Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island of Hawaii is a place where history runs deep. The 450 year-old stone walls have borne witness to generations of Hawaiians fleeing war, persecution, or, in some case, justice. It is a gathering place, where people have come together for protection from violence and for keeping ancient traditions alive. It is home to the kapu grounds of the residence of the chief of the Honaunau ahupua’a (district). And it is an enclave of Hawaiian heritage, the last surviving City of Refuge in the Hawaiian islands.
Each year, the National Historical Park celebrates it’s anniversary with a gathering meant to celebrate and perpetuate the traditions of Honaunau and of Hawaii. During the two-day event cultural practitioners in traditional dress will be present to share their knowledge of Hawaiian culture and their expert skills in ancient crafts. Some of the highlights of the event include:
- Canoe Rides – Take a ride on the brilliant blue waters of Honaunau Bay in a traditional dugout canoe. Ancient Hawaiian were expert sailors and paddlers, and used canoes for fishing in both shoreline and pelagic waters. The canoe landing at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau was traditionally reserved for the chief and his retinue.
- Crafts & Games – Learn to play games like konane and ulu maika. Practice traditional crafts with hands-on activities like weaving baskets and hats from lauhala or coconut fronds. Learn to make lei or a bamboo nose flute. At the end of the day you will have a unique souvenir to take home with you.
- Demonstrations – Cultural practitioners will be present to demonstrate their skills, like the carving of wooden ki’i akua, the icons of the many manifestations of the Hawaiian gods that are used to mark sacred locations. Watching these experts at work will give you a greater appreciation for the massive wood carvings and traditional structures that adorn the park.
- Hawaiian Food – The early Hawaiian settlers brought at least 24 different varieties of “canoe plants” with them from the South Pacific including sweet potatoes, yams, breadfruit, and ginger. The food from these simple plants sustained generations of Hawaiians before the 1800s. You will have the opportunity to sample a variety of dishes prepared in traditional styles.
- Hukilau – The highlight of each year’s Cultural Festival is the fishing demonstration using the hukilau, a traditional fishing “net.” The hukilau is a long strand of ti leaves strung together on a long cord and weighed down with stones such that the leaves hang down into the water. It takes a coordinated effort by many people to make this fishing technique work. The hukilau is brought out to the mouth of the small inlet that leads to the canoe launch. A group of people hold the hukilau along the cord so that it spans to the mouth of the inlet, while others begin to slap the water to create noise. Then the entire group begins to slowly close the net in unison. In ancient times, this technique would have been used to push all of the fish trapped in the net up onto the beach, where they could be easily gathered by children. At the cultural festival, the practitioners only bring the fish into the shallows, where the Yellow Tangs create a shimmering golden current beneath the surface. A kumu will recite a chant over the fishermen and the fish before the net is raised and the fish a freed back into the bay.
If you have never visited Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park before, this year’s festival is the perfect opportunity to be immersed in the Park, its history, and its culture. The Festival takes place each year toward the end of June. This year’s date is TBD. Please check in at the Park’s website or call (808) 328-2326 x1702 for more information. Book your luxury room at Holualoa Inn and experience Hawaiian culture like no other.
