HA‘ENA — Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Ha‘ena is offering its second “Mo‘olelo Under the Moon” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. July 3 featuring Randy Wichman as the evening’s storyteller. A mo‘olelo is a story, tale or legend and native
HA‘ENA — Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Ha‘ena is offering its second “Mo‘olelo Under the Moon” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. July 3 featuring Randy Wichman as the evening’s storyteller. A mo‘olelo is a story, tale or legend and native Hawaiian Wichman was raised on the mo‘olelo of Haena by his father.
“Haena is the center of the universe for me,” Wichman said. Having grown up at the gateway to the Napali he said Haena place names and legends were his very first stories.
This outdoor series offers a special opportunity to learn about Kaua‘i’s cultural history from a contemporary keeper of the art while experiencing the majesty and mana of Limahuli Garden in moonlight. Transmission of oral histories through storytelling, music and dance are among the most highly esteemed Hawaiian arts, the press release states.
Not only a master storyteller, Wichman has deep roots in Kaua‘i as a fifth generation president of Kaua‘i Historical Society — an organization founded by his family in 1914 to preserve Kaua‘i’s sacred places.
As well as personal stories, he’ll recite historical tales of Ha‘ena dating as far back as the 12th Century — including the epic of Pele and Hi‘iaka and legends on the formation of the dry cave, the fire throwing cliff and bon fires over Ha‘ena. Wichman’s family founded Limahuli Garden in 1976.
“My grandmother made us promise to never live in Limahuli. She wanted it to stay pure and pristine,” he said. “We live our lives every day to carry out that vision.”
Part of the night of story telling will include the subtle language and healing powers of the ‘aina.
“In Hawai‘i the land speaks for itself,” he said. “The land is about values and lessons and Ha‘ena is about the wisdom within the knowledge. Haena is about contemplation. If you’re broken spiritually, Haena is where you come to repair.”
Join Wichman for an experience he describes as “listening for that profound silence.”
NTBG editorial and production assistant Jon Letman said the gardens have been wanting to start a storytelling series for a long time.
“Hawaiian culture is such an important part of NTBG, and in particular, Limahuli Garden, we thought that a series of summer mo‘olelo beneath the full moon would be a wonderful way to bring the local community and visitors together for an evening of culture and tradition in a magical setting,” he wrote in an e-mail.
The cost for this summer’s eve event is $35 when purchased by July 2 or $40 on the day of the event, with a $5 discount for Limahuli Garden members. There is no charge for children under 13 accompanied by an adult. Call Limahuli Garden’s Visitor Center at 826-1053 to reserve a place and pay by credit card, or stop by the Center. Limahuli Garden is open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The Visitor Center is located on the Kuhio Highway approximately one mile before Ke‘e Beach.
Attendees are asked to bring a beach chair, mat, and at least one flashlight per family. Parking is very limited and carpooling is strongly encouraged and appreciated. Advance sales are available immediately with proceeds benefiting Limahuli Garden and Preserve.
Visit limahuli.ntbg.org to learn more about these and other activities at Limahuli Garden.
Limahuli Garden and Preserve is one of five gardens and three preserves of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden. NTBG, a non-governmental institution with nearly 2,000 acres of gardens and preserves in Hawai‘i and Florida, is supported primarily through donations and grants. Its mission is to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation, and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions. NTBG is supported primarily through donations and grants.
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
