Reflection from Tamar Hoapil-Pelekikena

As I sit and think about my five days in Maui, Hawaii-a smile comes across my face! Mahalo Nui Loa to the LVHCC membership for allowing me the priveledge and honor of representing you, LVHCC and the Southern NV community at the 2009 AOHCC Convention. I was given the opportunity to meet other civic club members, learn about their triumps and defeats. I was given the opportunity to meet other current pelekikenas, past pelekikenas and future pelekikenas and learn about the TRUE mission of the civic clubs. I was amazed to see the Na `Opio participation level from the Maui Council--UNREAL! Maui has the YOUNGEST Pelekikena, I believe he is in his early 20's and has such great motivation. I was given the opportunity to meet leaders in our Hawaiian community that are "making a difference" or "leading the way" for us!...yes even here on the Mainland we can make a difference for our Hawaiian community. My hope is that this blog was able to give you a better picture and understanding of the AOHCC Convention and what it is all about. My hope is that you, the membership will attend next year and the following years....a club is only as successful as it's members and our mission as a civic club is only as successful as your participation. Mahalo, Tamar

Ka`ala Farms on `Oahu- Eric Enos

Eric Enos, Executive Director for Ka`ala Farms, speaking of the Ka`ala Cultural Learning Center in Waianae. Eric spoke of how Ka`ala Farms was started-- The project's founders spent years clearing overgrown brush to unveil lava-rock walls pieced together by hand centuries ago. Workers resurrected the prehistoric irragation system, sending water coursing from terrace to flooded terrace. Once again, Kalo plants stretch toward the sun, their broad leaves nodding in the breeze.
As today's students wade into the muddy lo'i to plant young kalo, their bare feet trace the footsteps of their ancestors. They listen to their kupuna in the shade of a hale na'auao thatched with pili grass. And they experience first hand the self-sustaining life of the traditional Hawaiian ahupua'a.
Seperated from the rest of the population by the Wai'anae mountain range, this stretch of the island has always drawn it's strength from within. In ancient times, defeated chiefs retreated here to regenerate. The area's largely native Hawaiian population is still known for it's fiesty spirit.
As waves of urbanization roll westward from Honolulu, Wai'anae holds out as a last stand. The residents of Wai'anae have a powerful sense of pride dispite the rumors of being one of the worst cities in Hawai'i. The work of the Ka'ala Cultural Learning Center is helping to reveal the true strength of Wai'anae and it's people. For more information visit http://www.kaalafarm.com/

Kaulana Park

Kaulana Park speaking of the importance of DHHL lands in the Waianae area.

DHHL Kaulana Park and KSBE Kekoa Paulsen

In the Waianae area, DHHL and KSBE spoke about a partnership of community outreach. KSBE is building a community center which will provide cultural/educational classes ranging from `olelo, working in a taro lo`i and more. Near this community, the DHHL will build Hawaiian Homestead homes. The partnership objective is to insure that the benefits from KSBE and DHHL will services Native Hawaiians. While they are not restrictions to Native Hawaiians the maps in the photos show that Waianae/Leeward Coast has a higher concentration, thus the services will benefit Native Hawaiians.

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Uncle Henry Gomes leading the education committee meeting. Speaking about the various educational opportunites available for native hawaiians

Pat Biley

Photo includes Pat Biley, a weed specialist with The Nature Conservancy who spoke about nature conservation

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Our na 'opio Chyenne Cadaoas with OHA CFO Stan Enomoto discussing OHA strategic plan. For more info on their plan visit their website at www. Oha.gov

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Photo of uncle wayne kahoonei with our na 'opio chyenne cadaoas after the government relations mtg

Lau Kanaka

Aloha this is Tamar. I attended a workshop titled Lau Kanaka led by Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui yesterday afternoon. She spoke about the population representation of the Hawaiian people. Very interesting!

Plenary Session Opening ceremonies...

