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4th Quarter Events Ho’opuka ‘Ohana Retreat Wyoming Visit Traveling LAOKO Sessions Mahalo Dinner Te Vaka Meet & Greet
Ka ‘Ohana Partridge, Kapahua-Bennett, and Bandman at Ho’opuka
Fourth Quarter starts and ends with a BANG! This summer we have been blessed with amazing weather, and that has brought many opportunities for some great activities. From celebrating yet another group of families who have completed the Lei Aloha O Ka ‘Ohana sessions, to honoring our volunteers who have helped with the success of the program this year, it has been a fun and exciting quarter!
Save the Date! Halloween Bash October 29, 2011 Come join us for a day of fun, food, and lots of treats!
Santa’s Workshop December 1, 2011 Bring the little ones to ring in the holidays with BIG fun!
Poke Challenge January 21, 2012 Get your teams ready for the 3rd annual Poke Challenge!!!
HO’OULU I KA LAMA
SUMMER 2011
Ho’opuka On July 18th, we were happy to honor two new families on their completion of the Lei Aloha O Ka ‘Ohana sessions. With each new Ho’opuka, it is refreshing to see how this program has influenced the familial relationships with each new group. Ka ‘Ohana Partridge, a family of 7 from Eagle Mountain, are not of Hawaiian ancestry, but are actively engaged in learning more about the Hawaiian Culture. They’ve commented that the Lei Aloha Sessions have helped them strengthen the relationships within their family unit, and have also given them a better understanding of the Hawaiian culture.
So proud of our families! The Bandmans, Partridge’s and the Kapahua-Bennett’s
Ka ‘Ohana Kapahua-Bennett, Salt Lake City residents with ties to the Big Island have commented on how the sessions have given them that “home away from home” feel and how the values taught at each session have strengthened their own relationship with each other. Lokahi (Unity) Activity
We were also able to finally honor Ka ‘Ohana Bandmann. They completed the LAOKO Sessions during our 2nd quarter, but because they spend half the year residing in Hawai’i, we were unable to honor them immediately after completion. Now that they were back, it gave us the opportunity to acknowledge their efforts as well. The time and effort sacrificed did not go unnoticed. As we recognized each family’s accomplishments, we gave them the opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned by having them chant their genealogy or Oli Mo’oku’auhau. Everyone did an excellent job! A celebration would not be complete without good food. All the traditional foods were included in the spread. It is safe to say that everyone left physically and culturally satisfied. We look forward to working with our next group of families next quarter! 2
‘Umeke Activity
HO’OULU I KA LAMA
SUMMER 2011
Keiki (Kids) Fishing Tournament
Hula Workshop
‘Ohana Retreat This year Lei Aloha O Ka ‘Ohana partnered with a few of our local Hawaiian organizations to put on the very first ‘Ohana Retreat on Saturday August 6 at the Lindon Harbor. In partnership with the two Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hui Hawai’i ‘O Utah and Kauwahi ‘Anaiana, and Team Kalea, Lei Aloha was honored to be a part of this successful event. Our day started off with the registration for the keiki fishing tournament. All who registered had the opportunity to win a prize for most fish caught, and largest fish. It must have been a lucky day for everyone, because all those who participated left with a prize! While the keiki were testing out their fishing abilities, there were a few activities for everyone else. Team Kalea took people out on the canoes to revitalize their connection with Na Wa’a. For some it was their very first time paddling, so it was a great learning experience for them. For those who wanted to stay dry on land, we hosted a Lei workshop for those who wanted to learn how to make lei po’o (head garland). This gave us the opportunity to “talk story” with some of our kupuna (elders) in the community. What better way to learn about our culture’s history than to hear it from those who actually lived it? After the fishing tournament was over, Kauwahi ‘Anaina hosted a hula workshop where the children were able to learn simple mele (song) and hula (dance) taught by one of the kupuna. Lei Aloha also hosted a Lokahi (Unity) activity, which invited our families to work together to help each other through an obstacle blindfolded, by dictating the directions only in ‘Olelo Hawai’i, or Hawaiian language. It was quite entertaining watching each family struggle to work together to get through the obstacle. All in all, the event was a huge success. It is always refreshing to see our Native Hawaiian community come together to support each other. We look forward to being a part of another ‘Ohana Retreat and hope to see more of our community there.
