“Upon Hiʻiaka’s return to Hawaiʻi from Kauaʻi with Lohiʻauipo, she faces her sister Pele’s jealousy and rage. Kīlauea is under siege as explosive and land-changing eruptions take place. “Hulihia Kīlauea” is chanted by Lohiʻau, describing elemental storms and the ravaging of the land.We approached this ʻohe kāpala design beginning with the chant. Reciting it over and over became the inspiration for the graphics and its repetitive format. The balance of positive and negative spaces within the design reflect the actions of Pele and Hiʻiaka. Each ʻohe kāpala was cut by Sig in the size of an actual ʻohe. After we imported the artwork into computers, Kūhaʻo arranged this final composition.”
Kiko’s Diner Hawaiian restaurant with everybody’s favorite cute brand, Sanrio, in East Metro!
At first Taiwan Teddy worried it would be a restaurant focused on the decor rather than food, but the food was very good!
This time I ordered veggie pizza and black coffee (refills)
The pizza is soft crust and very yummy, but the center is a bit too soft to hold up its own weight, so eat with knife and fork to keep from getting paws too messy. The coffee comes with creamer and sugar, and has unlimited refills
The restaurant is done in American-style decor with adorable Sanrio characters painted throughout! We were seated by the window in a cozy couch area. Loved it!
Kiko’s also sells some goods, like mugs, ribbon headbands, totes, etc.
They also provide alcoholic drinks, but we did not try any this time ;)
While thinking of a tropical island might conjure images of tall palms arcing over a beachfront lounge spot, you won’t find Pritchardia martii hanging around there. Endemic to the island of Oahu, P. martii grows wild starting around 1,000ft and up to around 2,600ft in environments ranging from fairly dry to quite wet.
Plants in the genus Pritchardiaare known in the Hawaiian vernacular as Loulu and the fruit as Hawane which is sometimes applied to the plant itself. These plants were used to make spears (the trunk), as thatching and weaving material (leaves), and as food (the fruit) for which notches were carved into the trunks to assist in climbing leaving some older specimens still bearing these marks.
The pendant inflorescences have an odor reminiscent to me of overripe stone fruit and readily gather small insects such as gnats. The cup-shaped flowers gleam with nectar and may attract rats which threaten the plants in the wild by eating not only the flowers, but the fruit when ripe.
This threat is once again a manifestation of human inhabitation of the island as more than one species was introduced, starting as far back as 1,600 years. While the issue is addressed in cultivation by attaching wire cages around the fruit, the approach is not feasible in the wild which may make long term efforts toward conservation challenging.
This subject was collected and photographed on the premises of Lyon Aboretum while I was on assignment for Hana Hou!
This November, 18MR’s Campaigner Laura Li and I (Bianca Nozaki-Nasser) were welcomed by the Kia’i at Mauna Kea. As Asian Americans, we were honored to be able to support and lift up the Kānaka Maoli’s fight to protect this sacred place.
It’s been five months since the Kia’i (Kānaka Maoli protectors) set up camp to defend the sacred Hawaiian mountain, Mauna Kea. Since then, hundreds of Kānaka Maoli have set up a pu’uhonua (place of refuge) on the Mauna Kea access road complete with food, shelter, and provisions. Organizers have founded Pu‘uhuluhulu University to offer de-colonial education, and kūpuna continue to hold space for ceremony, song, dance, and announcements–all while blocking construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.
ABOVE: View of the pu’uhonua from Puʻu Huluhulu by Bianca Nozaki-Nasser
After weeks of emails, texts, and calls Laura and I arrived on Day 114 of the protest to finally meet Yvonne “Von” Mahelona, a young activist who supports logistics coordination for Pu’uhonua o Pu’uhuluhulu. Von has been at the Mauna since July and spends her time making sure each station is stocked with necessary supplies, keeping everyone fed, healthy and warm, and working the information and welcome booth. She orients folks coming into the pu’uhonua for the first time, educates tourists, receives donations, and answers any questions people have about the pu’uhonua.
