‘Āina ‘Ohana & Partners share their stories with community…
Stories provide the language of remembrance. Stories of where we come from, who we are, and a beacon of change and who we may become. Stories are sung, danced, spoken, painted, written, carved, to vibrate and illuminate the way points of our human journey with Nature the cosmos. Our journey with each other. This is a page of partners and a stewardship family who are inter connected but work independently on a myriad of projects committed to a healthier Hawai’i.
More to come…check in occasionally and refresh your browser to see the latest additions.
Meet Ka‘ūpūlehu dryland forest—Ho‘ola Ka Makana‘ā.
Creation & Creativity as a foundation. The ahupua‘a of the birth of this mele. And shared in the most comfortable and reverent way—sitting in an ancient forest family, comforted by all that lives there—kupuna and generations of keiki. Pixie brings the The Kona Historical Society to recharge and experience this historic land.
This collection of mo’olelo, (stories) are from a spirit family of hope, who dedicate themselves to malama—stewardship, guidance, sharing, teaching, reaching out and amplifying hope. The creative offerings here are rare moments out of their daily kuleana (commitments) caring for a better community. All are quietly foundational to healthier communities and we love them dearly for their sacrifice. Uncle Keoki and dear friend Michaeloha describes it as “Creative Reverence”. Some of these videos are captured not as a performance or hoike, but as a mahalo conversation and offering. Some from the annual hoike in Waimea and other gatherings. Please see: https://piliaina.org/meet-us-events/ for more about the Ho‘ola Ka Makana‘ā bio-cultural revitalization work.
Driving her Ford truck in the homelands with her paniolo father as he lives the land again and paints legacy images to live on.
Mahalo nui to Auntie Leinaala Lightner at Kalaemanō Cultural Center for her vision for a community education center that connects people to the elements and each other. She and her daughter Malia brought together a special Punana Leo evening of music, hula and storytelling.
Waikā Unu opened with an oli to Hualalai—offered this to place in reverence and to Palaoa—at the shoreline of Kalaemanō, Kaūpūlehu.
Makani o Ka‘ūpūlehu
2019 Offering this new mele. oli, hula in the ahupua’a of itʻs birth.
First came the ‘āina, in all itʻs wisdom through time. It whispered and somehow in the quiet it sparked the mele on guitar. Then Uncle asked long time friend, kumu hula and HPA cultural teacher Kuwalu Anakalea if she might again collaborate and lift “place” to offer legacy knowledge by creating a hula. She graciously accepted and brought in Lanakila and Healohamele to collaborate. Months of creative reverence that included not only hula, but experiencing “place”, creating expressive rhythms, movements, clothing & adornment worthy of the ike being transmitted. And all to share in this hoike. Mahalo nui.
Below: 2020, one year later. Practicing for another performance. Bringing the new collaboration back to life, this time for the community. Kuwalu & halau collaborate with Uncle Keoki on a public hoike speaking and honoring some of the many winds of Ka‘ūpūlehu. A year after the Kalaemano offering to the ahupua‘a of the winds at the shoreline. This time for a Motherʻs Day community hoike through a collaboration with HPA Waimea held three years later.
Untold hours and in this unfolding…several years for the 2023 hoike. Makani o Ka‘ūpūlehu. Often you only see the culmination of creating. Here you get a glimpse of the process—the spirit and kuleana commitment getting there. And it doesnʻt tell of the protocols and endless hurs collecting materials, making of instruments, adornments and clothes that express and expands the reverent story..
First came generations of keen, experiencial, observations–ike kupuna…and sharing with ohana through time. They transmitted names and generational knowledge. Among some today, they inspired a contemporary reflection and broader way of feeling and understanding. This mele and hula is a tribute to centuries of observation in this wao, this ahupua‘a KA‘ŪPŪLEHU ame KAULUPŪLEHU . Uncle Keoki wove the mele first after learning about the winds from several kūpuna; including, Uncle Sonny Keakealani through his daughter Ku‘ulei and the resource materials she and Aunty Yvonne created for classrooms and groups visiting “place”.
Mahalo for these humble offerings—stories of remembrance.
Ku’ulei Keakealani shares stories as MC, poet & gifted mo’olelo wahi pana.
Mo‘olelo wahi pana—storied places. A collaboration of Ku‘ulei Keakealani, Aunty Yvonne and Uncle Keoki honoring Pu‘ukawaiwai and the waters of Waimea.
Uncle Keoki welcomes wa‘a navigators, teachers, & community visionaries Chadd Paishon and Pomai Bertlemann. https://www.nakalaiwaa.org
Community provisioning canoe more for long voyages. Malama the resources available to us. And growing up in Waimea ranching and beautiful imagery of the lifestyle, also told in song by Larry Kimura of Waimea, ” E Ku‘u Morning Dew”
“Maika‘i Waimea”. Mahalo nui Pomai & Chadd for all you change for the better.
Kae‘a Lyons with young Sage “Raw & Real”.
Mothers Day—halau Waikā Unu.
Above: Kumu Kuwalu Nicole Anakalea and halau introduce their keiki dancers in their first public performance as part of the community collaboration hosted by Ka’ūpūlehu dryland forest hui, Ho‘olaKa Makana‘ā.
Special Offerings of Spirit
Motherʻs Day 2024. Karma and “Ricardo” Richard Russell “By The Flyways.” Dedicated to Ricardo”s memory and so much done for community and land wellness. You are missed by many with your passing from this plane.
Lehua Alapai MCʻs and videoʻs about wai or water from Ku‘ulei, Aunty Yvonne, Uncle Keoki.
Mamma Mamma. Feeling the worry and sorrow of his mother. A mele that came to Keoki as a young man recently out of high school and headed to Asia assigned as a helicopter mechanic to search and rescue in the early 70s. The memory of the special garden at the hub of the Honolulu airport where families and friends could gather to give lei, and hugs, and aloha. The garden is still there but dwarfed and hard to find by the explosive growth. It still holds memories of flowers, singing, laughter, tears, loving emotions and pule for safe returns. Sonny Lim and Paul Lindbergh graciously accompany Keoki.
‘Āina=land and all that nourishes—air, sky, waters, and living things.