Hanona

Our project aims to perpetuate Native Hawaiian traditions and cultural practices through the revitalization and education of the cultural landscape of Kapokea at Waihe'e Refuge on the island of Maui. Our project has identified 5 specific skill sets necessary for the successful completion of restoring the cultural landscape.They are: uhau humu pohaku traditional dry stack stone masonry kauhale assembly Hawaiian thatched home construction land stewardship archaeological and historical preservation and cultural ceremony and protocol knowledge. This is a 3 year project that will provide traditional apprentice training involving intergenerational interactions between masters instructors and students.Benchmarks are set in each program by their respective instructor to gauge the process of each student before moving on to their next benchmark project tasks. In the middle of the first year students began building a traditional Hawaiian thatched structure hale. Each program drew from the skillsets they learned from their instructors. The Land Stewards cleared the foundation space and assisted Kauhale students with the gathering and cutting of ironwood logs. The archaeologist assessed and documented the chosen area. And dry stack masonry students set the stones for the foundation. All programs took part in the construction of the hale.

In the second year Kauhale students continued working on the hale which was 90% completed at the end of the second year. Other programs began working in and around the heiau structure. Land Stewards cleared areas so archaeologist could map the heiau. Dry stack masons created test lanes to help archaeologists determine where the corner and faces of the heiau walls were at.The Kahuna Pule program assisted in this task as well through protocols and chants to ensure participants work and approach this space in a respectful manner. Land Steward students applied what they learned from classes workshops such as chainsaw safety First Aid CPR care use maintenance of landscape tools equipment and plant identification native and invasive.This helped to support other programs logistically and in joint projects. It has aided in the protection of the landscape by minimizing impact of native plants when clearing the footprint for the hale wa'a canoe house and when clearing on and around the heiau.Students in the Kauhale learned about different traditional hale forms names & elements of a structure trees suitable for framing types of grass and leaf materials for thatching and lashing techniques. Dry Stack Mason students learned and applied their knowledge of the types of stones used in dry stack masonry building scaffolding use of batter boards and level and selecting the proper stones.The lead Archaeologist curriculum focused on site mapping drafting technological methods field survey skills digital database research skills observation of the effects of natural processes on archaeological sites and cultural historical research skills. The Kahuna Pule program focused on developing protocols for the area.