Lei Workshop Lokahi (Unity) Activity 3
HO’OULU I KA LAMA
SUMMER 2011
Wyoming Visit
Hawaiian Presentation
One of the advantages of being the only Hawaiian Cultural Center in the continental United States is that we get to meet and serve many different people from all aspects of life. Early in September we had the opportunity to host the Wyoming Humanities Council as they ended their Polynesian Salt Lake City Tour here at the center. Everybody learning Ke Kino – the body parts song in Hawaiian
Key Ingredients: America By Food is one of the programs sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council. This program “explores the cultural and historical forces that shape America’s cuisine and the connection between Americans and the foods they produce, prepare, preserve and serve.” (http://www.uwyo.edu/humanities/info.asp?p=30111) With that the tour started their tour here in Salt Lake City, home to the second largest Polynesian Community, to learn about the Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan and Tongan communities here in Utah. Maori Presentation
Our neighbors made their first stop at the Great Salt Lake to learn about na wa’a (canoes), and also had the opportunity to paddle on the canoe as well. After working up a healthy appetite, they made their way to the Hawaiian Cultural Center for lunch. The food, as always, was delicious thanks to Aunty Masa Fonoimoana and Island Flava Catering. After getting physically fed, it was time for some cultural edification.
Keiki dancer from the Tongan group doing a Tahition solo
Lei Aloha was the first to present with a brief history on the appropriate cultural practices and protocols used in Hawai’i when preparing food. Our cousins from New Zealand presented the importance of the whanau or family unit in Maori Culture, and our Samoan and Tongan cousins performed traditional songs and dances for our guests. It was a great way to unite as a Pacific Islander community for our neighbors from Wyoming. 4
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SUMMER 2011
Traveling LAOKO Sessions As we approach the end of our second grant year, we are pleased to see how many families we have served through Lei Aloha. However, we have come to realize that there are still more families in our community who are wanting to attend the sessions, but are unable to come in to the Center to learn the values and practices that are taught. So what better way to serve our community than by taking Lei Aloha to them?
Eagle Mountain families learning how to chant their genealogy
So this quarter we have started taking the Lei Aloha O Ka ‘Ohana family sessions on the road. Our first group to experience this “mobile” cultural experience was a group of families in Eagle Mountain, a small community approximately 30 minutes away from the Center. Our very own Project Manager, Aunty Kathleen Madsen was so generous to offer her home as the meeting place for these sessions.
all 13 weeks into 4! These modifications proved to be more affective as we were able to teach more than one group at a time! The second group that we were able to teach “on the road” resides in Farmington, Utah, which is about 45 minutes north of the Center. This group includes Na Kupuna who have moved here from Hawai’i, and have lived here for a few decades.
The majority of the families who were in attendance were not of Hawaiian ancestry, but were very interested in learning more about the Hawaiian Culture and practices taught each week. Since we were taking the program on the road we found it easier to condense
This meeting has also proved to be successful. As these families have been away from home for some time now, they have found that the lessons taught were a great refresher for what they have forgotten over the years; specifically their Oli Mo’oku’auhau. The best part was that they had the opportunity to learn not only with their children, but with their grandchildren as well. Amazing. Although this approach was not part of the original execution plan, we have found that it has given us the opportunity to reach more members of our Native Hawaiian Community here in Utah, and we are excited to reach out to many, many more.
