Tiani Ka'ahea-Simeona
Field Trip #1, January 19 2010
The first trip we had, after the one we came on to get a general feel of what we would be doing, started as badly as I had dreaded to hope. We failed miserably at chanting to get in, but I suppose I repressed that memory because I can’t honestly remember it that much. Or I’m in serious denial.
But afterwards, we went in, we said our hellos, and we were introduced to the Ehu Nui students. Which was when we learned that girls couldn’t go up to the Paoumi. All because of our monthly visits from our ‘friend’. Our site wasn’t far away though. It was right next to where our outdoor classroom was. So boys went off to drive up to their heiau site, and the girls walked over to ours. We separated into three groups, and each of us got one section of the heiau. My group was stationed in the middle. There were three Ehu Nui girls, and they were pretty cool. I think there were three Kealakehe girls in the group, myself included. After one of the uncles came, all of us were introduced to the tools we would be using, the plan mapping table and instruments, and each of us got a try at them. Well almost everyone. I sorta just held the pole up the entire time. But it was fine. Everyone else was having fun, and I was okay with just standing there.
We went back to the outdoor classroom when we ran out of time. We told everyone, once the boys came back and we said our chants, how our day went, what we did and what we learned.
Field Trip #2, January 26, 2010
Today’s field trip started out just fine. We chanted for our permission to enter, but we had to do it again because we didn’t do it right the first time. And we were on time this trip, but still late enough so that the kids from the other school was there to watch us squirm.
It turns out that not only were we not loud enough, but that some of us did not show proper respect. We slouched, we had our hands in our pockets, we swayed and fidgeted on our feet, etc. I think I did one of these things– hands in my pocket most likely– but I was nervous. Small kind, but I still froze up and stuttered in a really small voice. We got it done though, after warming up to our inner songstress’s. Or whatever name you use for the guys. Whatever, it all worked out.
Just like before, the girls and boys split up to do our own mappings. My group and I got plenty of stuff done, and managed to finish up today, with a few… problems. We set up our table wrong at first, and plotted crookedly, but we managed to fix it up again and redo our plots. There were some other complications, like some of the flags got kicked up, some kids got a little dizzy standing under the sun too long, and some of the other flags were switched around and were put in places where you had to climb up on the wall and the rocks weren’t that stable. It was fun though, even when I almost fell over on the rocks.
Afterwards, when most of the girls were done and just cruising while waiting for the other group to finish, we did some notes on the heiau and learned a little more on the history surrounding the land in this area. We also got quizzed, and even though the girls from the other school knew more than us, some of us Kealakehe girls got some right. Time went by fast after that and pretty soon all the kids were together under the tents sharing what they did today.
Then the kids from the other school had to go, and chanted their mahalo’s to the uncles and aunties there. They even said goodbye to us too. They were sweet kids and very polite. Should I still live on this island when I have kids, I’m definitely sending them to that school if can.
We on the other hand learned a new chant to practice and took some more notes. I like the note taking though, because we’re learning stuff about our roots and it’s a good reminder for me. We left soon after that, and that was pretty much the end of our third trip, and my second time going. Overall, there’s no doubt I’d go again.
Field Trip #3, February 2 2010
Today was my third time attending this trip. We actually came early this time, and got there a little after the kids from the other school. They were nice enough to wait for us to get out of our vans to join them in the chanting. They’re nice kids, and very respectful.
Today, instead of quickly going out to work on the sites, we stayed and did some class work and took notes. We learned some more of our Hawaiian history, what was kapu and what happened when someone broke these rules, and terms that we would need to use on our maps. Then we moved on to the actual mapping notes, and we learned what each legend or key meant and when to use each one on our maps. We were even quizzed on it, and I am proud to say us Kealakehe kids got some right. Afterwards the boys and girls split up to our own sites, and today we remembered we get to actually start drawing. I wish I had gotten some more sleep than I actually did that day, because it seemed so much fun to measure and downside the rocks to our map, but unfortunately I wasn’t lucid enough to understand right away. My group and I got the hang of it though, after having it explained to us a few times. I’m just disappointed we only got it at the end and by then we had to leave.
We went back, reviewed on our day, and said our goodbyes. I want to come back. I didn’t finish with my map and I want to work on it more. I may need to work something out with my classes, but I want to go on the next trip. I’m not quite finished there yet.
Jennifer Mendoza-Ruiz
Gracias Jennifer, you came on 3 field trips and you were great. You worked hard helping to map an ancient structure from what is your third culture. To come here from Mexico just this year and to get such an immersion in Hawaiian culture is amazing. Hopefully you can feel proud to have been part of this and to know that your Mexican culture has an ancient past that is also extremely fascinating. You never brought us any delicious mexican food though. Jennifer's friend Mayra Gonzalez, who was unable to attend the field trips, wrote an interesting article that we want to present here.
Building a Heiau Then and Now
By: Mayra Gonzalez
A heiau is a Hawaiian temple. Many types of heiau exist. There were heiau to treat the sick. There was also the luakini. That was a heiau dedicated through human sacrifices. The heiau were made in different architectural styles depending on the purpose and location. At the end of the Hawaiian religion in 1819 many heiau were destroyed, while others were allowed to fall into disrepair. Some structures have been fully restored today. Most heiau were rectangular. They could be placed on hills, cliffs, level earth, valleys and coastline touching the sea. There were some heiau made of piled lava rocks that were 100 feet, with walls eight feet high and four feet thick. The heiau were made by hand and the workers had to walk to get the stones that would be needed. Workers would also form chains of up to 29 miles long and transport the rocks hand to hand. Today volunteers come from all over the islands each year in August to help restore the heiau. More than 200 men came and labored the temple of cultural importance. 
