Posted on: Sunday, January 9, 2005
Museum presents makahiki-season talks
Advertiser Staff
The Bishop Museum's Kupuna Series celebrates the makahiki season with two lectures on some of the celebrated games and the history and significance behind this time of year. These kupuna presentations are offered in conjunction with the museum's newest exhibit in the Vestibule Gallery, Lono-I-Ka-Makahiki, which runs through February.
Dana Edmunds Holua, or he'e holua (meaning to slide together or as one entity), is the ancient art of surfing mountain slopes and lava fields on a papa holua (Hawaiian sled). A featured sport of the makahiki, holua sledding also was a traditional form of ritualized athleticism unique to the Hawaiian Islands as a means to honor Pele, the volcano goddess. The art was nearly lost until Stone, a Hawaiian surfer and waterman, studied the ancient craft and built the first authentic sled in more than a century. Today, he is credited with single-handedly revitalizing the sport of he'e holua.
From 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 4 in Paki Conference Room II, Native Hawaiian educator and philosopher Manulani Aluli Meyer will present "The Makahiki: Hawaiian Philosophy in the Natural World."
A featured cultural practitioner in "Lono-I-Ka-Makahiki" for her maika and popopohaku (game stones), Meyer will discuss the importance of the makahiki season. "Excellence in movement and mindfulness was an internal affair that was made public during this season. ... The Makahiki deepened this ideal of excellence in a ritualized and culturally uplifting arena," said Meyer in a written release.
The cost of both Kupuna Series presentations for the general public is $5; Bishop Museum members are free. This project is financed under the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program.
For information, call 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Atherton Halau, Tom Pohaku Stone will share the traditional art of Hawaiian sled building and riding during his lecture, "Riding the Fires of Pele: The Lost Art of He'e Holua."
Tom Pohaku Stone will present a lecture at the Bishop Museum on the traditional art of Hawaiian sled building and riding.
