P2P: Hawaiian Island Discovery

Tuesday July 11, 8:21 p.m.: by Wesley Peng

The kapunas were so fun. Today we went to Ken’s for breakfast, again. I had the same thing as the day before. When we all finished eating, we went back to the hotel for room checks because we checking our of Uncle Billy’s. After nick did our room checks, we went onto the school bus that was waiting for us outside. On the bus the lady told us that being able to meet the kapunas was very special because she said that in the 1700’s almost all of Hawaiian culture was lost, but today it is being brought back by the kapunas. [Photo: Koti shows off her woven bracelet she made, while wearing her lei, both gifts from the Kapunas.]

When we arrived, we split up into four groups. My group did the weaving first. Weaving the bracelets was sometimes challenging, but I managed to finish mine. The bracelets were made out of wood in a crosshatching shape.

Next, we did the hula. I thought that it was really fun. [Photo below: Jordan H. gets some assistance with his sarong before learning the hula.]

After that, we went to the ukulele class. The first thing we learned was how to play a C chord. To do so you would put your third or ring finger on the last string. Next we learned how to do the G7 Chord. This one was more complicated. To do it you would put your third finger in between the first and second fret on the first string. Then you would put your first or index finger right before the first fret on the second string and last you would put your second or middle finger in between the first and second fret on the third string. After that, we learned the C7 Chord. To do that you would put your first finger right before the first fret on the first string. The last thing we learned was the F Chord. To do it you would put your second finger on the last string in between the first and second fret. Then you would put your first finger right before the first fret on the second string. When we were done, we played God Bless America a few times.

The next class we went to was making the lei. I thought that this one was the hardest. The lady had to help me a lot.

When we all finished, it was time for lunch. The lunch was delicious. After lunch the kapunas showed us a male and female version of the hula. Then we showed them our dance. It brought me lots of joy to be able to put a smile on their faces. I was also honored because they said that we were the best group yet.

When we left we went back to the hotel to get our luggage. When we all got our luggage, we got onto the bus that would drive us to our campsite. When we got to our campsite, we played a game called Birdie on the Perch. When we were done playing that, we watched a tent demonstration. Then we had to set up our own. After that, I played some finger pool outside while some others were playing camouflage. Later, it was time for dinner and we had burritos. They were good. When we all finished eating I played a little Frisbee.

After a little bit, it was time to have our evening meeting. There we played two games, one was Wigglo and the other was Electric Pulse. The fastest time we had for Electric Pulse was 27-seconds. Today was a lot of fun!

-Wesley Peng

July 11: by Susan Hanna

4:55 pm – I am at Volcano National Park. The kids just set up their tents and . . .

8:54 pm – The kids were so excited to be here, I couldn’t find a moment to write! What a day! We walked to Ken’s House of Pancakes again where I ordered the “2 x 4”, two eggs and four pancakes. I could only eat 2 pancakes. Too much food! Yummy! As we left, it began to rain! “Oh, no!” I thought. I was so nice and dry with NO RAINCOAT! “I don’t want to be wet now! I’m wearing my last nice outfit to meet the Kapunas!” It only ended up being a light drizzle, so I’m able to remain happy. I could see the blue sky over the cove coming toward us.

I led the group back to the hotel where we did room checks and boarded a school but with our guide, Lorraine, who told us about the garden we passed in a park established by Queen Liliokulani.

We rode about 5 miles to a tiny gathering hall at a Catholic church where we met the Kapunas (elders). We were greeted with a song and given crocheted leis as we entered the hall. We stood in a circle with the Kapunas and were blessed with a Christian prayer by Tata George.

From there, we were split up into 4 groups to do four activities. First I made a brooch lei. Girls could wear it in their hair, and boys could wear it on their wrists. It was made from a folded leaf tied with raffia about 7 inches long. You wrapped a long thin cord of raffia around the top of the leaf twice, and then one at a time you added 2 greens and 2 flowers and just wrapped the raffia tightly around it. “Auntie Beth” helped be because I was wrapping the raffia too tight, then she pinned the brooch into my hair.

Next we made woven bracelets and Tata John, who was helping me didn’t seem too sure of what he was doing. He started laughing and said, “I need to get the expert!” Then he helped me finish the bracelet. I’m wearing it now. A work of art! Actually, 2/3 of the bracelet was done for us as we began so we could finish it on time.

Next was the hula! All of us got a skirt or sarong to wear around our waists. We did the hula and I was surprised to know that there were different movements fro arm gestures for men and women on the same step. The woman who led us was so graceful.

Last activity was ukulele, which means “jumping flea”. We sat on a bench outside while we learned C, G7 and F and were finally able to play “God Bless America”. The ukulele was brought to the islands by the Portuguese workers and the strings are the same as the bottom 4 of the guitar. This was fun and I had to laugh with the smiling Kapuna lady who I could tell was getting tired of listening to “God Bless America” 8,000 times today. Ha!

We ate lunch next which was fruit cocktail and milk (so cold!) and salisbury steak with white rice. Cole Francetic and I sat with Rebecca and three other Kapuna ladies. The woman beside me spoke of her mixed family tree and her German father, whose surname was “Bader”, married a Hawaiian girl and was disowned from this family. She said that she was one of 9 children. When her father’s parents became old and ill, her Hawaiian mother cared for them even though the German family had disowned her long ago. She said that was the Hawaiian tradition and her mother had the integrity to honor that and love the grandparents despite their past. I enjoyed hearing her story.

Next the kids performed their song and dance they made up last night. They did a great job with this! When they finished, the Kapuna ladies did an awesome hula for us. They were so graceful. I loved their dresses and leis. Three of the men danced for us next. One of them, who they call “Grampa”, was 98 years old! He danced while his wife watched with us. I had spoken with him earlier. He said they were married in 1942.

Tata George was dancing on the left and he had the most beautiful smile. His eyes were squinted he was smiling so hard as he danced for the kids to the ukulele song sung by one of the ladies. He danced right up to the kids in the front row! He was having a great time!

As we left, we received gifts of crochets toboggan caps and drawstring pouches, seed bracelets, and key chains, and fish scale scrapers. FISH SCALE SCRAPERS!!!

We got hugs and kisses from everyone as we left on our little school bus back to Uncle Billy’s. From there, we boarded the charter bus for maybe 2 hours. I’m not sure. I slept most of the way to Volcano National Park. We hung out at the gift shop while the field instructors registered our campsite.

Behind the building I spotted a view of the Kilauea’s caldera crater! So I got the kids who were still on the bus and brought them out to see it. It was all fogged over with clouds, but as the clouds lifted, they revealed the most unusual landscape! It took our breath away! A black pit with high steep rock walls and a flat floor with steam rising from various crevasses in the earth. Marvelous!

We took off from there and headed to the campground. The kids put up their own tents, and then we ate burritos which were really good. The cook crew of kids had cut up the vegetables. There was Spanish rice, refried beans, cheese, chopped bell peppers and onions and salsa and sour cream. Yum!

We killed time after dinner with kids playing on the hill behind the shelter or playing Frisbee. I got hit in the head with a Frisbee while watching from the sidelines! Thank goodness for Rena who yelled “incoming!” to save my life! That was a close one!

The kids cleaned up after dinner and it got dark the evening meeting began and we sang some songs and then to bed.

Hey Ryan!
Hey what?
Hey Ryan!
Hey what?
Let us see you wiggle-o!
Let us see you wiggle-o!

My hands up high,
My feet down low,
And this is how I wiggle-o!
Wig-a-lo-o!
Wig-wig-a-lo-o!

(Repeat.)

We sang 39 versed of this song. Lord help me! –Goodnight.