Living Aloha: 10 Interesting local practices in Hawaii

Oftentimes, students live in Hawaii for a number of years and go home without knowing the unique legends behind some daily local practices.

To encourage BYU-Hawaii students to actively engage in life in Hawaii, Aaron Zakimi, president of the Hawaiian Chapter and sophomore in ICS from Honolulu, encourages students to “just try it. It is a great opportunity to do it here and now so you can share your experience when you go back home.”

1. Talk-story

It is actually a verb. It means “chitchat” or “hang out” in English. People in Hawaii enjoy taking time to talk with someone not only for the information exchanged but also for the interaction with another person.

“When the mood is right, we can talk-story for five minutes or five hours,” said U’ilani Falevai, a senior in art from Kahuku . She said talk-story is an important and daily activity local people do to check up with each other. “I consider it as an expression of love because we are comfortable to talk.”

2. Plate Lunch

People often see it in local restaurants. It is called “lunch,” but people can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a local-style main entrée with two scoops of rice, salad, and a chosen meat on a paper plate. It is supposed to be a big amount of food.Falevai said plate lunch is “a small luau” – “luau” means banquet in Hawaiian. She said in ancient Hawaii, big people would be considered wealthy people. Now with the plate lunch, everyone can gain weight and be “wealthy people” together. “Plate lunch is a modern thing. Since Hawaiian is such a multicultural place, we just pick things from different cultures. That is why when you say plate lunch, you’d think of Korean barbeque or Japanese chicken katsu.”

3. Chili pepper water

A Hawaiian homemade “tabasco sauce” of water mixed with hot local red chili pepper, sometimes with other ingredients like salt, vinegar, and ginger. Falevai laughed when she was asked why eating chili pepper water: “Because I don’t want to eat the raw fish in blood.” She said that in her family, they eat the water with poi or with poke – Hawaii style of raw fish. “The water just gives it some flavor like spice.”

4. Breadfruit (‘ulu)

Breadfruit carries an old Hawaiian myth about the God Ku. He buried himself alive in the ground and transformed into a breadfruit tree with fruits for the purpose of saving his family from hunger during a time of famine. Breadfruit can be used to make a Hawaiian pudding named piele ‘ulu. First, mash ripe breadfruit and mix it with coconut cream to make a stiff paste. Then, put the paste in an imu, an underground oven. After it turns cooled, dry it in the sun.

5. Mana

It refers to the spirit or the spiritual power. Ancient Hawaiians believed mana is in everything. The ancient Hawaiians believed sickness was a result the loss of mana, which might be the result of: an evil spirit entered the body, displeasure of one’s personal ancestral God, a curse from another person because of hatred or jealousy, or that one had committed a sin.

6. Poi

It is a thick paste of staple food made from cooked taro, or rarely sweet potato, banana, or breadfruit. It can be used as an offering as taro is associated with life. Hawaiians believed there is mana in poi, so when poi is being served on a dinner table, there should be peace and respect in the family.

Eating poi with one-finger, two-fingers, or three-fingers can associate with different positions. In ancient Hawaii, women ate poi with two fingers while men ate with one or two fingers. If someone were eating poi with three fingers, it would have been considered as a pig.

7. Wooden bowl (s‘umeke la ‘au)

Hawaiian used wood to make bowls, dishes, and platters. There are two general shapes of bowls with different sizes: broad and low bowls, and deep bowls. The former is used to eat poi and the latter is used to store poi. Wooden bowls are usually not too deep because Hawaiians used their fingers to eat most of their food like meat and fish, sometimes include soft food like poi.

8. Shaka

You surely know what it is. It means “great” in Hawaiian and this hand gesture is used as a friendly greeting to show the “aloha spirit.” It might be the most common hand gesture people do in Hawaii and in surfing culture. If someone gives you a shaka, you can give one back.There was a poem about the history of the shaka written by Marilyn Fonoimoana. “His right hand he held up high. He’d wave at all who passes him by. The ‘sign’ he could not help but make. Became familiar no mistake! It started then with this great man. For truth, it’s how ‘hang loose’ began. Next time the shaka sign you see, remember Hamana Kalili.”

Hamana Kalili of Laie (1880-1957), a Hawaiian Chief, was recognized by local residents to be the originator of the popular shaka sign. He lost his 3 middle fingers in an accident, so he waved to people by extending his thumb and little finger. People imitated his gesture and this unique practice lasts until today.

9. Long Hair (Lauoho loloa)

Polynesians have long hair in general. Like Hawaiians, they believe there is mana in their hair. Human hair was used to make Niho Palaoa – a necklace that was made by whale teeth, which is also a symbol of royalty. Hair gives the object power, strength, and mana.Kiana Ishibashi, a senior majoring in communications from Hilo, Hawaii, has long, dark hair. She said, “My long hair holds ‘mana’ and represents my identity.”

