KS preschoolers get hands-on learning experience aboard Hikianalia

Hoʻokahua Senior Program Manager and Hikianalia crew member Mark Ellis teaches keiki from the KS Koʻolaupoko Preschool about the parts of a waʻa (canoe).

Dec. 16, 2015

Contributed by Pakalani Bello

“Splish, splish, splash, there she goes! Hikianalia is on the go!”

On Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, 38 3- and 4-year-old Koʻolaupoko Kamehameha preschool students boarded a bus in Heʻeia, Oʻahu to meet the famous canoe that they had been learning about for months prior; Hikianalia.

As the student’s exited the bus at the Marine Education Training Center (METC) we were greeted by PVS crew members Mark Ellis, Mikiʻala Akiona, Kaʻaiʻōhelo McAfee – Torco and Maleko Lorenzo. As we made our way to greet Hikianalia our keiki excited to see the Hawaiian flag proudly fluttering in the wind on the lines of Hikianalia. “Look Kumu, it’s Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī , nana i kou mōʻī, just like our classroom” exclaimed Kaikane Primacio (3 year old). “ʻAe, Kaikane. She’s a Hawaiian canoe just like you are Hawaiian” I replied. He was so proud, he continued to sing all the way to the edge of the pier where Hikianalia was docked. We shared our oli aloha and gave our ti-leaf lei made by the keiki. The Hikianalia crew responded with their oli and welcomed us with open arms.

After a brief introduction of crew and overview of the agenda we were divided into two groups. One group went on to the canoe and the other learned about the Star compass.

We were able to go aboard Hikianalia where we saw the cooking area, where the crew sleeps, and got to try out the hoe uli or steering paddle which took many little hands to operate. Our waʻa tour guides were Mikiʻala Akiona and Kaʻaiōhelo McAfee – Torco who shared their experiences with us.

As we disembarked the canoe, we joined up with the other group to sing two songs that were written special just for Hikianalia and Hōkūleʻa by our very own Kumu Kaliko Pulliam. After we shared our mele, we gathered into the classroom to learn about the Hawaiian Star Compass and the parts of the canoe with Uncle Mark Ellis.

At lunch time, we were visited by a special guest whom many of our keiki thought he was in South Africa with Hōkūleʻa. Uncle Nainoa Thompson, peeked in to say “aloha” to us. Many of our keiki recognized his face from the videos we had been watching prior to our visit. One little girl, Emma Fong was so excited to see him that she walked right up to him and asked “Why are you here? You’re supposed to be in South Africa.” Nainoa responded by saying “I heard that you were going to be here and had to say hi”. A memory that will last a lifetime for this little four year old girl.

Mahalo nui to everyone who made our day a great success! We are humbled by the experience and look forward to where this takes our little voyagers this year.

The keiki work together to build their own waʻa.