Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 6, 1 August 1984 — Puna Hawaiians Impressed [ARTICLE]

Puna Hawaiians Impressed

A 10-member group representing the Puna Hui Ohana on the Big Island returned home recently very impressed and affected by what they experienced in New Zealand. lt was the third in a series of exchange visits between the Puna group and members of the Maori community. Fifteen Puna members first visited New Zealand in 1980 with 28 Maoris making their first Big lsland visit in 1981. The 10 members of the Young Hawaiians of the Puna Hui Ohana visited earlier this year. The group was hosted by the department of Maon Research and Studies of the University of Waikato in Hamikon and officials of the Office of Maori Affairs in Auckland. Everett (Sonny) Kinney, planner-co-ordinator of the Puna Hui Ohana, said about 50 Maoris will be on the Big lsland in early December for another exchange visit. They will be staying with members of the Puna Hawaiian community. A fund raising project is currently in progress to help with the expenses. Kinney said it is the hui's hope that kupunas may be included in the next exchange visit to New Zealand late next year. The last group reviewed and observed possible changes in geothermal areas previously visited by hui members; attended seminars dealing with cultural transmissions, especially language teaching methods; examined traditional religious attitudes towards geothermal exploration and development; exchanged ideas on both ancient and contemporary dances and music and sought and documented information on Maori protocol and genealogy in connection with the Maori Marae system. Experiences gained from the visit and living in community maraes have provided valuable input into the hui's long term plan to build their own marae-like Hawaiian community gathering plaee in Puna.

The Young Hawaiians, a gap group hui organization between the ages of 18 and 35, were accompanied by members of the Puna Hawaiian Organiz.ation, a hui cultural-kupuna group. Sarah Hauanio was the group leader along with Kupunas Willie and Minnie Kaawaloa and kumu hula Aunty Ivy Woo. Aunty Minnie is a well-known Hawaiian language specialist and Aunty Ivy, . Hawaiiana instructor, are both faculty members of Pahoa High School. Young Hawaiian President Robin Hauanio was joined on the trip by members Ben Naunagayan, Emily Naeole, Florence Aiona, Hana Pau and Gayle Enriquez. The 10-day trip was made possible by several fund-raising events sponsored by the Young Hawaiians. There were also donations from various members and businesses of the Big lsland community.