LIHUE — The Ocean Around Us at the Kukui Grove Center will feature the efforts of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in monitoring marine mammals, and ocean voyaging.
Starting at 6 tonight, PMRF will discuss its offshore network of hydrophones which provide the ideal environment for state-of-the-art research in monitoring marine mammal responses to Sound Navigation and Ranging.
The presentation will be led by Julie Rivers, the Navy biologist responsible for managing the marine species program for Hawaii and the Western Pacific for the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Saturday’s presentations shift to ocean cultural practitioners celebrating and honoring Kanaloa, the god of the ocean, through personal stories, voyaging experiences, music, hula, and film, presented by Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Na Kalai Wa‘a of Kauai, the island’s voyaging group under the leadership of John Kruse and Dennis Chun will open the day at 9 a.m. with the story of Namahoe, Kauai’s first traditional voyaging canoe. The group will discuss the future for Namahoe, and how the community can support and become more involved with the sailing canoe.
Emily Cadiz and Kim Morishige of Na Maka o Papahanaumokuakea will discuss Huli ‘Ia: an observational process documenting seasonal changes and shifts starting at 11 a.m. The discussion and presentation will center on the traditional Hawaiian lunar calendar, climate change, and the changes our community is experiencing.
At noon, “Voyage: Into the Depths of Kanaloa” will be screened, the film capturing the history-making voyage of 14 students from Halau Holomoana on a 1,500-mile journey led by Bonnie Kahape‘a-Tanner.
The day ends with keiki activity led by Steve Soltysik leading the construction of a model wa‘a similar to the Hokule‘a, followed by a Mele Kanaloa workshop with Kumu Roxy Stewart, a cultural educator and kanaloa practitioner from the Big Island.
The Daughters of Mau — Kainani Kahaunaele, Bonnie Kahape‘a-Tanner, Anuenue Punua, and Kehau Enos — will share the direct impact of traditional Polynesian navigations and the teachings of Grand Master Navigator Pius Mau Piailug on their lives as women voyagers.
