Museum’s Ancestral Skills Workshop a Hit In Lahaina

The Lahaina Museum’s Ancestral Workshops, which offer visitors a hands-on opportunity to learn the survival and crafting skills used by the first Hawaiians, has become one of the most popular events in town. The workshops come hot on the heels of last year’s wildly popular ancestor exhibit, which featured a number of artifacts including shark-toothed weapons called Leiomano. Tickets to the workshops are almost impossible to come by, and the waiting list now extends through the end of the year. Curators Balen and Maci Kiko say they are thrilled at the community’s response and plan on continuing the program next year.

“We want to teach people that when it comes to Hawaiian art and crafts, there’s a whole lot more than just leis,” says Balen. The museum has numerous stations where visitors can learn about the art and clothing of Hawaii. Experts will demonstrate how to make everything from lauhala bracelets, kukui nut art, coconut dishes, various ti leaf crafts, and even a class on making Kapa, the traditional barkcloth made by early Hawaiians from plant fibers.

Ike Hoomana Spokesperson for the Office of Hawaiian Culture (OHC) says he’s impressed with the workshops, especially the detailed history of featherwork. “Without a doubt the most important ancient Hawaiian craft was featherwork. As well as being beautiful and incredibly ornate, It held great social and spiritual significance. Rare feathers were used to create helmets, capes, and elaborate hair ornaments that only the nobility was allowed to wear.”

“It’s not just art on display at the workshops. We also focus on the hunting and fishing techniques of the Hawaiian people,” says Maci. “It is amazing how much these people could do with what they found around them.”

Patrons are taught a number of primitive traps used to catch birds and early agriculture methods. However, the sea provided the biggest bounty and Hawaiians developed numerous fishing techniques. Hooks shaped from human, bird, dog, or whale bones as well as, pearl, turtle shell, or wood are on display. There are demonstrations showing how early people made fishing line and nets from olona fibers and colored them with Koki`o dye to make them less visible in the water. The numerous methods used for trapping fish are also discussed, and some of the simpler methods such as fish baskets, are demonstrated to guests.

The Kiko’s say they are thrilled that so many share their appreciation for the beauty and inventiveness of the early Hawaiians. “We’re talking about incredibly brave people who arrived with little more than their boats, knowledge of the ocean, and ingenuity. I think we can all appreciate, and learn a little from these incredible people,” said Maci.

While most echo her sentiment, not everyone is thrilled about the hands-on nature of the workshops. In fact, local resident John Driscol says the skills taught are potentially dangerous. “The bay was exceptionally calm that day, so I decided to give up my spot on the beach, grab my air mattress, a few beverages, and float away the afternoon. I had no idea that my world was about to turn upside down because someone wanted to practice their ancient fishing skills,” he says.

“When I awoke, I couldn’t figure out where I was at first. I was still floating, but the ocean was at least 50 feet away, and I could barely see over the handmade wall of sharp rocks that surrounded me. After a few seconds, I realized that I was caught in a tidal fish trap. It’s designed as a sort of corral to trap fish at low tide. My mattress and I had drifted a few miles while I was asleep, and the wind had pushed me into the trap. I’m no expert on poisonous coral, but I’ve heard that in nature the more colorful something is the more toxic it is. Looking underneath me, everything was colored like neon lights. It was too shallow to swim without touching any of the coral, and I had lost my shoes. I had left a game running on my phone and it was dead, so calling for help was out of the question. Worse still, I had failed to properly close my floating cooler and all the beer was no longer cold. I knew it might be hours before the tide would come in, and free me from my mini-pool jail. I was already a little sunburned, and it was only going to get worse. Fearing that I might be on the verge of dehydration, I tried drinking one of the warm beers, but as soon as the lukewarm brew touched my tongue, I spit it out. I knew that before the day was done, I might be forced to drink a warm beer to save myself, but I wasn’t that desperate yet. Nonetheless, I put it back just in case. It was torture floating around in there. Normally, I could easily do nothing for hours, but knowing that I had no choice in this case was terrible. I never really liked survival movies before, but enduring those hopelessly uncomfortable three hours before the tide rose and freed my mattress, changed something inside me. The horror of that time, carefully paddling around the tidal trap, with suboptimal beer opened my eyes. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to enjoy doing nothing ever again.”

