Pi’ia

This two-day mini-conference was amazing - full of fun, enlightenment, and camaraderie. There were so many sessions to choose from: Hei (ritual string figures), `Aha `Awa (`Awa ceremony), Waiho'olu'u (natural dyes), Hula for children, Taga (ritual cordage regalia), Oli (chant), Lei Hilo (Hilo style lei), Kālai (carving), Lauhala (pandanus weaving), and `Ohe Kāpala (bamboo printing).

I attended the Lei Hilo and one of two different Lauhala sessions. While I've made many lei hilo (I even have a lei hilo tattoo on my left wrist in honor of the first lei I learned to make), I learned new techniques and worked with a different plant, the kupukupu fern, to make a kupe'e, or wrist adornment. Previously, I had only braided the fern for a lei po'o, or head lei.

 
 

Mahalo to Kumu Kekai and Aunty Kawehi for sharing their knowledge and aloha. I will never forget to ask the plants for their permission and mahalo (thank) them for their gifts.

Next, I learned from master weaver Lolay Muraki the most basic weaving techniques, which I found very challenging! The picture above belies the complicated techniques, full of non-intuitive folds. Most important, perhaps, was that we learned the proper way to gather the stalks, clean, and prepare them while honoring the plant that provides you with her materials for the long-term.

All of this alone would have made for a beautiful summer, but I learned something very important on the second day of the conference when I invited my daughter Kalli to participate with me in planting trees and learning about the Pālamanui Trails. Dr. Richard Stevens guided us out to meet Grandfather Lama, an ancient tree and one of the few remaining of what was once an abundant dryland forest. It has been eaten away by cattle and wild goats.

Inside a protected garden, Kalli and I joined a team of about 25, and we planted three to four native Hawaiian trees per person.

At the end of the day we were treated to a closing story of Marty Allen, an artist who devoted many years of his life to raising awareness of the wiliwili tree and promoting its care. Each of us walked away with a greeting card featuring one of his paintings. It was a beautiful experience that has ignited a desire in me to continue supporting native tree restoration on Hawai`i Island.

The real connection and learning came from contemplating how indigenous art is inspired and informed by the`aina (land). Working with the dirt to restore the forest, honoring those plantings with an `aha `awa and oli, and really seeing how what we did could make a difference made me want to go back again and again.

There is talk of another event like this one on the Hilo side of the island. If so, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to attend. You'll be glad you did!