Taking care of business…

Taking care of business… 

Kahua o Kāneiolouma, Po'ipū, Kaua‘i 
(2011 Photo by Nāwa‘a Wichman)

The above photo is difficult to put into scale, but look over at the parking lot next to Brennecke's Beach Broiler (across from Po‘ipū Beach Park) and you can begin to get a sense of the immense cultural landscape associated with the Kahua o Kāneiolouma preserve.  Today's Po‘ipū is built upon a deep, multi-layered cultural history, and the passionate land stewards, or "konohiki" of Hui Mālama o Kāneiolouma are dedicated to preserving this "kipuka" (small space) of ancient Kaua‘i heritage. 

 Kahua o Kāneiolouma, Po'ipū, Kaua‘i
Mauka (away from the sea) of Po'ipū Beach Park.
(2011 Photo by Nāwa‘a Wichman)

The modest 12-plus acre County of Kaua‘i preserve, Kahua o Kāneiolouma was once a traditional communal gathering ground for neighboring ‘ahupua‘a  (traditional districts), a seasonal Makahiki arena for oration, gaming, dance, and feasting, with many astronomical situated alignments, religious and medicinal temples, fish ponds, taro farming with 'auwai (traditional irrigation system), and much, much more...

Section of Map by Henry Kekahuna
September 1959

Rupert Rowe and Kaua'i Mayor Bernard Carvalho
September 2011
Kahua o Kaneiolouma, Po'ipu, Kaua'i

Heaps of "head" work going on at our house! Nāwa‘a is busy with writing and editing the Po‘ipū Beach Park Master Plan with the County of Kaua‘i, and writing the interpretive plan for Kahua o Kāneiolouma.  His hui is also working on their new website, as well as a mini-documentary about this amazing "wahi pana" (ancient place).


I’m busy working on two faunal projects from our Nā Pali Coast – heaps of little bags filled with fish, rat, dog, pig, and goat bones… And, trying to take care of business with several non-profit boards I serve with (sometimes feels like a full-time job!).

Aranui 3 off the Ua Huka coast, Marquesas Archipelago

And, I was just confirmed for another Marquesas lecture tour on the Aranui 3! I've been scheduled for Voyage 7, June 9 - 22, 2012, a two week voyage from (and return) Pape'ete, Tahiti, through the Tuamotu Atolls, and throughout the Marquesas Archipelago. Now I need to brush-up on my research, especially translating my lectures and PowerPoint Slides into French! Yikes! Let me know if you can join me for the voyage! It's going to be so much fun!

We also just came back from a wonderful Thanksgiving visit with my family in Arizona. I think all we did was laugh and eat! Wonderful trip!

Time to get back to work!

Mālama pono, a hui hou!

 ~ Victoria ❤