After every workshop, the mana from our eager participants generates a very tangible momentum in the hale building process. In the two days following the January workshop, our haumana finished lashing the kauhuhu and notched the remaining 7 pou on the mauka side. They also shaped and placed the lohelau on both sides, and the first of 14 o’a. We plan to have all the o’a in place by the end of the week and begin lashing them. By the March 11th workshop, the kaupaku should be ready for the loulu thatching. Mahalo to all our volunteers for their kokua, energy and enthusiasm!

Our olokea looked like a giant beehive or henhouse yesterday, with more than 25 community volunteers climbing up to apply their lashing skills. The morning began with the welcoming protocols and introductions at the shore. The participants were then divided into groups and practiced their shakas and lashing under the direction of our haumana. Throughout the day, Uncle Waltah shared his ‘ike and went over the various elements, composition and nomenclature of the traditional hale and the building process. But for many of us, the highlight of the day was a delicious Chinese pa’ina awakea prepared by our project director, Gretchen Ana Currie Ramirez, honoring the Year of the Fire Rooster; full stomachs, happy hearts! Our next workshop is scheduled for March 11th.

As part of our Hōnaunau Ola Mau Loa project, we are creating an ahupuaʻa boundary marker system for the four ahupuaʻa between Hōnaunau and Napoʻopoʻo. Leinani Navas-Loa will lead us in a talk story and kanikapila session as we continue to gather stories, songs and memories of life in these ahupuaʻa. Please join us!

Our next community hale building workshop is coming up on Saturday, January 28th. You’re invited!

We welcomed our first school visit, a group of students and teachers from Miloliʻi. The presence of all the keiki and their kokua made the day very special. We raised the first pou hana and pou manu that day and the final two pou the next day! Their mana will inspire the next generation of hale builders, paddlers and other cultural practitioners.

With the raising of the final pou hana and pou manu, the hale restoration reached an important milestone. The olokea is up and we’ll be completing all the stone setting for the foundation around the 4 center pou. We can then continue our work on the kaupaku! Our next community workshop is scheduled for Saturday, January 28th.

Since the workshop, the haumana crew has collected more pohaku and begun lashing the olokea (scaffolding) that will support the crew and the four center pou while the roof (kaupaku) is lashed and thatched into place. Once the center pou are in place, we will also set the remaining walls and the foundation will be complete.

Uncle Waltah and our haumana crew were very busy preparing for the Dec. 17th workshop, gathering pohaku and choosing the ‘ohia for the rafters (o’a), wall plates (lohelau), ridge poles (kauhuhu & kaupaku’iole), diagonal and horizontal braces (holo & kalapau). The mauka wall was nearly completed, leaving the capping for the workshop.

We began the workday with a pule and welcoming circle with over two dozen volunteers attending the workshop and learning basic rock-setting techniques and laulima, as they capped the rear wall and moved pohaku from hand to hand. Work continued into the afternoon, after a delicious lunch, with everyone listening to Uncle Waltah explain the next steps in the hale building process.

After the end of each community hale building workshop, our project team and Keōua volunteers make progress on the hale restoration in preparation for the next workshop.

Our next community workshop on traditional hale building is coming up on December 17th! Please share the info with others who might be interested – mahalo!

Mahalo nui to all who came to our recent community workshop. We had over two dozen eager participants learning protocols and lashing techniques, moving pohaku and setting posts. Our next workshop is scheduled for Saturday, December 17th. We hope to see you there!