Na Keiki

Na Keiki O Hawaii Summer Field Trip
By Margaret K. Sanborn

The planning for this trip was exciting and the Keiki’s and their parents worked hard to fund raise for
it. There were others like the Hui O Hawaii and the Community who became fully involved in fund-
raising. We sold candy lei’s and floral lei ‘s, kalua pork, grant writing and many other various fund-
raisers. Parents participated by funding their own trip, The Atherton YMCA contributed by
decreasing the room rates to fit our budget, and later invoiced Pacific American Foundation, as they
wanted to kokua as well.   They reserved vans for us at their rate. The Waiakea YMCA generously
donated their vans to us. Many of the “fee’s” to enter museums were waived. When good things
happen, there is never enough ways to say MAHALO. Needless to say, on behalf of the Keikis O
Hawaii, their Parents and myself. We humbly say MAHALO NUI LOA.

Arriving at Lindburg Field on Thursday morning, July 24th was a very exciting for all of us. We
checked in individually and all met to have breakfast at McDonald’s restaurant. There was a lot of
anticipation that morning. Some of children had never flown before, for some of the parents it was a
“first” for them after being on mainland for many years. When we landed in Honolulu, the children
were invited to visit the cockpit and visit with the pilot. The panel of instruments, not realizing that it
all contributed to “flying the airplane”, awed them.

A lovely lady named Tamar DeFries met us at the airport. Program Director of the Atherton YMCA.
She hustled all the assigned drivers to the Dollar Rent a Car and helped with guiding them back to
load up the vans. We went directly to the YMCA, got our room assignments and left for a
welcoming lunch at Kapiolani Park. While we were there, we were given our packets with the
schedules, material and instructions for the next week. We also met three members from the
community who were going to be our mentors while visiting Oahu. Their names were Puka Ahsing,
Nick and Kuki. They all taught us our first Oli and it was gratifying to see the keiki’s responding to
these mentors. They were taught the Oli Aloha chant, Oli Komo chant and the Ka Pule a ka Haku
(The Lord’s Prayer). The keiki’s practiced and practiced each day till they got it right and their
voices came from their Na’au.

The Keiki’s were awake early and were at breakfast at 7:00AM most mornings and began their day
by writing in their journals. Here is a glimpse of the many places and things they experienced.

We were welcomed at The Heritage Center, Kamehameha Schools, by Babe Jones, Curator and
Administrator. The Heritage Center is a replica of the home Bernice Pauahi Bishop and her husband
Charles Reed Bishop shared for most of their married life. We all took our shoes off before entering
and were immediately told of the 200 year old lauhala mats we walked on to. We sat and listened to
Mrs. Jones tell us the story of Princess Pauahi and all the wonderful artifacts that lay within. She
introduced us to the Royal Family by pointing to each of their framed portraits that hung on the walls
of Center. She spoke of the large Hawaiian Coat- of- Arms that adorned the vaulted ceiling. This seal
is one of four originals from Keoua Hale, the mansion Pauahi inherited from her cousin Princess Ruth
Ke’elikolani.   The second room in the center is decorated and features the four-poster bed of
Princess Ruth’s covered with a traditional Hawaiian quilt.   She spoke of the land and how it became
the estate that it is today. She also told the children of the educational opportunities that could one
day be their legacy as well. We experienced the beautiful view, the various types of trees that grew
on the grounds and we each had our pictures taken under the portrait of Princess Pauahi’s and were
given the framed photo’s as a reminder of our visit.

The ‘Iolani Palace was on the agenda next and we saw a film of the Queen Liliuokalani and the
annexation. It was sad and the keiki’s seemed perplexed. When we walked over to the palace, we
had to wear booties to enter and the keiki’s were in awe of its beauty. We learned the ‘Iolani Palace
was the official residence of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapi’olani from 1882 until the King’s death in
1891. We learned that it cost the Hawaiian Kingdom nearly $360,000 to build the palace. There are
four gates an each gate has its own name and purpose: Kauikeauoli for state ceremonies; Kina’u for
tradesmen; Hakaleleponi for retainers; and Likelike for private access by royalty. The upper floor
was devoted tot he living quarters of the family. The hall was used as a private dining room and
parlor, as well as for the occasional display of feather cloaks, kahili, and rare calabashes, an other
Hawaiian Artifacts. We were in awe of being in the same room that held Queen Liliuokalani prisoner
during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Government. After the overthrow of the monarchy from 1893
to 1968, Iolani Palace was used as the capitol of the Provisional Government, the Republic, the
Territory, and finally the State of Hawai’i. When the new capitol was completed in 1969, the Palace
was vacated and restoration begun.

