Malama Makali`i Ho`olaule`a

Aloha mai ia kakou pakahi a pau, e hele kakou i Kawaihae no ka ho`olaule`a `o Malama Makali`i! Aia ana ma ka Halau Kukui ma ka Po`aono, la 4 o Pepeluali mai ka hola 10 o ke kakahiaka a i ka hola 4. He manuahi ke komo. E pono wale e ho`ike i kau laikini kalaiwa no ke komo `ana ma ka paena o Kawaihae. No laila, e hele kakou, e ki`i i na `ohana holo`oko`a a me na hoaaloha he nui. E le`ale`a loa ana keia la!

`O ke kumuhana o keia ho`olaule`a, `o ia ho`i ka malama `ana i ke kai a me ka ho`omana`o `ana i ka po`e e pili ana i keia kuleana nui o kakou pakahi a pau. He mea nui ko kakou pilina i ke kai a me ka `aina, a pono no kakou e malama maika`i. A, `o kekahi kuleana nui o kakou, `o ia ho`i ke a`o `ana i ka hanauna hou e pili ana i ka malama `ana i ke kai, i hiki ia lakou ke maopopo a e ho`omau i ka hana maika`i no ka pono o ka wa e hiki mai ana.

E hele aku me na `opu pololi, no ka mea aia ana ma laila ka mea`ai `ono loa. E lawe aku i na moena a me na noho a `imi i wahi `olu`olu no ka ho`olohe `ana i na mele nahenahe o ka `ohana Makali`i me na hui kalapu hmeni `e a`e. E `imi i ka `ikepili hoihoi ma na pakaukau ho`ona`auao a me na hanana like `ole. E loa`a ana na kini i hiki ke ho`opa `ia ma i`a e loa`a pu ana ka hana no`eau like `ole e hana ai.

I laila ana `o Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Malama lakou i ke kai maluo nunui loa a puni ka honua, aia ma ka Pakpika. Aia ana pu na hui maluo like `ole no ke a`o `ana i ka malama kai. No ka po`e e hoihoi ana i na hana ma ke kai, hiki ke holokai, hiki ke hoe he`enalu, hiki ke kau ma ka moku laser a me na wa`a kaiaka kekahi. Mai poina e lawe i ka `aila pale la!

`O kekahi mea hoihoi loa, `o ia ho`i ka hana i kapa `ia `o “Makali`i Drydock”. E a`o ana ka po`e e pili ana i ka wa`a kaulua `o Makali`i a me ka hana holokai a pau loa. He mau hana nui ka ho`omakaukau `ana i ka wa`a no ka holomoana `ana. A, e hiki ana ka po`e ke hana maoli, `a`ole ia he nana wale no. No laila, e makaukau, ma ka hana ka `ike no ho`i kau!

Ua pau ka wa`a kaulua `o Makali`i i ke kukulu `ia ma ka makahiki 1995. A, he nui ho`i na `ohana a me na hui i kokua a kako`o i ka ho`oko `ana i keia moe`uhane o Na Kalaiwa`a me Clayton laua `o Milton “Shorty” Bertelmann. Ua `olelo `ia, aia ke anuenue palua nui ma ka lani i ka manawa i holo mua ai `o Makali`i i ke kai, he mea pomaika`i maoli no.

Ma ia ho`olaule`a, e launa ana me ka po`e holokai wiwo`ole, e lohe `ia ana ka lakou mau mo`olelo hoihoi loa o ka holomoana `ana a e lohe pu `ia ana na mele i haku `ia ma luna o ka wa`a no na `ohana o ka `aina mamao i ho`opili `ia me ke kai la. E `olu`olu, e maka i ka `alemanaka no ka mea, `a`ole hiki ke poina i ka hele i keia ho`olaule`a maika`i loa. Mahalo nui ia Na Kalai Wa`a Moku o Hawai`i, Na Pua No`eau, Ke Kulanui `o Hawai`i ma Hilo, ka polokalamu `o Keaholoa a me na `ohana a pau loa no ka ho`omakaukau `ana i keia la `ohana no kakou a pau. A hui hou ma laila me ke aloha!

Na`u no, na Makela M. Bruno-Kidani, MFT

Malama Makali`i Ocean Festival

Aloha everyone, how about we all head to Kawaihae for the Malama Makali`i Ocean Festival! Check it out on Saturday, February 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Halau Kukui. It’s a free event for the entire `ohana. Remember to show your driver’s license I.D. at the gate of the Kawaihae landing to get in. Let’s all go, bring your family and friends; it will be a really fun day!

This festival’s purpose is to increase awareness of malamai kai (caring for the ocean) concepts and responsible stewardship, something we all must understand and remember. Our relationship to our environment, land and sea, is extremely important and we should do our part to take better care of our surroundings. We also have a duty to teach the upcoming generations how to care for the ocean so that these traditions can be preserved to carry on the work of creating a better future.

Come with an empty stomach because there will be lots of delicious food offered by local vendors. Bring mats and chairs to find a cozy spot to listen to the sweet melodic music of the Makali`i `Ohana and other local entertainers. Be ready for some great information in the educational booths and hands-on activities for everyone. There will be touch tanks for exploring marine animals and many craft activities to keep everyone busy.

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument will be educating everyone about marine conservation. They care for one of the largest conservation ocean areas in the world, which happens to be in the Pacific Ocean. Other conservation groups will be there to help raise awareness of caring for the ocean. For those who are interested in actual ocean activities, there will be canoes, paddleboards, lasers, and kayaks available for fun rides. Don’t forget your sun protection!

The highlight of the event is something that’s called “Makali`i Drydock.” Here, you can all learn firsthand about the double-hulled canoe, Makali`i, and the preparations that go in to voyaging. This will be all hands-on, not just for those who like to watch. So be ready, there will be lots to do and lots to learn!

Makali`i was built in 1995. Many families and groups have lent their support in actualizing this dream canoe of Na Kalaiwa`a with the leadership of Clayton and Milton “Shorty” Bertelmann, both now deceased. It is said that there was a grand double rainbow in the sky when Makali`i was first launched, a great blessing indeed.

At this weekend’s festival, you will meet brave voyagers, listen to their wonderful stories, and even hear songs that were composed on the voyages, honoring families of distant lands and the ocean that connects us all. So please, mark your calendars because this is the festival not to be missed. Great thanks to Na Kalai Wa`a Moku o Hawai`i, Na Pua No`eau: Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children, University of Hawai`i at Hilo, the Keaholoa STEM Scholars Program and all of the people who have worked hard to put together this amazing family event for us all. See you there…aloha!