HONAUNAU —Walter Wong stood in front of the calm waters at Honaunau early Saturday morning with a small gathering of people encircled behind him to offer a prayer.
As alakai, or leader, of a hale construction project at Honaunau Bay, Wong said, the prayer is given “so our mana is pono to make our hale.”
Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club has hosted hale building workshops for the past few months as the group works to restore a structure across from the boat launch originally built as a school, Hale o Ho‘oponopono, in the early 1970s.
Saturday was the final day in the workshop series. Volunteers thatched lolu leaves to ohia logs by ground as well as perched on scaffolding.
Built with donated ohia, the hale is 20-by-40 feet. The original building was 20-by-36 feet.
With the assistance of Wong, member of Halau Hale Kuhikuhi, canoe club and community members have been able to restore the structure. Schoolchildren also donated time to its restoration.
“Watching it go up has been such a chicken skin experience,” said canoe club president and head coach Rafael Ramirez. “You get to see it take shape lash by lash — leaf by leaf.”
Ramirez said the hale is built traditionally with the exception of nylon cord and concrete to bring the structure up to fire code. Sprinkler heads also were installed.
“It’s very calming to work with your hands and put your mana into it,” Ramirez said.
Once completed, Ramirez said, it will be an educational center — a sacred spot for learning and ceremony.
Wong said the hale is a place that will share knowledge and to “teach right.”
“To make things pono with upbringing of children, be pono with the ‘aina and have respect of land and culture,” Wong said.
Emely Wilson, 56, who is a Honaunau resident, assisted with thatching Saturday. Although she doesn’t paddle in the canoe club, she pays club dues and participates in events as a community member.
She said she wanted to be part of the restoration project because it’s in her community.
“We’ve built everything from the ground up,” Wilson said.
The Honaunau woman has been involved from the beginning. She also spent time thatching on days not designated for workshop.
“I’m hoping it’s going to do what it’s supposed to do and keep kids out of trouble,” Wilson said.
Ramirez said he knew the hale restoration was a labor intensive project and would take more than just community donations.
The club applied for a grant from the Administration of Native Americans. It was turned down for three years until the group was awarded $350,000 in 2016. The money received also will help get ahupua‘a, or boundary markers, in the community.
The hale restoration project should be complete this month, with a dedication to be scheduled in June.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.