The Judiciary History Center, located on the South side of King Street, and in back of the King
Kamehameha Statue was our next stop and here the keiki’s participated in A Living History Trial for
Students, “Oni vs meek, 1858. The keiki’s selected assigned roles and practiced their parts in
classroom study. Here are the players: Judge Brandon Lard, Bailiff Jordan Montoya, Court Clerk
Chase Smith, Court Reporter Merle Howard, Defendant (Mr. Meek) James Stanley, Attorney for the
Defendant Kamomi Lopez, Plaintiff (Mr. Oni) Kehaulili, Attorney for the Plaintiff Lokilani Poinciana.

The background of the case: In the traditional Hawaiian system, the king or queen held the land in
trust for the people, but was the guiding force in managing the land. Hoa’aina(tenant) shared use rights
in the land under a konohki (landlord). Tenants had the right to use a piece of land for a house site
and to grow crops. They also had right to use the whole of the landlords land (the ahupua’a) for
other things such as fishing, gathering firewood, and pasturing animals. In return, the tenants gave
days of labor and a portion of their crops to the konohiki when the Great Mahele divided the land; the
tenants lost this right to use the entire land division as pasture for the animals. The decision of Oni vs.
Meek illustrates the break up of the traditional land system when it came into conflict with private
property rights. The decisions of the court: (1) Police Court of Honolulu, September 22, 1858: The
judgment was given to Oni. Mr. Meek was ordered to pay $80 for two horses and $4 in court
costs. (2) Appeal to the Supreme Court, October 1858. The judgment was given to Mr. Meek, the
defendant, with costs. (3) The Supreme Court was concerned with the right of a private property
owner to use the land as he individually wished without having to share its use. The court said “the
custom contended for is so unreasonable, so uncertain, and so repugnant to the spirit of the present
laws, that it ought not to be sustained by judicial authority.” The court also said “...it is perfectly clear
that, if the plaintiff is a hoa’aina, holding his land by virtue of a fee simple award from the Land
Commission, he has no pretense for claiming a right of pasturage by custom.”

The Missionaries and Mission Houses impacted the Hawaiian Islands and the Hawaiian people. They
introduced changes to resemble the western society. Here at the Mission House, the Keiki’s were
able to type set the only press brought to the islands. They set the type, poured and rolled the ink on
the type set, placed each sheet on the pressed and manually printed the ‘Doxology.’ The Protestant
missionaries represent the greatest single constructive influence in Hawaii’s whole development;
educationally, politically, economically and religiously. Because of them, we the native Hawaiians
have fared much better over the past one hundred and fifty years than ‘discovered’ natives in Africa,
India, the Americans and areas of the world. Rather than bringing extinction and extermination, the
missionaries were peopling whom, brought joy of heart and gladness of soul. Their lives and labors
are the foundation for Hawaii’s eventual statehood.

Waikalua Loko Fishpond in Kaneohe was a science adventure the keiki’s will always remember.
There were three scientists on hand instructing the keiki’s. The course introduced The Physical
Setting. “Fishponds, loko i’a, were things that beautified the land, and a land with many fishponds
was called a ‘fat’ land (‘aina momona).” The Ahupua’a are traditional units of land in Hawai’i that
vary in shape and size. They are political and ecological land units designed to meet a community’s
need for food and materials. Ahupua’a generally range from summit peaks extending down slopes
becoming wider as the land slopes downward and to the outer edge of the reef. The boundaries
between adjacent ahupua’a usually conform to the valley walls or ridges. The general concept of the
ahupua’s is that human community living within its boundaries would be self-sufficient in obtaining the
resources needed for survival such as fish, water and land to grow kalo (taro), medicinal herbs, and
trees for canoes and shelter Types of Fishponds and Fish traps built by the Hawaiians in a specific
location were directly related to the physical attributes of a particular ahupua’a. No two fishponds or
fish traps are identical in construction, shape, or internal components. At the end of the session, we all
formed the human chain to drag in the nets. The keiki’s and parents were dressed in their grubbies
and rubber tubbies, entered the pond with their sticks hitting the surface of the water to drive the fish
into the net. What a wonderful experience.

