Field trip blog # 1
On the first day I went on the field, Mahealani Pai was explaining the rules of working at the Heiau. I also learned that an outdoor classroom is called Halau Ike. I also learned that there are different types of Heiau. There are sacrificial Heiau and Heiau for worshiping. I learned that you must not disrespect the Heiau because it is very sacred. I think that what I learned in this Halau Ike relates to my culture. I also think that my culture is very similar to the Hawaiian culture. I also learned that there are four gods in the Hawaiian culture that they worship, Ku, Lona, Konaloa, and Kane. I really learned a lot on the first day because these were things I did not know. I also learned of how it feels to actually walk and map a Heiau. On my first day I really enjoyed working on the Heiau and I also enjoyed meeting Mahealani Pai and Uncle Keone.
Field trip blog # 2
When I went the second time on the field trip, I learned even more about the Hawaiian culture. I learned about what Heiau means. It means pre- Christian place of worship. I thought Heiau was just like nick name, but I thought wrong. I also learned what plane table mapping meant in Hawaiian. It meant Hui Kaha Pohaku. There was also a Heiau where it measures time, which was called the Hapaialii Heiau. When I first heard about a Heiau that could measure time I was astounded by that. I also learned how to say the four cardinal points in Hawaiian, which were akau-north, hema-south, hikina-east and komohana-west. After our outdoor class, the boys went to the Pao Umi Heiau which was only meant for men. I also learned about the winter and summer solstice and how to say them in Hawaiian. Winter solstice in Hawaiian is Ke alanui Polohiwa and Summer solstice in Hawaiian is Ke Alanui a Kane. I also learned what Kapu meant. It meant forbidden and or restricted. I learned a lot on my second day and hoped that I may use this information in the future.
Field trip blog # 3
On the final day of my trip, I learned about the main things about the Hawaiian culture. I learned that the abolishment of the Kapu system in the year 1819 at the battle of Kuamo’o. I also learned that Kekuaokalani and Manono fought against Liholiho and Kalanimoku in this battle. I also learned that the Hawaiian term for boundary to boundary in Hawaiian meant,” Mai kahi pae akhi pae.” I also learned that before women go into a Heiau, they place Lai or ti leaf on their body. I also learned that Niho stones meant the foundation stones for the Heiau. Going on three field trips helped me learn about Hawaii.
What will the site look like 20 years from now?
by Laki Taufa
After I graduated from High school, I went to college at Southern Oregon University. I graduated from college when I was twenty-two years old. When I came back from school, I applied for a job at Wal-Mart as a cashier’s person. I worked at Wal-Mart for six years. After working at Wal-Mart and helping my parents out, I decided to take my family to the Keahou Outrigger Hotel. My family asked me why, but I told them that it would be a surprise. Once we got to the hotel, my Mom and my Dad were wondering what we were looking at. I realized that it’s been twenty years since I’ve never been here. I told my parents that what they are looking at, is a Heiau that my class and I helped rebuild. My parents were very proud of me. I think that if I hadn’t brought my parents to see what I accomplished, I would have felt guilty of myself. When I actually looked at the Heiau, I realized that we did a great job. Now that the Heiau were built, Keahou looked like a real Hawaiian hotel. Every day I would drive by the hotel, I would always stop to look at all the Heiau. One day I was running on Ali’i drive I seen Mahealani Pai and I asked about what he thought about Keahou and how it looks. He said,” I am so happy and thankful for all the people who helped rebuild the Heiau and it looks beautiful.” I told Mahealani that I really enjoyed mapping the Heiau. That was the biggest project I have ever done in my life. The reason why I enjoyed this project was because I felt that I was doing something for my culture. I think that rebuilding a Heiau is like rebuilding your culture and your family. My parents really liked the fact that I helped rebuild the Heiau and also the fact that Keahou looks like a much more better place for tourists and families to go there.
If a tourist came up to you here at the site and asked what you were doing, what would you tell them?by Laki Taufa
One morning, as I was getting ready for school, I remembered that my class was going on a field trip to the Keahou Outrigger Hotel for a plane table mapping project. I was so excited to go because it would be the first time for me doing something so important and big. I got ready, went to the store and bought lunch for the trip and headed to school. Once I got to school, my class was already loading up and so I ran to the van. On our way to the hotel, we were asking our teacher how long would it take for us to stay there. Once we got to Keahou, we had to unload the van and chant e ho mai in order to enter. When we were invited inside, we had to sit down and listen to what Mahealani Pai had to say about the Heiau we were going to work on. There were different types of Heiau. There were Heiau where women were forbidden and Heiau’s where men were forbidden.
When we were done taking notes, the boys and the girls split up. We the boys went to the Pao Umi Heiau. While we were working on our maps, a tourist walked up to me and my group and asked what we were doing. I told the tourist that we were restoring the Heiau. They also asked if it was ok to walk on the reconstructed Heiau. I told them that it would be a bad idea because you must ask for permission from Mahealani Pai and I also told them that they must say a chant aksing for permission to enter and for protection. I would also tell them to not walk on the rebuilt Heiau and not to disrespect the Hawaiian culture. I would that it is not ok for them to walk on the Heiau because as a class we all had to go through a routine before we start working on these Heiau’s. I think that if I was to let a bunch of tourists walk on the Heiau without asking for permission, I would be the one to blame for things they did bad. I think that I would get haunted by the Hawaiian spirits for letting the tourists walk on the Heiau. I wouldn’t want other people disrespecting my culture because I care about my culture.
Justin Kapahua, Andrew Agaoili and Jacinth Deluz
The work that you did on the site as greatly appreciated. Hopefully this experience will hold meaning for you throughout your lives.