Pu<unk>uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park kwenye Kisiwa Kikuu cha Hawaii ni mahali ambapo historia ina kina kirefu. Kuta za mawe za Hawaii, ambazo ni za miaka 450, zimekuwa ushahidi wa vizazi vingi vya watu wa Hawaii wakikimbia vita, mateso, au, katika visa fulani, haki. Ni mahali pa kukusanyika, ambapo watu wamekusanyika pamoja kwa ajili ya ulinzi dhidi ya vurugu na kwa ajili ya kuweka mila za kale hai. Ni nyumbani kwa kapu misingi ya makazi ya mkuu wa Honaunau ahupuaa (mkoa). Ni mji wa asili wa Hawaii, mji wa mwisho wa makazi katika visiwa vya Hawaii. Kila mwaka, Hifadhi ya Kitaifa ya Kihistoria husherehekea maadhimisho ya miaka yake na mkusanyiko unaolenga kusherehekea na kudumisha mila za Honaunau na Hawaii. Katika kipindi cha siku mbili, watendaji wa utamaduni katika mavazi ya jadi watakuwapo kushiriki maarifa yao ya utamaduni wa Hawaii na ujuzi wao wa wataalamu katika ufundi wa kale. Baadhi ya mambo makuu ya tukio ni pamoja na: - Canoe Rides <unk> Kuchukua safari juu ya maji ya bluu ya Honaunau Bay katika jadi dugout canoe. Wahamiaji wa kale wa Hawaii walikuwa mabaharia stadi na wapiga-meli, na walitumia mitumbwi kuvua samaki katika pwani na katika maji ya baharini. Kwa kawaida, meli za kuvuka kwenye Pu<unk>uhonua O Honaunau zilitumiwa na mkuu wa kabila na msafara wake. - Crafts & Michezo <unk> Jifunze kucheza michezo kama konane na <unk>ulu maika. Fanya kazi za mikono kwa kutumia mikono kama vile kufuma vikapu na kofia kutoka kwa lauhala au majani ya kokoni. Jifunze kutengeneza lei au filimbi ya pua ya mianzi. Mwisho wa siku utakuwa na zawadi ya kipekee ya kuchukua nyumbani. Maonyesho ya sanaa ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi ya kiwi. Kuangalia wataalamu hawa wakifanya kazi kutakupa uthamini mkubwa zaidi kwa ajili ya michongo mikubwa ya mbao na miundo ya kitamaduni ambayo hupamba mbuga hiyo. Hawaii walichukua angalau aina 24 tofauti za mimea ya canoe kutoka Pasifiki Kusini, ikiwa ni pamoja na viazi tamu, yams, matunda ya mkate, na tangawizi. Chakula kutoka kwa mimea hii rahisi kiliwategemeza vizazi vya Wahaiwani kabla ya miaka ya 1800. Utakuwa na nafasi ya kuonja vyakula mbalimbali vilivyotengenezwa kwa mtindo wa kitamaduni. - Hukilau <unk> Jambo kuu la Sherehe ya Utamaduni ya kila mwaka ni maonyesho ya uvuvi kwa kutumia hukilau, wavu wa jadi wa uvuvi. <unk> Hukilau ni kamba ndefu ya majani ya ti yaliyofungwa pamoja kwenye kamba ndefu na kupigwa chini na mawe ili majani hayo yalizunguka ndani ya maji. Inahitaji jitihada za pamoja za watu wengi ili mbinu hiyo ya uvuvi ifanye kazi. Meli hiyo huletwa kwenye mdomo wa kijito kidogo kinachoongoza kwenye mahali pa kuteleza kwa mtumbwi. Kikundi cha watu huushika ukilau kwenye kamba ili ufikie mdomo wa kijito, huku wengine wakianza kupiga maji ili kutokeza kelele. Kisha kikundi chote huanza kufunga wavu polepole kwa umoja. Katika nyakati za kale, mbinu hii ingetumiwa kusukuma samaki wote waliovamiwa kwenye wavu hadi kwenye ufuo, ambapo wangeweza kukusanywa kwa urahisi na watoto. Katika tamasha la kitamaduni, watendaji huleta samaki kwenye maji ya chini, ambapo Yellow Tangs huunda mkondo wa dhahabu unaong'aa chini ya uso. "Kumu huimba wimbo juu ya wavuvi na samaki kabla ya wavu kuinuliwa na samaki kuachiliwa tena baharini.""" Ikiwa hujawahi kutembelea Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park kabla, tamasha la mwaka huu ni fursa kamili ya kuzamishwa katika Hifadhi, historia yake, na utamaduni wake. Sherehe hiyo hufanywa kila mwaka mwishoni mwa Juni. Tarehe ya mwaka huu ni TBD. Tafadhali angalia tovuti ya Hifadhi au piga simu (808) 328-2326 x1702 kwa habari zaidi. Kitabu chumba yako ya anasa katika Holualoa Inn na uzoefu Hawaiian utamaduni kama hakuna mwingine.