Kamehameha Schools, together with Bishop Museum, University of Hawaiʻi and the Polynesian Voyaging Society – collectively the ʻAha Moananuiākea Consortium – recently joined together in an ʻaha hoʻokipa at Ka‘iwakīloumoku ceremonially welcoming the Honorable Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu – minister of Culture and the Environment for French Polynesia (FP) – to Hawaiʻi. His delegation included his sister Mateata Maamaatuaiahutapu, head of Tahiti Nui TV; Fabien Mara-Dinard, head of the Arts Conservatory, FP; and Merehau Anastas, head of the Festival of Pacific Arts FP delegation. Matahiariʻi Tutavae, Hōkūleʻa crew member also with Tahiti Nui TV, served as translator.
Among Hawaiian protocols extended to the Tahitian delegation were mele hoʻokipa (chants of welcome), a haʻiʻōlelo welina (words of welcome) offered by KS Executive Culture Officer, Dr. Randie Kamuela Fong, ʻaha ʻawa conducted by KS Cultural Specialist Lāiana Kanoa-Wong, haʻiʻōlelo (speeches), ceremonial eating of symbolic foods, and hula by the KSK Hawaiian Ensemble led by Kumu Kaleo Trinidad.
An ʻawa planting ceremony and a private hālāwai kūkākūkā (partnership discussion) followed, strengthening the pilina between the Tahitian and Hawaiian leaders. Formalities concluded with a visit to Maunaʻala where hoʻokupu were presented by the Tahitian dignitaries at the gravesites of the Kamehameha and Kalākaua families.
The purpose of the event was to to explore the possiblities for a Hawaiʻi/Tahiti cultural partnership that celebrates genealogical connections, honors cultural and maritime heritage and commits to actions that restores ocean ecosystems and promotes a sustainable Island Earth.
“The origin of our Lāhui and the chiefly lineage of Pauahi are rooted in our ancestral home region of Tahiti,” said KS CEO Jack Wong. “It was our indigenous sciences and maritime innovations that made Pacific peoples among the greatest explorers of all time. This cultural-educational partnership seeks to reconnect us to our direct Polynesian heritage, and the greater Oceanic community in which we serve as both leader and citizen.”
Polynesian Voyaging Society President and former KS Trustee Nainoa Thompson added, “In preparation for the upcoming voyages around the Pacific, we must first return to our source, Tahiti, to honor our homeland and reconnect with our ʻohana. Together with urgency, we can apply ancestral wisdom to restore and protect the Pacific Ocean and the planet as a whole, which must be the core curriculum of this generation.”
Minister Maamaatuaiahutapu concluded, “Because of globalization we have both lost parts of our culture. But with these types of cultural exchanges, we can share our heritage with one another and hopefully reclaim what we have lost.”
‘Aha Moananuiākea’s Pacific Consortium Progress
The cultural partnerships under development will feature two-way cultural exchange programs and heritage journeys for learners and professsionals that promote traditional practices, research, knowledge sharing, social change initiatives, native language and culture revitalization, and environmental restoration among our Pacific indigenous extended family.
Aotearoa – Connections were made to both Waitangi and Aurere, home of the late Sir Hekenukumai Busby, the father of Aotearoa’s voyaging community. Founded on a signed declaration, the Kupe Waka Center is a sister center to KS’ Kaʻiwakīloumoku, and there are Hawaiʻi-Māori cultural exchanges being developed.
Sealaska – The consortium signed a declaration with Sealaska, a Tlingit and Haida land trust located in Juneau, Alaska. The relationship was sealed at a recent conference sponsored by ‘Aha Moananuiākea. Cultural exchange programs are currently under discussion.
National Taiwan University – The university and the Paiwan Austronesian Tribe have accepted the consortium’s invitation to engage in a cultural partnership, the details of which will be discussed this fall and be worked into a culture-based memorandum of agreement. The goal is to bring home the partnership with Austronesian Taiwan along with a signed declaration by June 2020, to coincide with the Festival of Pacific Arts, a world-class celebration hosted in Hawai‘i that will be co-sponsored by a number of local organizations including Kamehameha Schools.
More to come – The consortium is poised for two future partnerships, one with Rapa Nui and the other with Satawal in Mircronesia, the home of the late master navigator Mau Piailug.
Attendees walked to the Waineʻemālie Garden below Ka‘iwakīloumoku for the planting of ʻawa hiwa, a high quality ‘awa favored for use in ceremonies. Here, KS CEO Jack Wong, Culture and Environment Minister Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu and Polynesian Voyaging Society President Nainoa Thompson plant one of several ‘awa seedlings.
Among Hawaiian protocols extended to the Tahitian delegation were an ʻaha ʻawa conducted by KS Cultural Specialist Lāiana Kanoe-Wong. Attendees then partook of ceremonial foods including kalo (taro), uala (sweet potato), ʻulu (breadfruit) and paʻakai (salt).
Hula performances were offered by the KS Kapālama Hawaiian Ensemble led by Kumu Kaleo Trinidad.
Attendees celebrate the planting of the ‘awa.
Building pilina. Part of the partnership discussion are: ‘Aha Moananuiākea representatives Lāiana Kanoe-Wong, Nainoa Thompson, Jack Wong, Jamie Fong and Randie Fong; and French Polynesian culture and environment leaders Merehau Anastas, Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, Matahiariʻi Tutavae (translator) and Fabien Mara-Dinard.
The afternoon culminated with a visit to Mauna ‘Ala, the final resting place of Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Here, Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu and Mateata Maamaatuaiahutapu honor the princess by placing ho‘okupu on the Kamehameha crypt.
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cultural partnership,aha moananuiākea pacific consortium,sustainability
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Kaipuolono Article, Themes, Culture, Community, Newsroom, Community Education, Community Events, Department News, Ho‘okahua, Mālama Honua
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