After proper protocols of praying to ke akua we welcomed all the council presidents and their board. So good chicken skin kine as most of the clubs did an 'oli announcing their club leadership. Also all council presented a makana to the host council.

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Uncle Bucky Leslie leading committee mtg at plenary session this morning.

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Photo of Chalmers and Kanani smiling at Opening Ceremonies of Convention and Plenary Session. We are being serenaded by Hailama Farden.

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Crowd shot of the Blood Quantum workshop. What a spirited discussion!

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Dr. Jon Osorio, Professor, Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies and panel for the Blood Quantum workshop.

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Chalmers Akima and LVHCC Pelekikena at the annual convention Ho'olaule'a.

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Photo of group Kekona performing at annual convention Ho'olaule'a last night. So maika'i

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Tamar and Kanani with Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui, speaker of the Lau Kanaka workshop

So nice to see Uncle Henry, Aunty Lulu and past Pelekikena Lehua Vincent here at the convention!

Aloha all-I am in a class where a group of taro farmers has put together a taro task force where they are working on the protection of generic engineering of taro. To view their report that they will be presented to the government-go to google and look for taro task force. A hui hou...kanani

Please respond to our blog...we would like to hear from all of you!

At 10:00 a.m. I had the privilege to attend the E Ola Ka 'Olelo Hawai'i - Panel on Hawaiian Language movement. The panel consisted of kumu Sarah Keahi, Larry Kimura, Hiapo Perreira, and Pomaika'i Kaniaupio-Crozier. The speakers at this presentation are so passionate about the Hawaiian language, that they challenged those in the room to learn 'olelo Hawai'i. The most prolific message I would like to share with everyone reading this blog was stated by Hiapo Perreira, "Put the language back into the mouth of the children."

It is my hope that every member of our organization learn how to speak the language. There are many courses on-line that we can take and practice at our meetings. Until next time, a hui hou kakou.

Day Two at Convention :D

Aloha this is Chyeanne ! What an awesome day of learning it was today. I learned so much so far. You should see my notes :) I went to three workshops today with my new friend Lei from the youth forum. Our first workshop was with Julie Kolson. She spoke about when the Na Ali'i went to Washington D.C. It was so interesting to see where they visited in Washington. Especially because I'm able to say I walked through some of the places where they stood back in the day. I felt somewhat connected in a way. It was mind boggling to know where they stayed and who they visited. My second workshop I learned about the organization Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa. We were informed about what they were doing for the people left in Kalaupapa. It was a very emotional meeting. To hear some of the stories the speakers told made me want to do something or make a change to help. They are planning on making a monument to remember the people that passed on because they shouldn't be forgotten. If you want to know more you can visit Kalaupapaohana.org. The last workshop I attended was with Bula Logan. I was able to take this workshop with Aunty Tamar too! We learned E Mau Ke 'Ea O Ka 'Aina I Ka Pono O Ke Akua the relationship to heaven and earth. It was AWESOME ! Who knew you didn't need prescription drugs to help you. It was fascinating to learn about the plants that surround us can heal us or help us when needed. Today was a great day of learning. Fasten your seat belts we have one day "for me" left :( I'm excited to see what I can learn tomorrow! STAY TUNED :)

AOHCC board meeting

Aloha this is Tamar. I was able to sit in the association board mtg this afternoon. It was interesting to witness the wonderful workings of our association directors for the purpose of our councils, clubs and members. Three clubs were accepted into the association: Texas, Papakolea on Oahu and Hulu Mamo on Maui. Congratulations to our new sister clubs! Dates for upcoming conventions are 11/7 to 11/14 2010 in Hawaii; 2011 on Oahu date to be announced and 10/14 to 10/21 in Washington DC.