Drilling Crew Discovers 600-Year-Old Poi In Ancient Kitchen

A drilling crew working in Western Maui made an amazing discovery, when they uncovered an ancient food preparation site, and over a dozen containers of poi. Held in handmade wooden vessels, the Hawaiian staple is thought to be over 600-years-old. While it is not unheard of to find ancient foodstuffs, it is extremely rare. Researchers say the amazingly well preserved poi is the oldest ever discovered, and the kitchen should yield valuable information about the life of ancient Hawaiians.

Last month, a Creek Propulsion’s crew was busy surveying an area as a possible geothermal well site, when they noticed bits of worked wood and bark cloth stuck in one of their drill bits. After some digging, the team discovered a wooden container filled with a solid purplish substance, and called experts at the University of Maui Lahaina College. A team from the college soon established that the site was part of an ancient kitchen, but it wasn’t until yesterday that the purple substance was identified. According to a Vereserum lab analysis, the substance found in 13 wooden pots was the world’s oldest poi.

“To be honest I’m not a big fan. To me all poi tastes like it is 600-years-old, but I’m sure whoever made this batch knew what they were doing,” says Chris Treadwell, Creek Propulsion’s Senior Vice President of Supply, Distribution, and Planning. “I’m proud of our team for having a sharp eye, and helping preserve this window into ancient Hawaiian life.” Chris says they turned over the site to Hawaiian officials and the university, but he remains in awe of the craftsmanship of the artifacts. “As an engineer I can appreciate the precision required to make these storage containers. You couldn’t just buy a bowl with a lid, or cling film when these people lived. If you wanted to store something, you had to make your own vessel. Whoever made these containers was extremely talented, the lids were perfectly air tight. It just goes to show you what someone with the time, and eye, can do with a set of basic tools.”

While Treadwill can’t speak highly enough about the craftsmanship of the ancient prep cooks, many others have expressed interest in the fruits, or in this case, poi, of their labor. A bidding war of sorts has begun this morning with Vereserum, the Lahaina Heritage Museum, the Office of Hawaiian Culture (OHC), and even Bob Abramo trying to get some of the ancient luau favorite.

“Most of my work revolves around agricultural and food sustainability, and this ancient poi may provide valuable information,” says Vereserum’s Head of research Dr. Adler Walters. “This poi predates Captain Cook’s visit by almost 400 years, and offers a glimpse at the nutritional value of the plants, and the climate before the beginning of the industrial revolution. Taro, the main ingredient in poi, has been grown in rich, volcanic soil for hundreds of years. This has led to the microbes living inside it to become highly heat and acid-resistant, making poi one of the best probiotic foods available. In fact, poi has significantly more beneficial bacteria per gram than yogurt. This poi may be the key to solving a number of common digestive problems and diseases, including food allergies, and infants suffering from failure to thrive syndrome. Our work on the Kukenroot plant has the potential to wipe out famine world-wide, and I believe study of any cultures that are still active in this poi, may be just as vital. Imagine if instead of making poi, you could just buy a taro root already mashed perfectly inside, and eating it would protect you from any stomach bug or malady. That is the potential sitting inside those old wooden bowls. We hope the State will give us access to this incredible find.”

Brandi Essen, Operations Manager of Abramo Holdings LLC., on the other hand, wants the poi for different reasons. “We want to serve it to people,” she says.

“You have to stay one step ahead of the competition in every business. That is especially true in the restaurant game. For some time we have been exploring the idea of a high-end Paleo feast concept, and this ancient poi would be the perfect side dish. We’re not talking about serving up a Komodo dragon on a platter, we’re talking about taking advantage of what the climate is making available to us. With worldwide temperatures climbing every year, more and more permafrost is thawing, and giving up well preserved ancient animals. It is only a matter of time before one is discovered that has enough meat on its bones to eat.

For years people believed that the Explorers Club served a mammoth found on Akutan Island, at their 47th annual dinner. It was the talk of the town at the time, and for over 50 years after the famous meal. While DNA analysis of a bit of the meat preserved by a guest, proved that the meal was actually green sea turtle, the idea of eating an ancient animal struck a chord with the public. Imagine if we could find active cultures in this poi, and use them to make more. Imagine the taste of a vinegar or fermented sauce made from this ancient food. Imagine the line around the block we’d have if we could offer people a true taste of our Hawaiian ancestors. You can’t put a price, or a freshness date on something like that.”

