institutions industry-related issues. The Native CDFI Network was formed in 2009 to unify Native CDFIs serving Native trust land communities, American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

If you wish to be a network member or would like to learn more about the initiative, please e-mail Shannon Toriki at Shannon@hawaiiancouncil.org.

Ku'i kalo honors 'Anakala Eddie Ka'anana

Uhi Maunakea-Forth, wearing hat, Penny Levin and two students from Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao Public Charter School participated in a ku'i kalo at the state Capitol on Jan. 25 honoring the late Uncle Eddie Ka'anana. Ka'anana, who died in 2006, had dedicated the last 25 years of his life to passing on traditional Hawaiian practices that he learned growing up in Miloli'i, a fishing village in South Hawai'i Island. "In particular, Ka'anana taught others to speak Hawaiian, mālama 'āina (care for the land) and ku'i kalo (make poi,)" according to a blog by state Rep. Maile Shimabukuro (D-Wai'anae, Mākaha, Mākua), who co-sponsored the event with friends of Ka'anana. – Courtesy photo by Rep. Maile Shimabukuro