HANONA

Due to devastating effects of the Maui County Wildfires which affected some of our project participants and their families the start of our third year was delayed by 4 months. All our instructors lead archaeologist Master Hale Instructor and Master Dry Stack Masonry instructor and Kahuna Nui were asked to provide their expertise in various areas to assist in the rebuilding and healing of the places and people affected by the Maui Wildfires. Participants in our projects Kahuna Pule program were asked to assist with ceremonies protocols and prayers to spiritually support families who lost loved ones in the Maui Wildfires. They were also asked to offer prayers for the land at ground zero in the heart of Lahaina town weeks after the fire. The ceremonies and protocols conducted by this group of practitioners reflect the intense training they have gone through during the first 2 years of our project. Our Kauhale Program has increased from 5 appretices to 12 apprentices. We also provided volunteer opportunities to community members to assist in completing the Halau Waa. This gave our apprentices opportunities to teach community members some basic knowledge of traditional hale bulding The Halau waa that particpants began building in the first year was scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023. This was delayed due to the Maui Wildfires. The Hala Waa was completed in February 2024. A ceremonial blessing for this hale was held in February 2024. The completion of this Hawaiian traditional hale is a culmination of two years of training and challenging work that these students have put forth. Our Malama Aina participants have documented the flora and fauna of our project site. Native plants and invasive plants have been identified. They are working on a plan to mitigate the impact of invasive species and exploring various non-toxic weed control methods. The Archaeology apprentices have nearly completed mapping the area of the heiau that was most impacted by World War II the Dairy Era and the effects of pre-construction in the 1980s. This section of Kealakaihonua Heiau is three tiered. The second tier was discovered and delineated in March of 2024. The line and corners of the third tier were recently uncovered . Hooko Naauaos project is comprised of five key project components: Kauhale Apprenticeship Program Heiau Apprenticeship Program Archaeological and Historical Site Preservation Program Land Stewardship Program and the Kahuna Pule Program. Our project site Kapokea is the living lab where our participants are learning to restore the cultural landscape in their specific area of study and cultural practice. The skillsets and traditional cultural practices that these students learn can be applied to any cultural landscape. The assistance that Kahuna Pule participants offered to Lahaina and its people is a testament to the training of Mauis next generation of Native Hawaiian Practitioners