Ano Lee given award for unique summer enrichment program

Inventor Ano Lee has been given a coveted Kahu award for a summer enrichment program designed to teach kids about the seafaring history of the Polynesian people. Kids enrolled in the 6 week program build a replica of a traditional sea-going canoe, while learning how their ancestors navigated the open ocean with nothing but the knowledge of the stars, currents, and ocean swells. Dedicated to the preservation of Hawaiian culture and the education of native Hawaiians, The Office of Hawaiian Culture (OHC) gives the Kahu award every year to a person who has acted to help protect Hawaiian culture and traditions.

Traditional Polynesian navigation techniques were used for thousands of years to make long voyages across huge distances of open ocean. Navigators were revered, passing on their wayfinding techniques and vast knowledge of the sea by oral tradition, often in the form of songs. By sharing this knowledge from master to apprentice, these early sailors settled islands across the Pacific Ocean.

Lee was always fascinated by stories of these early navigators and has been sharing that enthusiasm with students for the past 4 years. The unique summer program teaches underprivileged and at risk students how to build a traditional ocean going canoe, in the double-hulled style, used by Polynesian sailors for many millennia. In addition, the kids learn how to navigate using nothing but the stars, winds, currents, bird species and waves. Ano teaches the kids how to make and use traditional stick charts, an ancient mapping system that relies heavily on ocean swells as a means of navigation.

“We learn some really cool facts about about early sailors and what it took to explore the ocean,” says 12-year-old Nate Acosta. A participant in the very first program, Nate says he looks forward to the class all year and plans to spend every summer at Lee’s maker commune.

“The stick charts are the best part. I’ve been practicing making them ever since Ano taught us about them. While it isn’t exactly a real chart, I’ve got one that shows where the school, the beach, and the convenience store is from my house. It took a lot of courage to go out to sea with nothing but the stars and a stick map to guide you. I don’t think people appreciate how smart our forefathers were. They spread out over thousands of miles without GPS or radios to call for help if they got lost. It makes me feel proud to learn how clever and brave they were and how much you can do without fancy equipment if you know what to do. I wouldn’t know any of this if it wasn’t for Ano. I love this program. Also, there are lasers everywhere around here. Ano lets us have all the Manimal we can drink and there’s tons of chips to eat. Best of all, we don’t get in trouble when we swear; this is the best summer camp ever!”

“Hawaii has been very good to me and I’ve had a few major successes in the past few years,” says Lee. “My pineapple drones are revitalizing pineapple farming on the isalnds and my sharknet system is keeping sailors and surfers safe. The least I can do is give a little something back. I see myself in a lot of these kids. Many of them haven’t had the easiest lives and I try to be a positive influence and resource for them. I tell them every year that summer may end, but the class never does. They’re always welcome here if they need to talk, or just want to build something.”

The kids don’t just get a history lesson at Lee’s camp, they get a mentor and hands-on technical and fabrication experience. The culmination of 6 weeks of ancient history, printer programming, and boat assembly is a day-long voyage to Kaunakakai on Moloka’i. There, the kids have lunch, show off their work, and answer questions from the curious before returning home. The excursions have become a popular event over the years and garner a lot of local media attention. At the end of the summer, the boat is auctioned off with the proceeds going towards the kids education.

Ano adds,

“Although we use upgraded materials and have the latest navigation equipment available in case of emergency, these kids get a feel for what it would be like to explore the ocean 2,000 years ago. We use the old ways, following the terns and the shearwaters to find our destination even if we’re sitting in massage chairs and listening to music from a state of the art sound system while we’re doing it. Besides that and the cooler, microwave, and underwater cameras, you’d have a hard time telling our canoes apart from something the ancient mariners might have used. My greatest hope is that I’ve inspired at least one of these kids to keep the circle going and one day they pass on the knowledge they got from this program. I don’t think it gets any better than that.”

