Carol Yurth’s column is published every Sunday and spotlights activities on the Hilo-Hamakua coast. She welcomes items for her column. Reach her by mail (46-1240 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call her at 775-7101, or e-mail waiukahe@interpac.net.
On Dec. 31, Wailea Village hosted the 14th Annual Mochi Pounding for the 2012 New Year. Akiko’s B&B over the years has become synonymous with mochi pounding.
If you missed this traditional get-together, you, start looking forward to experiencing it for yourself in December. If you were there, maybe you can spot yourself in the accompanying photo by Jeff Melrose.
Please enjoy.
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The community is invited to get an inspiring glimpse of the life and pa’ahana (hard, industrious work) of “treasures in our own backyard on Hawaiian homestead farms and ranches” as Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School (WMPCCS) family members and community friends come together for a series of free after-school classes on four consecutive Wednesdays, which started last week.
Led by Ku’ulei Keakealani and WMPCCS’ ‘Ike Hawaii resource teacher Pua Case, participants first visited a successful Hawaiian Homes flower farm and floral business operated by the Berdon family.
Participants are asked to meet at the WMPCCS office parking lot no later than 3:45 p.m. to caravan to the site of the week’s classes where they will meet and hear from community “living treasures,” and in the process, experience the same lessons the school’s students are studying to fulfill Social Studies’ Spatial Geography standards and benchmarks.
“Many ‘olelo no’eau [Hawaiian proverbs] speak to the fact that children behave like, or have knowledge that their parents possess. It is heard too in expressions such as: ‘no surprise her lei are so beautiful, her mother and grandmother are known lei makers too,” or “he has a good hand to train a horse, he’s just like Walter (his teacher),” said Ku’ulei in explaining the premise of the classes.
“One ‘Olelo No’eau in particular says: “Ka’ike a ka makua, he hei na ke keiki,” which means the knowledge of the parent is [unconsciously] absorbed by the child.
“But it is becoming more difficult to find individuals who are following in the footsteps of elder generations and maintaining a legacy. Also, pa’ahana today has evolved and doesn’t only refer to working on and with the land and its elements. It can now be seen in the hours it took to create a web page, or studying into the early morning hours for a dreaded chemistry test, or even the recounting of a firefighter following his four-day shift,” said Ku’ulei.
“In this short series of ‘Ike Hawaii classes, we will hear from individuals who have made the choice to continue in the work of elders who have preceded them. They will share lifestyles connected to Waimea and the Hawaiian homesteads that were developed by kupuna and that they have committed to continuing into the future,” said Ku’ulei.
Everyone is invited to join this opportunity to learn from and be inspired by the individuals who truly uphold a legacy,” she said.
There is no charge to participate and no RSVP required but participants are asked to arrive on time because the group will be caravanning each week to an off-site location.
Participants should wear comfortable closed shoes and bring a jacket for weather protection.
“This series of classes is the fourth time Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School has welcomed family members and community friends to experience culture- and place-based lessons presented by respected cultural practitioners,” said Pua. The lessons are the same as those that our students experience,” she said.
“We are excited to be able to share the innovative strategies our teachers and staff have developed to integrate important lessons about pa’ahana and cultural values with core curriculum,” said Pua.
For information, email Pua Case (Pua_Case@notes.k12.hi.us) or call Patti Cook (937-2833).
Carol Yurth’s column is published every Sunday and spotlights activities on the Hilo-Hamakua coast. She welcomes items for her column. Reach her by mail (46-1240 Kalehua Road, Honokaa HI 96727) at least 10 days before the requested publication date, call her at 775-7101, or e-mail waiukahe@interpac.net.