A beautiful and spectacular huaka’i for Papa ‘ehā as they traveled to Kohala and down to Kamakahonu to learn about Kamehameha Paiea’s life. It was truly a blessing to hear stories of Kamehameha Paiea’s birth and life from Kupuna Kealoha. A true reflection of our Kohala Huka’i can be heard in the thoughtful reflections of the student!! Here goes:
I liked when Kumu Kealoha told us stories about Kamehameha. We stopped at Pololu and saw Awini. I also saw the Kamehameha rock. It looked like a small narrow football that was flattened.–Xian
We saw some whales. Some jumped out and some were just a water spout. I wonder if we’re ever going to do an overnighter again, I hope we do. I think this was a very good learning experience. This is because we learned about Kamehameha’s life and we went to every significant place in Kamehameha’s life. I think that this was very interesting but exhausting at the same time because the bus ride for obvious reasons. It was very, very long….Even thought I had about 6 hours on the bus it was still worth it. I really hope that next year the 3rd graders have even a better time than we did. –Jenny
We sang the song about Puaka’ilima. Puaka’ilima is no longer an island because the island was destroyed. People blew it up for a harbor. This hurts me because I will never be able to see Puaka’ilima ever and generations to come will never get to see it either. At Ahuena we were leaving and I asked Kumu Silva if we were going to do Oli Mahalo. At first Kumu Silva hesitated. Then we did Oli Mahalo. I am glad that sometimes children inspire adults to do certain things like doing Oli Mahalo. –Kanekoa
We are very lucky to learn our culture. When Kumu Kealoha went to school it was mostly military while he was attending Kamehameha Schools. We now learn all about our culture and not about military training. I enjoyed listening to his speech. –Paige
In addition to learning about Kamehameha Paiea’s life, our haumāna toured Herb Kāne’s paintings on display at the Kamehameha Beach Hotel at Kamakahonu. As artist students are reflecting on the ‘ōlelo no’eau “He Hawai’i Au a mau a mau”. By studying these paintings, students were asked to reflect on Herb Kāne’s life as living treasure, prior to his passing, and here’s what some students said:
I consider Herb Kane a living treasure because he would paint about the Old Hawaiian life and also important events in Hawaiian history. I think he was a living treasure because his art is so realistic it feels like you are really there and it pulls you in.–Nalu
He was considered a living treasure becaue he could paint pictures that opened a path to see what Hawaiian’s life looked like. –Xian
I think Herb Kane was a living treasure because he had to do a lot of research to do the paintings. I like how in the painting of The Law of the Splintered Paddle Herb Kane shows expression of the man hitting Kamehameha. –Kanekoa
