As a result of implementing the Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camps in Miloliʻi and Kaʻakepa this summer, we were able to support two fishing communities to pass on generational family fishing practices, pono values and traditional and cultural knowledge of places and stewardship.

 

Kalanihale hosted their 12th annual Miloliʻi Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camp from June 20-23, 2022. ʻAumākua Manō and Heʻe was the theme that grounded the activities and discussions of this yearʻs camp. Participants got to learn oli, mele, hula, moʻolelo of Miloliʻi, ʻōpelu fishing practices, cleaning and dissecting fish to look at reproduction, form and function of manō and heʻe, fishing rules and regulations. It was exciting to incorporate a taʻape cook off and demonstration where we had guest chef Bonita Lau and her team prepare sweet and sour taʻape, Lani Waite-Crawford of Miloliʻi shared how to make taʻape sabao, and Miloliʻi lawaiʻa, Imaika Yeaman highlighted a taʻape ceviche recipe.

 

Pōhaku Pelemaka and Na Lauʻō o Kaʻakepa hosted their 1st Annual “Ho’owehe i ka niu”-Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camp at Kaʻakepa, Puna, Hawaiʻi July 2-4, 2022. It was a tremendous success with three generations of ʻohana present throughout the weekend. Participants learned oli, mele, hula, kilo, identifying intertidal marine organisms, limu and fish species, how to husk and open niu (coconuts) and make coconut milk, prepare ʻuala palaua (sweet potato dessert with coconut milk), ola kino and mea ʻai, aloha ʻāina and planting of niu. The leaders and ʻohana were able to share in intergenerational moʻolelo of the place and practices, as well as learn about the different stewardship initiatives that should be carried out in this wahi pana, including ways to best mālama ʻāina at Kaʻakepa and allowing the place some time to rest.