Kahuna Ali'I Maiola Ahi-Bula Logan

Aloha this is Tamar! I attended a workshop about la'au and its relationship to heaven and earth led by Bula Logan. Bottom line teaching is to pule for all things. We must make pule become part of our day- a habit. To PULE is to be PILI with Ke Akua so everything is PONO. If all is PONO then no need to ho'oponopono. Simple yeah! Bula shared various remedies from various la'au in the islands. La'au is the essence of healing and ma'i is when we have an illness/not in balance. When we pule we will be guided by Ke Akua and it will be revealed where to administer the la'au. Does anyone know of any local practitioners of la'au lapa'au in Vegas? Everywhere there is la'au we just have to find it. Maybe we need to tap into our native american brothers in southern nevada? Hmmm so interesting!

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Aloha this is Tamar. Attending the Lau Kanaka workshop with speaker Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui from Kaua'I. Maika'i!

Aloha, it's Chyeanne ! I just finished a workshop with Uncle Bula. It was so interesting. My friend Lei who I met through the youth forum and I learned so much. Who knew you can heal things by using plants from the aina. I didn't but after finishing that educational workshop I do now !!

Aloha from Maui - the first workshop I attended spoke about Preservation & Protection of Hawai'i's Native Species from the Devastating Effects of Invasive Species. Pat Bily from The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i spoke about Waikamoi Preserve; specifically the positive results from their fencing project to preserve & protect which resulted in dramatic native plants recovery within the Waikamoi Preserve. Kuhea Paracuellas (middle) of Maui County talk about Maui's ROI Round- up spearfishing tournament to catch invasive fish. Dawn Chang (in dress) representing a Federal, State, and Non-profit collaborative "partnership to protect Hawai'i's Native Species, specifically erasiction of rats" I am so concerned like these speakers about the wellnes of our lands & oceans. Hui hou! Sent from my iPhone

Welina-I am so excited to be a part of this process. While attending the mainland council meeting yesterday, there were 3 different educational guest speaker that came to share information.
1. Keola Akana shared information about Kamehameha Publishing and the educational fundraising opportunity.
2. Chaminade University presented their scholarship opportunity, where the recipient will receive for 4 years half off of their tuition.
3. Kamehameha School's distance learning showed how their system works such as; genealogy, mo'olelo, malama, olelo Hawaii. To see more visit http://ksdl.ksbe.edu/adult/courses.html

Talk to all of you soon...kanani

Day One of Convention

Aloha this is Tamar reporting to you from Makena, Maui. What an eventful day! The first meeting on my agenda was the Mainland Council Meeting in which all mainland council presidents and delegates met to discuss our individual club success stories. During this meeting, the top two items of discussion was two resolutions that are going to committee on Thursday. The first resolution is that the AOHCC president MUST be of Hawaiian decent. Right now, the AOHCC C&B's do not specify Hawaiian lineage--so there is a resolution to change the AOHCC C&B's to include this. The second resolution is that the AOHCC president must physically reside in the Hawaiian Islands. This brought a TON of discussion and concern from the Mainland Council representatives. More information to follow on this "spirited" topic. My second meeting was the President's meeting in which all presidents and council presidents met with Leimomi Khan to discuss the flowcharts of the club, council and AOHCC's C&B's. This was fantastic! More to follow tomorrow.

First Day of Convention

Hey it's Chyeanne ! Wow ! What an eventful day it was at convention today ! Aunty Leimomi Khan invited me to participate in the youth forum. It was so much fun and informational. There were different speakers throughout the meeting. From Uncle Charles Rose to Aunty Haunani Apoliona. They shared their personal stories on why they joined Hawaiian civic clubs and why we as the Na Opio should get involved with our hawaiian communities. I was even able to meet other kids involved with their hawaiian communities. I met kids from Farrington High School to Kamehameha High School. It was so educational I just can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store for me !

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Chyenne blogging for LVHCC her experience today at the LVHCC Youth Forum

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Arrived in Maui

This is Tamar and I just arrived in Maui. The drive to Makena is about 40 minutes from the airport and the weather is beautiful! Maui has surely changed since the last time I was here 15 years ago.