BYTE MARKS
Visit to Kaho'olawe a breath of fresh air

By Burt Lum

When I crave the outdoors, I head to Kaho'olawe.

Although there are many places in Hawai'i that could satisfy the calling, Kaho'olawe has a special draw, combining nature, the land and ocean, Hawaiian culture and 'ohana, and the magic you find in a sacred place.

Each month the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana leads a work-access trip to the island, and many have shared a similar experience to mine. One such experience is chronicled on the Web at www.hi.sierraclub.org/maui/kaho1a.html.

Neola Caveny was a February participant on a Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana project to gather pohaku (rock) for use as a retaining wall for the Hale o Papa , a women's heiau. The four-day experience is described from firsthand accounts of how a group of about 50 people — many of whom were meeting for the first time — came together with the purpose of healing the land. It is estimated that together they moved about 6 tons of pohaku for the retaining wall.

Also newly discovered by the group were a grove of wiliwili trees and a rare maiapilo, nestled along the streambed in Hakioawa.

During the autumn, work accesses are scheduled for planting of native plants. It inspired me to read up on methods for the propagation of native plants at pdcs.ctahr.hawaii.edu:591/hawnprop, where I found ideas for returning native plants to Kaho'olawe.

As protector and guardian spirit or 'aumakua, the pueo (owl) is frequently seen in the skies above Kaho'olawe. We were blessed with two sightings. Kumu Carol Silva shares her mana'o or knowledge on the 'aumakua at www.spiritofaloha.com/place/0502/place.html.

On the backs of the volunteers of that February access, the pohaku (stones) became a new structure to support the eroding dune at the women's heiau. While there in August, I was able to see this area and connect in a small way with the people who came before me, unsung heroes in the restoration efforts of Kaho'olawe.

I've posted a few photos in a growing archive to capture the developments on the island. You can see this work in progress at www.kahoolawe.org. ;-)

Burt Lum is one click away at burt@brouhaha.net.