ABOVE: Yvonne “Von” Mahelona by Bianca Nozaki-Nasser
Upon arrival, we learned that the Kia’i commits to the mountain three times a day at 8 am, 12 pm, and 5 pm through ceremony. Driven by “Aloha ʻĀina”, which literally means “love of the land,” ceremony is held on the access road and is full of singing, dancing, and palpable reverence for the land and one another. On the day we visited, ceremony was led by Aunty Pua Case, a life long water protector and movement leader. Near the ceremony’s end we were invited alongside other comrades, friends, and visitors to join and learn hula dances.
As Aunty Pua closed the ceremony she told us:
“WE ARE THE GUARDIANS WHO STAND TALL AS MOUNTAINS, UNSHAKABLE. WE ARE THE PROTECTORS OF THE MOUNTAIN MAUNA KEA AND WE WILL RISE LIKE A MIGHTY WAVE.”
After morning ceremony each person broke away to attend to a task, from organizing written statements for the next day’s hearing to teaching hula. Everyone at the pu’uhonua moves with purpose.
ABOVE: Hula lessons held on the Mauna Kea access road by Bianca Nozaki-Nasser
Throughout the pu’uhonua we saw rules of conduct, one among them “BE PONO.” Pono, while having 83 English translations available online, we are told generally means to “be good.” Von explains to us that the Mauna Kea movement practices “kapu aloha always.” Kapu aloha is an evolving code of conduct of the Kanaka Maoli. It is expressed politically through non-violent direct action and ceremonially through behavioral conduct in alignment with Kanaka Maoli cultural practices and notions of the sacred.
ABOVE: Presley Keʻalaanuhea Ah Mook Sang, Chancellor of Pu'uhuluhulu University by Bianca Nozaki-Nasser
During our day on the Mauna, we were able to see what is often lost in mainstream media coverage and online reshares. Their protest is not an occupation, it is a reclamation. It is led by Kānaka Maoli, not “locals.” It is intergenerational. It is led by women. It brings people from all over the world to the Mauna. What we were able to witness on the Mauna was not just the resistance of Kanaka Maoli protecting their sacred land, but the incredible power of Indigenous self-governance. It is a movement dedicated to healing the traumas of colonialism and genocide.
ABOVE: Jacinto Kaleo Zulueta, protector residing at the Mauna by Bianca Nozaki-Nasser
Through social media, we have been able to watch the continued denial of Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination over land use in real-time. Mauna Kea is a precedent-setting movement that will not only determine the future of the Mauna but will impact the future of land usage which respects, preserves and honors Indigenous people and their history, culture, and environmental justice leadership.
ABOVE: Makanalani Gomes, protector working on logistics and events/programming at the Mauna by Bianca Nozaki-Nasser
Momentum around this issue has been building for decades, however this year the combination of the tireless work of Kānaka Maoli and social media networks has allowed the movement to protect Mauna Kea to grow from a locally known issue to an international story. With this in mind, we asked Aunty Pua: what does the Mauna need from all of us standing in solidarity with them? Her answer was that whether you are Kānaka Maoli, Indigenous, or non-Native, your energy is important in supporting the preservation of the Mauna. Here are some ways that you can help support:
Support organizations on the frontlines. The current cost of propane alone for the pu’uhonua is $1100 a week. This effort is completely volunteer-run and funded. The movement of the Mauna has created three places for folks to donate funds that directly support their work:
It is absolutely crucial that Kānaka Maoli gain recognition and that the call to protect Mauna Kea accelerates. Sharing updates from people on the ground continues to be important, as we know major news outlets often do not represent the views or needs of those on the front lines. Sharing helps to keep this a relevant call to action for us all. You can follow the hashtags and accounts associated with the Kia’i and share their content:
From Mauna Kea to #NoDAPL and beyond, it is critically important that as Asian Americans we stand together to protect Indigenous sovereignty. Laura and I, and the entire 18MR team are sincerely grateful to everyone on the Mauna for welcoming us, teaching us, and sharing their sacred space.
