We spent last night with a beautiful community of Paniolo who live in the lands of Pohakea. Pohakea is in great need of our protection at this time. Campbell Estates are in the process of selling lands of Pohakea and surrounding acreage which will emcompass 854 acres to C&C Farms LLC. The sale hasnʻt been completed yet and C&C Farms LLC have already started to sell parcels and collect "good faith deposits from people."
Pohakea is one of the peaks in the Honoʻuliʻuli area you drive right past it everytime you drive on Kunia Road. Last night as I sang "Hopoe" at the foot of Pohakea I cried and at times couldnʻt sing the rigth words because as I could clearly see destruction coming to this place just as Hiʻiaka could see the destruction of her beloved oʻhia forest and friend. In the past few dayʻs numerous wahi pana (sacred sites) have been identified, however according to PBR Consultants the firm who represents C&C Farms LLC they have done their "due dilegence" (not!) and are already planning and plotting... literally!
It was our privilege to meet the strong and hard working people who make up this Paniolo Community. They are all from different back grounds and races but share a culture that can only be created when we allow our diversity to become our strength. I know that my life is richer because a community like theirs exists.
Each and everyone of you have been tagged for a purpose and on purpose. Time is of the essence. This Wednesday October 14th the gates to Pohakea will be locked to the people of Pohakea. The following is just a few ideaʻs by last nightʻs discussion:
1. Educate and inform community at large and go viral on the web with the facts and fiction of this situation.
2. Kukulukumuhana- pull our strengths with purpose. Again if you have been tagged it is for a purpose and on purpose.
3. The ʻĀina of Pohakea is famous in legend and in song. If anyone is maʻa to any mele and or moʻolelo please send me a message. This could become the begining of a TCP Study (Traditional Cultural Properties) which could really assist us in long term preservation and protection of this the wahi pana. We really need the kokua of our kumu and kumu hula on this one..... Ke ʻoluʻolu.
4. If you are a member of NāKiʻiKeAho or any other hui or organizations commited to the preservation or protection of our wahi pana we really need your mana, time and experience.
Please respond to this kahea and add "Wahine ʻo Kunia Honoʻuliʻuli" as a friend on fb. Thereʻs some information on their profile. Mahalo nui loa for your time and consideration on this matter of great importance. Mahalo Piha. We would be very intrested in hearing your manaʻo on how we can kukulukumuhana and work together to preserve and protect Pohakea.
Me Ka Haʻahaʻa,
Leimaile Quitevis
Monday, October 12, 2009
Friday, September 26, 2008
T-shirt ready - Limited Quantities
TShirts are now availabe for $15. Email Sean at naleimaile@gmai.comtooreder.
Friday, August 29, 2008
PROTECTION OF THE IWI NA KUPUNA (Bones of our ancestors)
Click here to read about Maui's ʻAnakala Charles Maxwell's understanding and participation in the protection of our kupuna's iwi.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
SHA Enhanced Ethics Committee Meeting-Kohala
Four members of Nākiʻikeaho participated in the the drafting of a code of ethics for the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology (SHA). Discussions were centered around developing a specific statement for SHA to implement for the nearly 200 members practicing archaeology in Hawaiʻi. In attendance from Nākiʻikeaho were, Sean Nāleimaile, Dr. Kathy Kawelu, Dr. Ty Kāwika Tengan and soon to be Dr., Kekuewa Kikiloi. Also in attendance was Hawaiian archaeologist Robin Connors, and esteemed kupuna ʻAnakala Fred Cachola. We all sat and expressed our reasons for being there and our hopes for what this meeting could produce.
We were hosted by Dr. Mark McCoy who is in Kohala with his summer field school Others in attendance was archaeologist Dr. Windy McElroy, Dr. Peter Mills, Dr. Tom Dye, Dr. Julie Field, and graduate students Mark Oxley and James Flexner. Both Mark and James were instrumental in organizing this meeting. We were all extremely happy to hear the announcement from ʻAnakala Fred that through his recent work with the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, that they had recent adopted a policy to deal with their interactions with Native Hawaiians. (click here to read the document ACHP ). This document provided us inspiration and guidance towards developing our intended task. We also explored other ethic statements from the Canadian Archaeological Association, New Zealand's Archaeological Association, the World Archaeological Congress and others in order to help us design wordage that suited the situation here in Hawaiʻi.
This "code of ethics" statement is forthcoming and will be presented to the board members of SHA in September. We invite all members of Nākiʻikeaho to provide comments and suggestions and we will keep you updated as to the progress of this statement.
Here are a few pictures from Kohala.
ʻAnakala Fred Cachola (right) and Dr. Ty Kāwika Tengan
Members of the committee investigate an excavation into an ancient loʻi.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
HwSt 197 Semester No. 1 Complete
The experimental course HwSt 197: Kahu Kuʻuna I is pau! From its rocky beginnings to a successful hōʻike this first class went well. As a new teacher, I have learned a lot about myself as a teacher and also ways in which I can further develop this course. I hope that the students were able to sift through some of the confusion at times and were able to take a little bit of info with them as to the importance of the connection we, as people of this ʻāina share and understand that we have a kuleana to malama this special place and the special and unique things associated with the stewardship of our wahi kupuna. The important thing to know about the creation of this track is that the only way we can move towards making and effecting positive change to a system that has been resistant to culturally appropriate methods and perspectives is to begin these discussions, explore the practices, form collaborative relationships, and unite in a cohesive manner from a solid foundation of cultural integrity.
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