Ka ua Pōpōkapa o Nuʻuanu. The tapa-bundling rain of Nuʻuanu.
The Pōpōkapa rain is so-called because anyone who came up Nuʻuanu Pali from the windward side had to bundle his garments and hold his arms against his chest to keep from getting wet. (Pukuʻi). The kapa or Hawaiian barkcloth is a fibrous cloth our kūpuna wore to adorn and protect themselves from the natural elements. This art form at one time was essential to our Hawaiian people. It was a sacred activity that required great attention from the beginning to the end of the process. With the introduction of Western influence, fabricated materials were more easily acquired. Today the art of kuku kapa is still being practiced. Practitioners have introduced modern uses of kapa but it is still being utilized in traditional burial rites with our iwi kupuna and as traditional hula attire.
August 10, 2024
Continuing on with our lessons with Mahina and Cheryl, our ʻohana continue to further their knowledge with lau hala. This week the keiki learned to weave a bracelet while their makua prep leaves to make a small moena or mat.
JuLy 13, 2024
As the seasons change, so does the focus of this module. These next few weeks our ʻohana are focusing on the practice of ulana lauhala (weaving hala leaves). Equipped with their tools and their open minds, the ohana gather for an inspiring opening exercise, then head off to work. Makua learned the basics of cleaning, prepping and rolling kūkaʻa as well as assembling a fish made out of their gathered leaves. The keiki take to the ground to look for and gather seeds to demonstrate the many uses of the hua lauhala.
June 24, 2024
A once in a lifetime opportunity for some, FestPAC was an experience worth the crowds. A festival that spans over ten days began with an opening ceremony celebrating all the people of the pacific, an oceanic nation connected through moananuiakea. Our families had the pleasure of attending a multitude of events during the festival sharing stories, cultures, and ideas. Throughout the festivities they had the opportunity to experience the importance of their ancestral knowledge being passed through generations. Their skills, practice, and memories made at FestPAC will last a lifetime and beyond.
May 11, 2024
A once in a lifetime opportunity for some, FestPAC was an experience worth the crowds. A festival that spans over ten days began with an opening ceremony celebrating all the people of the pacific, an oceanic nation connected through moananuiakea. Our families had the pleasure of attending a multitude of events during the festival sharing stories, cultures, and ideas. Throughout the festivities they had the opportunity to experience the importance of their ancestral knowledge being passed through generations. Their skills, practice, and memories made at FestPAC will last a lifetime and beyond.
August 29, 2024
July 11, 2024
May 16, 2024