Manimal’s “Alpha Club” Comes Under Fire After Contamination of Sacred Spring

The “Alpha Club” promised to provide fans a monthly supply of cold Manimal, and a chance to try out new flavors and products before the general public. However the company’s service is now under fire, after the contamination of a sacred spring North of Lahaina. Officials say it’s hard to say just how much of the energy drink has been introduced into the protected Ho’inu spring, or how long the cleanup effort will take. As days turn into weeks, many are calling on the company to foot the bill, and change the practices that helped cause the problem in the first place.

Costing only $1 the first month, the Alpha Club service promises a monthly supply of the popular Manimal drink (72 cans) delivered to your home, and even put in your refrigerator if you so choose. In addition, members get to try new flavors and products before they are available in retail stores, giving valuable feedback to the company. Many, like 25-year-old Steven Nauwe love the convenience of having their favorite drink delivered monthly.

“Even though the flavor of the month has been ‘Fightberry Punch’ 3 times already this year, I think being a member of the Alpha Club is a great deal. In fact, I drink so much because of my job as a dog walker, that I have two subscriptions. Sure, you pay full price after the first month, but you get to try out new flavors first. I got to try: Green Prepper Blast, Ultigreat Orange, Cherry Fury, and Lightning Phlemon, before anyone! I even got to try the original formula Manimal Spray before they they removed some of the anti-foaming agents. You wouldn’t believe how much that stuff used to burn. I’m not really sure what the problem is.”

According to officials, the problem is that someone need only send a dollar, an address, and very little else, to become part of the Alpha Club. An investigator familiar with the case says, “Normally, these kind of poor practices would only hurt the business. Who in their right mind would send thousands of dollars worth of merchandise without a credit card number, or some sort of verifiable personal information? In this case, we’ve determined that a minor had signed up for the club because his mother didn’t allow Manimal in the house. His parents came forward after finding the bill for his latest order in his pocket. The company had been delivering his supply to the intersection of two trails in the preservation zone for at least 5 months. For reasons that are still unclear to us, the child had been hiding the cans in the spring. Many had ruptured, or were dumped in the water, causing the contamination issues we’re dealing with.”

Ike Hoomana, Spokesperson for the Office of Hawaiian Culture (OHC), says that Manimal should pay for Ho’inu’s restoration because of their gross negligence. He says, “Ho’inu is one of the most sacred spots on the island. According to legend, the first people to come to here had gone two days without water, when they followed birds to the spring. It was here that those brave people made a covenant. They promised to respect, protect, and revere the spirits of the land in exchange for clean water and its bounty. So it went for centuries, until it was befouled by a child, and a company blinded by greed. Even if we drain the spring, some of the Manimal has settled into the ground, and we are unsure how long it will take to work its way out. The crystal clear waters of this is spring used to nourish our bodies and souls. Now, the waters are tinted red, a foul smell hangs like fog, and it attracts only hordes of stinging and biting insects.

Manimal CEO Spencer Kane says he is shocked to hear that a child had joined the club without parental consent, and saddened that the spring was damaged. “We have boxes that every Alpha Club member has to check stating that they are awesome, and 18 or older. In addition, we are totally against hurting, breaking, jumping off of, or doing anything bad to historical monuments or sacred places. We like to focus on amazing people and amazing things, and what happened here is really unamazing.”

Kane says the company has already fixed some of the issues involved with the Alpha club, to ensure that nothing like this happens again. However, he says that we need to understand that awesome kids do awesome things, like drink Manimal, and figure out how to work around the rules. Spencer says that like everyone, he feels bad about the spring, but wishes people would take it easy on the child involved. He says,

“We have to remember that everyone makes mistakes. He’s just a radical kid who made a radical mistake. We should give him a break, and be thankful nothing but some water was hurt. I started the Alpha Club to offer the ultimate drink service for your ultimate life. We believe that legs were made for climbing, jumping, and kicking through cross currents, not walking to the store or standing in aisles. We wanted a way to say thanks to our serious customers, like this kid, and give them a chance to enjoy new products before the casual consumer. Like it says on the application, “Alpha’s Drink First!” We feel super bad about what happened, and have started to coordinate a volunteer effort with area Alpha Club members. I’m sure that with their energy and help, Ho’inu will be an awesome spring again.”