Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Uncle Eddie Ka`anana Tribute: Ku`i Kalo at Capitol on 1/25/10
OnMonday, January 25, 2010, Friends of Uncle Eddie Ka`anana and Rep.Maile Shimabukuro are co-sponsoring a tribute to a beloved kupuna (Hawaiian elder), Eddie Ka`anana. Ka`anana passed away in July 2006. Ka`ananahailed from Miloli`i, a fishing village in South Hawai`i Island, anddedicated the last 25 years of his life to passing on the traditionalHawaiian practices that he was raised with. In particular, Ka`ananataught others to speak Hawaiian, malama aina (care for the land), and ku`i kalo(makepoi). Ka`anana became an "uncle" to hundreds, if not thousands, ofyoung people, through his volunteer work at Ka`ala Farm, AnuenueHawaiian language immersion school, Kapapa Lo`i `O Kanewai at UH-Manoa,and other venues."In memory and celebration of uncle Eddie Ka`anana we invite all whom he touched to join together on his birthday to clean andku`i kalo (make poi) at the State Capital Rotunda," said Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, one of the event co-sponsors."To gather and ku`i (pound taro) is a simple demonstration of our connection with and love of Haloa, ourculture, real food and our love for uncle. It will send a message toour lawmakers that we are here again. Kaipo`i and I `see' that unclewill be smiling to see us together at the capitol," said Vince Kana`iDodge, one of the organizers.Many in the group support the ban on genetic modification of kalo (taro), the plant which Hawaiians believe is their ancestor, Haloa.Date: January 25, 2010Time: 3-7pmPlace: Rotunda, State Capitol (courtyard on ground level, site of previous "Haloa Jam") What to bring: ku`i mea, cooked kalo (taro), i`a(fish), la`i (ti leaf) for wrapping pa`i`ai (concentrated poi), awa, kanikapila (musical instruments and song)We will provide some cooked kalo and i`a malo`o (dried fish), bring extra ku`i and cleaning meaKokua (help) needed with: setup, cleanup, cookingkalo, organizing the presentation of Ku Kahakalau’s DVD “na kupuna”, getting footage of uncle’s last public appearance and sharing (Bachman Hall Haloa Rally), inviting na kanaka i aloha nui o anakalaContact: Kaipo`i Kellings, 722-8175 Vince Kana`i Dodge, 478-6492, aipohaku@hotmail.comRep. Maile Shimabukuro, maileshimabukuro@yahoo.comhttp://kauluhoi.org/puke7/helu7/manu.html
'Anakala Eddie
Auē! Auē!
Ua hala aku nei
Ka iki hāwa'e o Miloli'i
Ke 'a'ali'i kū makani
Kani ka leo
Kanikau ē
Lu'ulu'u ko Ho'ōpūloa uka
I ka hā'ule 'ana o ka pua
Lu'ulu'u ko Ho'ōpūloa kai
Kai kinai ahi a ka wahine
Auē! Auē!
Ua hala aku nei
Ka loea lawai'a kaulana
Hānai i ke ko'a i ke kalo
Ho'i i ke kai lana mālie
Hele lanakila ka 'ōpelu
Lu'ulu'u ke kupunahine
'O Oemaliekeliikipipaialua
Lu'ulu'u ke kupuna kāne
'O Kaanana
Auē! Auē!
Ua hala aku nei
He makua ia no'u
He makua ia no ka lāhui
Kulu ka waimaka
Uē ka 'ōpua ē
Lu'ulu'u nā pilikana
'A'ole o kana mai
Lu'ulu'u ko Hawai'i a puni
He 'eha a lohe mai i ke a'o
Auē! Auē!
Ke hala aku nei
Nā hulu kupuna
Nā māpuna leo o ka 'ike
Pa'a mo'olelo
Nā 'ōlelo a'o ē
Lu'ulu'u nā kamali'i
'Ehia mea aloha i ka mamo
Lu'ulu'u nā haumāna
Nele i ka māna 'ai
Auē! Auē!
Ke hala aku nei
Ka mano o ka 'ikena
Ka lehu o ka 'ikena
I pa'a i nā kūpuna
Ka pūnāwai o ke ola
Lu'ulu'u ka houpo
Āhea kāua e hui hou ai
Lu'ulu'u ka manawa
Aloha 'oe e 'Anakala
UH vows to hold off genetic tests with Hawaiian taro
Researchers will consult with native Hawaiians on cultural concerns
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com
Hawaiian varieties of taro will not be used in any University of Hawaii genetic engineering research until native Hawaiians advise scientists about cultural concerns, a university dean said yesterday.
VOICE CONCERNS
Anyone with concerns about genetic engineering of Hawaiian taro varieties can contact William Souza, of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, at 282-6005, or Andrew Hashimoto, dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, at 956-8234.
The promise is an attempt to stave off controversy and foster dialogue between the university and the native Hawaiian community, said Andrew Hashimoto, dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
The dialogue is expected to take place through a process being organized by the Royal Order of Kamehameha on all islands.
To solidify the promise, Hashimoto signed a one-page statement about the university's intentions with taro research yesterday at a taro patch at the UH Center for Hawaiian Studies. "We have encountered perceptions in the community that CTAHR's taro research focuses entirely on genetic engineering and that the college sells or gives away genetically engineered taro huli (shoots). These perceptions are incorrect," the statement said.
"The CTAHR scientists currently involved in genetic engineering research on taro have no plans to modify Hawaiian taro varieties." The only ongoing genetic engineering of taro at the UH is of a Chinese variety and is being done only in a lab setting, not in greenhouses or open fields, Hashimoto said.
Genetic engineering involves the placement of a gene from one species of plant or animal into a different species. For example a disease-resistant gene in rice could be added to taro. Genetic engineering is much faster than traditional cross-breeding, Hashimoto said.
Opponents of genetic engineering worry that open-field test crops could escape test plots and affect native plants or other nongenetically engineered crops nearby, said Kat Brady of the environmental group Life of the Land.
But for taro, the cultural factor is an additional concern.
The connection between Hawaiians and taro goes beyond its historical use as a staple food to a "mystical, mythological parable that all Hawaiians are attached," said kumu John Lake, who chanted in Hawaiian, then spoke in English at yesterday's event.
"Kalo (taro) is intrinsically part and parcel of Hawaiians and of ohana," he said.
In Hawaiian mythology, the gods Wakea and Ho'ohokukalani's first child, Haloanakalaukapalili, was stillborn. When he was buried in the ground, he became the first taro plant, said Nalei Kahakalau, a teacher at the Big Island public charter school Kanu O Ka Aina.
The couple's next child, Haloa, was the founder of the Hawaiian people, according to the legend.
Visiting students from the Big Island charter school chanted about the legend for those attending the event.
The prospect of genetically altering taro is "kind of scary," said Ernest Tottori, president of Honolulu Poi Co., one of the islands' largest taro growers and processors.
For example, taro is known to be tolerated by people with allergies to wheat and rice, but Tottori asked what if it lost that quality under genetic engineering?
"You want to be very cautious about anything like that," he said.
http://starbulletin.com/2005/05/25/news/index4.html
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