WAILUA — Wailua is one of the most sacred places in the Hawaiian culture. It is also a place of growth and development. But at what cost to Kaua‘i’s ancestral past and to its future stewards who risk losing their
WAILUA — Wailua is one of the most sacred places in the Hawaiian culture.
It is also a place of growth and development. But at what cost to Kaua‘i’s ancestral past and to its future stewards who risk losing their legacy?
That’s the dilemma faced by Ka‘ie‘ie Foundation, keepers of Ancestral Inspired Education .
Two of Kaua‘i’s kumu hula — Nathan Kalama and Kehaulani Kekua — felt that as native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, they have an obligation and a sense of kuleana or responsibility to ho‘ola i ka‘aina, or heal the land of heedlessness and neglect.
To that end, they have organized a 24-hour vigil beginning noon Friday. Organizers have chosen the name, ‘Aha Ho‘ano for the spiritual gathering. Translated, it means, “Ceremony dedicated to sacred prayer.”
They are calling for the participation and support of their kumu hula peers and all others — Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian alike, to share in their vision and efforts.
The event will take place at the Coco Palms Hotel in Wailua, which has been dormant for 13 years
Recently, hotel ownership announced plans to rebuild the Coco Palms Resort. The project will feature 200 condominium units and 104 hotel rooms.
Kekua of Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai said in no way was the vigil a protest against the Coco Palms development.
The organizers have the full permission of Coco Palms officials.
She said as descendants of these lands, organizers feel it is their duty to protect, guide and establish balance and harmony upon Kaua‘i’s sacred lands and its cultural resources and traditions.
“It’s a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to take spiritual care of land that’s been neglected 13 years. We’re well aware of the immense sacredness of the land. Some of our ancestors are still buried there. This is not just for Coco Palms. Because the island is growing so quickly, so many outsiders are unfamiliar with the culture. People are not recognizing all the special (historical and spiritual) things about it,” she said.
Kekua said, “If we don’t share what we know of our tradition, then this island will become just like anywhere else and future generations will say, ‘why didn’t we do or say anything.’ We could blink, and its all gone.”
The bones of ancient Hawaiian ancestors are buried on the grounds of the Coco Palms, as well as along other coastal regions on Kaua‘i such as the Waipouli Resort construction project that is coming up across from Safeway and the Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center.
Reportedly, more than 32 ancestors have been disturbed and dug up from their resting places at Waipouli, the organizers said.
“The bottom line is that they are digging our ancestors up and this is very painful to us,” Kekua said.
“These are important lessons and messages that have been passed on to us by the ancestors,” explained Nathan Kalama, another principal planner of the event.
“The purpose of ‘Aha Ho‘ano is to ask for divine guidance from our akua and ‘aumakua to ho‘omana or bring spiritual power and strength to the sacred lands of Wailua and Kaua‘i,” Kekua said.
“We will also gather to petition for the pono well-being and growth to our native culture and traditional customs that were known to our ancient Hawaiian ancestors.”
Kekua explained that the vigil is also to nurture native Hawaiians to regain spiritual, emotional and physical insight of their ancestral ties.
“The legacy left to us by our ancestors is extremely sacred, special and pono.”
Kekua said she is painfully aware of the cultural displacement many Hawaiians feel. She said when she and others look at the shoreline they see mansions, vacation rentals and developments most Hawaiians cannot afford to live in.
Kekua said preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian sacred places and their histories is vital to maintaining the uniqueness and cultural integrity of the island.
“The host culture is an incredible cultural asset, and not an inconvenience or fantasy. Nor is it a commodity that can be used and demoralized, she said.
“Mistakes made in the past should serve as lessons, and not be repeated again and again,” Kekua said. “Take the time, do your homework, honor what is original, what is primal to the land.”
‘Aha Ho‘ano will include five major ceremonies at noon, sunset, midnight, sunrise and noon, with traditional protocol and prayers. In between the hourly prayers, participants are asked to focus on what is pono and how to restore pono to the land and the ‘iwi kupuna that are vulnerable to disturbance caused by small and large developments on the island.
According to Kekua, Wailua also served as the spiritual center for Kaua‘i island.
- For more information concerning the vigil may contact either Nathan Kalama at 822-2166, Kehaulani Kekua or Kaipoleimanu Drew at 821-2070. E-mail ROGERSN001@hawaii.rr.com.
