David Kalama To heal an island takes awakening, time, patient discipline and the willing hearts and hands of many. This is what was captured in the 1999 Hawai`i International Film Festival award winning film Kaho`olawe---The Taking Away, shown on December 3rd, the fifth of Kahilu Theater’s Kūkulu Ola Film series. Directed by David Kalama, who was present for a post-film talk story, Kaho`olawe is a vibrant and heartfelt chronicle of the long and ultimately successful struggle to reclaim the island for the future of Hawai`i and the Hawaiian Nation.
The film opens with the gut-wrenching footage of massive explosions raising incongruous plumes, framed by an outline of the island. This is a glimpse of the painful awakening that must have been experienced by George Helm, Kimo Mitchell, Walter Ritte, Emmett Aluli and the many others who contributed to the rebirth of the island. For the early Hawaiians, Kaho`olawe was a spiritual home with many sacred sites as well as a navigational training center that embodied all aspects of the Hawaiian culture. In fact its ancient name, Kohe Mālamalama O Kanaloa, means a place of shining light to the wisdom of the Hawaiian ocean god of navigation and currents, Kanaloa. It is a source of Hawaiian Culture, for without the guidance of Kanaloa, how would the Polynesians have discovered Hawai`i and thrived here?
The film opens with the gut-wrenching footage of massive explosions raising incongruous plumes, framed by an outline of the island. This is a glimpse of the painful awakening that must have been experienced by George Helm, Kimo Mitchell, Walter Ritte, Emmett Aluli and the many others who contributed to the rebirth of the island. For the early Hawaiians, Kaho`olawe was a spiritual home with many sacred sites as well as a navigational training center that embodied all aspects of the Hawaiian culture. In fact its ancient name, Kohe Mālamalama O Kanaloa, means a place of shining light to the wisdom of the Hawaiian ocean god of navigation and currents, Kanaloa. It is a source of Hawaiian Culture, for without the guidance of Kanaloa, how would the Polynesians have discovered Hawai`i and thrived here?
With the influx of westerners, many of the old practices faded and the island became a penal colony overrun with goats, a ranching operation and then after Pearl Harbor, a bombing target. Its progressive degradation was a call to Hawaiian hearts, stirring activists such as George Helm, Kimo Mitchell and Emmett Aluli, founding members of PKO (Protect Kaho`olawe `Ohana), which was formed in 1976. The kūpuna were consulted and stories of Kaho`olawe were shared along with advice to conduct their endeavor in a Hawaiian manner. Following this advice, the PKO was formed with the mana`o of aloha `āina. PKO also engaged the principles of ho`oponopono (to make things right), which involves confession, discussion and forgiveness, and engaged in a multi-generational spiritual journey of patient nonviolence that in 1994, succeeded in returning Kaho`olawe to the Hawaiian Nation.
While chronicling the struggle to reclaim the island, the film also highlights the equally important healing process. Between the 1980 consent decree with the U.S. government that restricted military use to one third of the island and 1990, the last of any military use of the island, PKO members were allowed monthly “access” (the term given to civilian visitation) to Kaho`olawe. A permanent base camp was established, plant life restored and erosion control put in place. Makahiki celebrations and other traditional practices, under the guidance of the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation, began the spiritual healing to restore Kohe Mālamalama O Kanaloa to a state of sacredness.
While chronicling the struggle to reclaim the island, the film also highlights the equally important healing process. Between the 1980 consent decree with the U.S. government that restricted military use to one third of the island and 1990, the last of any military use of the island, PKO members were allowed monthly “access” (the term given to civilian visitation) to Kaho`olawe. A permanent base camp was established, plant life restored and erosion control put in place. Makahiki celebrations and other traditional practices, under the guidance of the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation, began the spiritual healing to restore Kohe Mālamalama O Kanaloa to a state of sacredness.
Maxine Kahaulelio The talk story session that followed was a lively discussion with contributions by Maxine Kahaulelio, who shared that, “I was one of the fourteen who landed in 1977 on the island of Kaho`olawe. At 5 a.m. we landed in Obake Bay* and we swam to the island.” And wanted to lift up and honor, “All the people that landed and gave up their lives, families and jobs.”
The film Kaho`olawe captures the contributions of the many hands and hearts that have contributed to the healing and reincarnation of this cultural center of the Hawaiian Nation and raises awareness of the deep spiritual nature of Hawai`i. This was made possible by Kūkulu Ola, a timely film series that seeks to raise community awareness and provides a unique community forum. The last film of this year, Skin Stories by Lisa Altieri and Emiko Omori, will be shown on December 17th at 6:30.
*Named Ghost Bay by fisherman because of its changeable conditions.
The film Kaho`olawe captures the contributions of the many hands and hearts that have contributed to the healing and reincarnation of this cultural center of the Hawaiian Nation and raises awareness of the deep spiritual nature of Hawai`i. This was made possible by Kūkulu Ola, a timely film series that seeks to raise community awareness and provides a unique community forum. The last film of this year, Skin Stories by Lisa Altieri and Emiko Omori, will be shown on December 17th at 6:30.
*Named Ghost Bay by fisherman because of its changeable conditions.
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