WAIPOULI — Keeping the Polynesian culture and arts alive is just as important for kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian or native person) as it is for non-natives, said Sandy Herndon. Herndon, administrator of The Children of the Land (Na Keiki O
WAIPOULI — Keeping the Polynesian culture and arts alive is just as important for kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian or native person) as it is for non-natives, said Sandy Herndon.
Herndon, administrator of The Children of the Land (Na Keiki O Ka ‘Aina), a cultural center just opened at Kaua‘i Village shopping center in Waipouli, explains:
“It’s really important to kanaka maoli children, and just as important for other children, to learn about the host culture, because (then) they have a deeper appreciation of the culture that they come to live in.”
Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i continue to be melting pots, where people from the world’s races have decided to come and visit or live, “and the beauty of that is better understanding of local culture.”
“Some kanaka maoli don’t have full knowledge of their culture because of the melting pot here,” and the center’s intent is to bring the community together through the children, she said Sunday during grand-opening festivities that lasted from around noon until well after sunset.
“Without some level of host-culture understanding, kids are not as strong, productive in society,” she said.
The core value is aloha, said Herndon.
“I absolutely love the idea of bringing Polynesian culture and arts to the community,” Herndon said when asked why she was putting her energies into this new venture.
The unique lease agreement calls for inhabitants of The Children of the Land space (the former Children’s Discovery Museum location in the building where the whale clock tower is positioned) to regularly perform at the outdoor stage near the center’s entrance door — sometimes for pay, sometimes not, she said.
The nonprofit established to open the center has four or five grant writers at its disposal, and Herndon said she is hoping one of them is successful soon because, at present, there is no telephone at the center.
They have been able to keep the electricity on so far, she said.
“The community has been pretty generous,” said Herndon. And if Sunday’s turnout is any indication of support, the center appears to have plenty both from visitors and residents.
For starters, there is live Hawaiian music from 5 to 6 p.m. each Wednesday, and from 7 to 9 p.m. each Friday, plus a torch-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday.
Center authorities Tuesday were finalizing a calendar of classes, to include Polynesian drumming, Tahitian dancing, ‘ukulele, and more. The center is open seven days a week from at least 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on most evenings later than that, said Herndon.
At Sunday’s grand opening, there was nonstop live entertainment, a lecture on medicinal plants by la‘au lapa‘au (practitioner of curing medicine using native plants) Gabriel Monaghan (652-9639, gabrielhawaiiki@yahoo.com), a kalo (taro) recipe contest, drum classes (crash courses after which one group immediately got on stage and backed up fire dancers), silent auction and much more.
Evan Meek is the center’s board president, and served as master of ceremonies for the entertainment on the outdoor stage.
Judges in the kalo recipe contest included Mark Meyers, proprietor of Trees Lounge in Waipouli; Fae Hirayama, a local cookbook author; and John Armand, a vegetarian, local-foods proponent and provider of local fermented food and beverage products.
In the appetizer category, Caroline Pedderson’s taro humus was tops. Lori Ornellas won the entree category with her taro patties in coconut with lemongrass and pineapple salsa, and Caela Coberly took the dessert category with her espresso spice chocolate taro pie.
Laurel Brier won honorable mention for her entree, scallop taro in coconut milk.
For more information on the center, call Herndon, 635-4545, or Phil Villatora, 652-3714.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