While the children learn their Hawaiian vocabulary 5
HO’OULU I KA LAMA
M A H A L O D I N N E R
SUMMER 2011
Ka ‘Ohana Alapa performing at the Mahalo Dinner
Every year we are able to put on amazing activities for our Native Community, from the Halloween Bash to Poke Challenge, from ‘Ohana Saturday to Koahine, and from Keiki Kamp to the ‘Ohana Retreat. With each activity we have the needs of our community in mind, and they all end up being a huge success. However, all of this would not be possible were it not for our many volunteers. From setting up to breaking down at Poke Challenge and Koahine, to manning game booths and serving food at Halloween Bash and ‘Ohana Saturday, our volunteers have done it all. They have also done amazingly at helping our groups at our Keiki Kamp and ‘Ohana Retreat. Their selfless service provided here at the Center has not only helped in the success of each activity put on here, but also allows us to better serve our community. So, at the end of every grant year we have a dinner planned in their honor, and this year was no different. We had a delicious spread provided by Aunty Masa Fonoimoana and Island Flava’ Catering, which left our volunteers thoroughly satisfied. Entertainment for the evening was provided by the angelic voices of Ka ‘Ohana Alapa. This talented family definitely set the mood for our program. Each volunteer was recognized with na lei and a little makana (gift) presented by the LAOKO team. Also, we had a slideshow presentation that showcased all of the time, work and effort put into each and every activity within the last year. It was a great way to show how much we appreciate them. With the start of the new grant year steadily approaching, we look forward to putting on more successful events and we look forward to working with more volunteers willing to serve. Mahalo nui loa. 6
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SUMMER 2011
Te Vaka Meet and Greet As the Pacific Island Community here in Salt Lake City continues to expand, it is only natural that more and more artists from the South Pacific will find their way here eventually. So, when the opportunity presents itself, we find it necessary to host our cousins during their visit. This proved to be true when the Hawaiian Cultural Center was honored to host the internationally known Polynesian group Te Vaka! Te Vaka, or the canoe, is a group of dancers and musicians who reign from the South Pacific Islands of Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands and New Zealand. The members were brought together under the leadership of Opetaia Foa’i. Their music combines traditional and contemporary instruments to create a type of South Pacific fusion that is heard world-wide.
Tausala’s Cultural Presentation
Te Vaka’s Performance
Well on the evening of Thursday September 29th, our community had the opportunity to listen to the rhythmic beats of Te Vaka here at the Hawaiian Cultural Center. As a precursor to their concert the following evening, we were delighted to host a “Meet and Greet” to replace our monthly Kanikapila. We had a great turnout with a variety of food for our guests. Along with the great food, we had great entertainment. The local Samoan group Tausala, who helped with organizing this event, took the stage to present makana or gifts for our guests. Tausala presented them with gifts such as food, mats and fabric to accompany them on the rest of their journey. This practice is common within the Pacific Island culture, as it is a way to honor and show appreciation for our guests, and recognize their willingness to share their talents with us. We are very grateful to have the opportunity to continually welcome our cousins from the South Pacific as they venture towards the Midwest, and we look forward to the next occasion.
Tausala and Te Vaka
Te Vaka with the Lei Aloha Team
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SUMMER 2011
Häÿena: Through the Eyes of the Ancestors, By Carlos Andrade The rich and fertile lands of Häÿena are comparable to that of a tropical nirvana. This book follows the history of this place from the system used to look after the land and the sea in the very beginning, to the changes encountered with the arrival of foreign immigrants, to the fight to perpetuate a traditional lifestyle – including the store of thirty-nine Hawaiians who pooled their resources to buy the entire ahupuaÿa of Haÿena and held it in common from the late 1800ÿs to 1967 – all from a Native perspective.
Meet the Board President:
Marcia Stroud
Vice President:
Scarlet Patte
Treasurer:
Ben Au
Trustee:
Angie Kawaÿakoa
Hawaiian Cultural Center
Trustee:
Patricia Leong
741 West Smelter St
Trustee:
Darren Medeiros
Trustee:
Stacy Wood
Trustee at large:
Neal Hanohano
Midvale, UT 94047 Phone: (801) 56 ALOHA Hawaiianculturalcenter.org Leialohaokaohana.blogspot.com
Hawaiian Cultural Center Staff Kathleen Madsen – Project Manager Nohea Hanohano – Accountant Tina Cabiles – Cultural Specialist Uÿilani Keo – Project Assistant