Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, May 5, 2023

History of koa canoe making is included in the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area Draft Plan at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dd8ec10467c94ae6b2dd7763789091f2/. DLNR seeks  public comments on the plan.  Image from the Plan

KAPĀPALA KOA CANOE MANAGEMENT AREA Plan draft Environmental Assessment is online and public comments are due by June 7. The more than 1,257 acres at elevations of 3,640-5,100ft, with rain falling 60 to 80 inches a year, are managed by state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Forest Reserve System.
    Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area is covered entirely by a predominantly native forest. Surrounding lands are mostly covered in native forest, including Kaʻū Forest Reserve to the south and west, Kapāpala Forest Reserve to the north and west, and Kapāpala Ranch & Game Management Area with mixture of pastureland and forest lands, to the south and east.
See the Draft Plan and DLNR storymap on the place at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dd8ec10467c94ae6b2dd7763789091f2/.
    The DLNR website notes that koa and other trees grow to massive size in the area. "The major focus of this plan is to implement a sustainable, long-term harvest operation to supply koa for the purposes of carving traditional koa canoes, while also protecting other natural and cultural resources, such as watershed values, native ecosystems, and threatened and endangered species."
    Comments can be sent to Andy Cullison, Hawaiʻi Island Forestry Planner Department of Land & Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street #131 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813; or by email to james.a.cullison@hawaii.gov. Copies of the comments may be sent to the consultant: Ron Terry Geometrician Associates 10 Hina Street Hilo HI 96720 Or by email to rterry@hawaii.rr.com.

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MAY IS ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park issued a statement encouraging everyone to seek a deeper understanding of Native Hawaiian culture and its importance. Hawai'i Volcanoes is offered as a resource, in person and virtually.
    For virtual visitation during Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month, the Park 
offers the following:
    The Language of the Land. This new storymap reveals the meaning behind cherished place names across the summit region of Kīlauea. For example, Wahinekapu, "sacred woman," is where steam billows from the earth. The volcanic steam is considered sacred especially to wāhine (women) who engage in steam ritual.

The steaming pali at Wahinekapu is seen in the distance behind the face of a kānaka maoli, Native Hawaiian man. NPS Photo art

Cultural Resource Preservation. This new webpage offers a wealth of Hawaiian cultural stewardship, stories, and videos.
    ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Join the revitalization of the Hawaiian language. Learn common greetings and vowel pronunciation and pronunciation of Hawaiian place names.
    ʻIke Hana Noʻeau (Experience the Skillful Work). Watch a new season of this park-produced video series that shares authentic Hawaiian cultural practices.
    Moʻolelo. Learn about 10 ten moʻolelo. Some of these stories may be familar; others are lesser-known tales like that of Punaʻaikoaʻe, a chief of Oʻahu whose kinolau (supernatural body form) is represented in the koaʻe keʻa (white-tailed tropicbirds) that soar above Kīlauea caldera.
For in-person visitation during Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month, the Park offers the following:

    Let's Play Hū. Learn this game on Wednesday, May 10 from 10 a.m, to noon at the Ohia Wing across from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Visitor Center. In the days of early Hawaiians, Hū, or top-spinning, was an absorbing activity for children but making hū with a kukui nut was equally engaging. The activity is one of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's ongoing 'Ike Hana Noʻeau (Experience the Skillful Work) Hawaiian cultural programs, co-sponsored by Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association and Friends of Ha
wai'i Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply.
   

Alya-Joy Kanehailua

The Battle of the Bitter Rain. It was a time of feathered capes, shark-toothed clubs, and long spears. A time when warring chiefs battled for control of the islands. One fierce battle took place partially within what is today Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Join retired park ranger Jay
Robinson as he transports attendees back to a time when control of the island of Hawai'i teetered on the brink at a place and time known as the Battle of the Bitter Rain. Part of Hawai'i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park programs and sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply on Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m.  in Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium   
    Living History at Kahuku: Nani O Kahuku. Re-live a day on the Kamehameha Schoolsʻ historic Kahuku Ranch on Saturday, May 27 for performances at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The one-woman living history play is performed by Alya-Joy Kanehailua. The in-situ performance is based on a journal written by Hannah Piʻilani Jones, hapa-haole daughter of George Jones, who owned Kahuku Ranch from 1871 to 1887. Free, reservations are required. Email Wendy Vance, wendy_scott-vance@nps.gov to reserve a seat and for detailed directions.
MILOLI'I -KAʻŪ  VOLLEYBALL CLUB HOSTS A TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY, May 6, with some 16 teams from around the island and O'ahu. Organizer Kaimi Kaupiko says the gym will be open for free seating for the public. The one day event at the Robert Herkes Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala runs from 8 a.m. into the evening. Food will be available for sale as a fundraiser.

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