The North shore tour took us to Mokolii Island, Kualoa Regional Park, Brigham Young University,
Mormon Temple, Kahuku Sugar Mill, Sunset Beach, Puuomahuka Heiau State Monument, Waimea
Bay and Halaiwa Beach. The Kaniakapupu hike (Kamehameha 111 Summer Home) was a hike we
all felt a kinship. The narrow trail (across the street from the Nuuanu water pump station -the old Pali
road) that led to the summer home was lined with bamboo and flowers; and if you looked between
the bamboo, you could see the stone irrigation that was once build to carry water to the home. The
home was built of rock and appeared to be approximately 1200 square feet. Over the years, the
home had succumbed to the environment but if you closed your eyes and listened quietly you could
hear the laughter, and the music. When the keiki’s chanted the Oli Aloha, the bamboo swayed and
answered and welcomed us, the mist greeted us and the sun gave us light. It was truly a beautiful
morning.

Alongside the old Pali Road, the keiki’s identified the Kukui Nut tree and learned when picking the
leaves, you only pick the older leaves thus leaving the young leaves to grow and flourish. The picked
enough leaves to learn how to make haku lei’s. We had our lunch at Ualaka’a Park where the keiki’s
picked ti leaves, washed them and striped them while their parents ironed the leaves soft. Each one
of them used the kukui nut leaves they picked earlier in the day and were taught how to weave the
haku lei. Shortly after we dressed in our formal attire and went to Mauna’ala, the “Royal
Mausoleum.” Once we arrived, we chanted the Oli Komo asking for permission to enter Mauna’ala,
the Greeter Puka Ahsing received us. The keiki’s danced their hulas, sang their song’s and played
their ukulele’s. They each gave their haku lei’s with the same passion with which they were woven;
first by going to the Royal Crypt and leaving their lei’s, secondly by visiting each Royal site also
leaving the handsome lei’s they wove. I saw in the eyes of each of the keiki’s and their parents how
the spirits filled them with compassion. The bonding with each other, the mana’o, and the aloha was
solidified and captured in the memories of their hearts.

The visit to the University of Hawaii Hawaiian Studies Department Lo’i was a day of fun and
learning. We were greeted by the Staff at the Lo’i and were immediately thrust into the Canoe
House. The   “A” frame construction framed with ohia wood and its roof was constructed of Pili
grass, which were cut and rolled into bundles and secured to the web woven from the coconut fiber.
The traditional lauhala mat covered the floor and pebbles of rock were used at the entrances of the
Canoe House. Here the men were working on their fishnets, new ones and mending old ones, all
telling stories of days past, present and perhaps predicting the future. We then were schooled on
identifying the Kalo (taro plant). We learned the words Laukalo, Pua, Lu’Au, Ha, Kalo and ‘oha.
We taken up stream and learned that forming We had a most wonderful experience when we drove
to Waipahu and visited with other Hawaiian youth in what was called Community in Schools. Our
brothers and sisters shared their learning experience with our keiki’s and they all became fast friends.
They learned how to make ti leaf bracelets, learned new songs, shared lunch and Aunty Alice and her
Kupuna’s taught the keiki’s how to make grasshoppers with coconut leaves. We all had such a
wonderful time and were sadden when it was time to leave.

On Friday morning we left Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines and were airborne to the island of Hawaii.
We were greeted by the Waiakea YMCA and their students welcomed us with leis, song and
dances. We shared supper with the staff and exchanged information and were off to the Kilauea
Military Camp. For some, this was their first trip to Hawaii Island. Kilauea Military Camp, located on
the rim of the Kilauea Volcano brought a mystique to the surrounding areas. The steam vents and the
smell of sulfur brought questions of sorts from the keiki’s. We all settled in the barracks, bunk beds
(six to a room). The facilities were excellent. We all agreed, that we would all come back to stay at
KMC.

The tour of the Lyman House and Museum were indeed and educational wonder for the keiki’s.
Walking through the man made lava tube with a lesson in geology and explanation of molten lava,
magma, and statistical data peeked the curiosity of the keiki’s and more questions were being asked.
It was truly an educational experience.

