Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 5, 1 May 1997 — Community comes together to reopen Kahana ʻauwai; kalo to come soon [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Community comes together to reopen Kahana ʻauwai; kalo to come soon

by Deborah L. Ward Through the efforts of three Hawaiian families in the ahupua'a of Kahana valley, and an army of mmmnnih/ <;iir)r>ortprs water

— - j — Y £ ' onee more flows in the ancient Wailua 'auwai (irrigation ditch) in Kahana whieh onee watered kalo lo'i (fields). Some day soon, those fields will onee again be "re-kalo-nized," if these dedicated families have their way. On March 22 the families of Kahana residents Kaipo and Debbie Gorai, Sunny and Gary Greer and Ron Johnson were joined by 400 pick-and-shovel wielding volxmteers from Kahana, and neighboring 'ahupuaa of Hau'ula, Waiāhole-Waikāne, Hakipu'u and students from Brigham Young University at Lā'ie. Queen Lih'uokalani Children's Center in Punalu'u provided materials, food and other donations. Together, they re-opened

a 3,000-foot section of the 10,000-foot long 'auwai whieh may be 400 years old. At one time there were 12 'auwai flowing in Kahana. This family project began when they decided to commit

to restoration of Kahana's traditional land and water uses and to practice Hawaiian eulture. They began with acknowledgement of their kūpuna, and traditional protoeol in private ceremony at the old Mormon ehapel in the

valley. "We're just trying to \ preserve our culture the I best we know how," says | Kaipo Gorai, whose wife [ Debbie is project adminisi trator. Since then, "doors , have been opening," says | Ron Johnson. They acknowledge the support and cooperation of the state Parks Division, > and the advice and logistieal kōkua from old-time kalo farmers and their 'ohana from neighboring valleys, and even other islands, who have generously shared their knowledge and hands-on hard work. They're proud of being able to accomplish this project with community support and without grants or funding from outside

sources. Now they have a two-year calendar, documenting eaeh step along the way, whieh includes regular maintenance of the 'auwai, siting, opening and planting of the lo'i in pu'epu'e (mounds), and eventual development of an education/interpretive program. For the time being, until they are able to open the lo'i, the water in the 'auwai is going back into the Kahawainui stream through a temporary return ditch. As a work in progress, "This is a restoration work project in a spiritual context, not a tourist thing," says Kaipo Gorai. Later, he said "we ean share a cultural experience with school children on what an ahupua'a is capable of."

KaWaiOlaoOHA

Workers clear the 'auwai going elown into the lo'i kaloflatland. Water will eventually flow into the kalo field and be regulated upstream.

Knee-deep in the ehannel, workers unplug a 24-ineh drain to let the water go through. The pipe was installed by Army Corps of Engineers when it built a road over the 'auwai.