We visited the Tsunami Museum and for this writer, it was trips back into those darken days of
sadness. The lecture was informative, the names spoken that day and the incidences that occurred
were all too familiar. Soon after leaving the museum, I took the group on a trip to Papaaloa General
Store to purchase lunch and talk story. These were the survivors of that terrible day. Then I took the
group down to the Laupahoehoe Point where the tragedy occurred and paid homage to those that
lost their lives. The keiki’s saw how menacing the ocean was. The monument with which bore the
names of friends, family and classmates still tell a deafening tale.

On our way to Waipio Valley, we wound our way through many of the one-time thriving and
prosperous plantation towns only to see how quiet they have become. When we came upon Waipio
Valley we marveled at how beautiful it still was and still is. For many, this was their first sight of the
valley where once a great King walked and hid. We did our Oli Komo and Oli Aloha to let the
people and the great spirits know that we came home of Hawaii Nei.Kawaihai Beach was a
welcoming sight as the keiki’s were restless along the ride and the ocean looked inviting. After their
swim, lunch and the ride back was a time to take in some “Z’s.”

On our trip to Kona, we stopped at Amy Greenwell Ethno botanical Gardens. Momi Subiano
greeted us, and she showed us a landscape of over 200 types of native and Polynesian plants. They
tell the story of traditional Hawaiian Life. The Garden is also an archaeological site where visitors can
explore the stone features of the traditional farmlands in the area. We identified the various plants
with which we were going to work with. The keiki’s identified the Olena plant that is used in kappa
dying using natural materials. We used the dyes on kappa cloth. They used tools to make kappa
(Hawaiian cloth) from the bark of the tree. They learned that the kukui nut was used in the daily lives
of the Hawaiian people. They were also shown how to use the bamboo as musical instrument.

Hawaii’s volcanoes were a scientific dream. According to the Ranger, The Jagger Museum was the
highest point of Kilauea Crater. The Keiki’s paid homage to Pele at this highest point. They asked
for permission by chanting Oli Komo, We did our dances, sung our songs and played our ukulele’s to
entertain her. We gave our lei’s and left water to quench her thirst. I believe at this juncture, we truly
felt we came home.

During the trip around Crater Rim, We stopped at various areas and looked out to the ocean only to
see how the island was expanding. At the bottom of the Crater Road, the keiki’s walked on newly
formed lava with their flashlights and watched the lava glow in the night. They watched the lava
glowing in the cracks and where the lava is on the surface from the top of Kilauea.

A canoe ride was arranged by the University of Hawaii Sports Department and Mr. Joe Kalima,
Captain of the UH Canoe Club was our host. He gave the keiki’s and their parents their very first
lesson on the use of the oars and the structure of the canoe. It was fascinating riding a canoe in Hilo
Bay. He was a great teacher and the keiki truly enjoyed time with him. Mahalo Uncle Joe.

When we returned to Honolulu, we toured the Pearl Harbor Memorial. This floating memorial
brought a sense of pride to all those who visited it. Punchbowl Cemetery and the ride through
Tantalus were nice. On Saturday, we went to Hanauma Bay Education Program and brief geology
study of the fish in the Key Hole. The keiki’s were dressed in the fancy bathing suits and armed with
their snorkels and goggles; they identified many of the tropical reef dwellers. They saw white
snowflake coral, black coral, rainbow swimming crabs, hairy yellow hermit crabs, and many others.
This was a beautiful day.

The Birthing Stones, located in the fields in Wahiawa was interesting. In ancient times all the high
chieftess would come to this high spot in the islands to give birth. Men of high rank tended them.

On Sunday, we said Aloha to our newly found friends. It was difficult saying goodbye. We had
become family. They will live in our hearts forever.

Mahalo Ka Kou Ke Akua Pu Me ‘Oe




Na Keiki O Hawaii This gathering is an extension of the Hui's Cultural Program with an age group of 5 - 15. The students learn to play the ukelele, dance the hula, language thru the Kulaiwi language tapes, choir and Oli's, some science, math and reading. The program is headed up by Aunty Margaret Sanborn. Because this is a volunteer program, Aunty Margaret's biggest challenge is finding teachers. If you are interested, please contact her at (619) 466-2948.		Program Success Part of the success of the program is the parents participation; each parent takes a turn. Lunch and snacks are provided when we meet at Springfield college and snacks only when we meet at the Hui Hall. While we are serious about our cultural education we are also very serious in keeping in touch with the keikis' academic education.
	Future Schedule Springfield College is located at 5348 University Avenue, San Diego, Ca. 92105.