10. Kaona

It means hidden meaning, concealed reference, or words with double meanings that might bring good or bad fortune. There is a lot of Kaona in Hawaiian language and culture. It can only be understood through practice and feeling. Here are examples of kaona from Hawaiian proverbs: “Nana ka maka; ho 'olohe ka pepeiao; pa 'a ka waha” – observe with the eyes; listen with the ears; shut the mouth. “Aia a pa 'i 'ia ka maka, ha 'i 'ia kupuna nana 'oe” – only when your face is slapped should you tell who your ancestors are.

Similar to the Chinese philosophies of Confucius and Taoism, Hawaiian language is “like a song, beautiful and poetic” in the words of Ishibashi. “‘Kaona’ is the hidden meaning within the words,” she explained.

Reference:

Web, Hawaiian Dictionary,

Book, Practice aloha: secrets to living life Hawaiian style : stories, recipes and lyrics from Hawai'i's favorite folks, Ellman, Mark.

Book, Plants in Hawaiian Culture, Krauss, Beatrice H.

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Workmans share service and love at Laie Hawaii Temple

Ross and Katherine Workman, the former president and matron for Laie Hawaii Temple, were released from their calling on Nov. 1, 2012.

President Workman recalled how he received this calling. He was serving as a General Authority in 2007. One day President Gordon B. Hinckley called him and asked, “Elder Workman, are you tired?” He answered, “No, I am not.” President Hinckley then continued, “Great! I want to call you to [be] president in the temple in Laie.”


President and Sister Workman are from Cottonwood Heights, Utah. President Workman was called to serve as a mission president in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission from 1998-2001 and returned as a Temple President in the Laie Hawaii Temple from 2007-2012. They got to participate in the Laie Temple rededication by President Thomas S. Monson in November 2010. The Workmans said they were happy to be able to return to Laie. “We lived here before for three years as a mission president. We were happy to serve the Lord whenever he called us to go. We have many friends here, so we are happy to be back,” said President Workman.


President Workman said he witnessed the remarkable sacrifices from BYU-Hawaii students to serve in temple. He shared story about a Chinese student who served as an ordinance worker for two semesters. Later on, he returned to China and saw the members in his home ward that made sacrifices in order to attend temple in Hong Kong, the closest temple to China. It reminded him of how blessed he was to live in Laie with a temple closed by.

“None of us ask for hardships. They just come,” said Sister Workman. She believes that the temple is a blessing to BYUH students to find strength in overcoming worldly challenges. “We hope when people come to the temple, they leave the world outside and feel the love, peace, and the spirit of the Lord that exists in His holy house…There is no room for contention in the temple. [The] temple is full of grace and love,” said Sister Workman.

Even making sure there are enough ordinance workers can be a big challenge to the temple president. President Workman said, “At the end of each semester, we have a whole bunch of people leave or change their shifts [schedule to work in temple]….In fact, in the last April graduation, we had 63 ordinance workers [that] walked. We love them.” He continued, saying, “We almost always need ordinance workers. We ask stake presidents to invite students to become ordinance workers.”

“Getting married is as important as your education,” counseled President Workman. “Secular education is important, but not as important as spiritual education. Your spiritual education will lead you to a mission, then your temple covenant, and your temple marriage. We really need more marriages here.”

President Workman left his promise and blessing to BYUH students: “[If] BYUH students take the temple to be a part of their education, [they] will be better prepared to face the challenges of this world.”

The Workmans are looking forward to visiting their grandchildren in Arizona and Utah when they leave Laie. “After, we might go to see [the] bishop and ask for assignments in the church, maybe as a nursery leader,” said Sister Workman.

BYUH students thanked the Workmans for their example and trust. Makoto Asai, a senior majoring in finance from Japan and New York, served as a temple worker since 2010 after the rededication. He said, “[President Workman] makes sure that everyone leaves the temple feeling sanctified and uplifted with a spiritual experience…Whenever I see the Workman’s on campus, they greet me with the biggest smile and hug. They tell my friends that I’m their son.”

“In China, we do not have a temple yet. The nearest Temple is far away from my home. It is not easy to go on a temple trip,” said Yile Zou, a senior in exercise science from China. She found joy serving in temple and felt that it was an honor to work with the Workmans. “We never had a long conversation, but I know they care and love each single ordinance worker who works with them.”

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Women of the Norht shore share their talents through Christmas Crafts

Every year, a group of crafters from the North Shore community, the “Country Sisters,” host a craft fair event to not only help the community to prepare for Christmas, but also to share their friendship and passion for crafting. This year is Country Sister’s 19th annual craft fair. 
The “Country Sister” was first organized in 1993 for a women’s conference at BYU-Hawaii. Under the direction of Edna Owan, the key person in the group, they hosted a craft fair. 

Cyd Kamauoha, one of the original 13 members of the “Country Sisters” and a Laie resident, said oftentimes she saw her friends in different craft fairs, so they decided to form their own craft fair in 1993. Since then, the “Country Sisters” host a Christmas craft fair every year. They sell handmade craft items, snacks, and a variety of goodies. Kamauoha said, “We always sell something different each year.”

This year, Kamauoha prepared a variety of Christmas decorations and childrens’ items for the fair. “It is not limited to one item. I prepared Christmas ornaments, jewelry, sewing, paintings, soaps, Christmas pins, wall declarations, and home décors. It is overwhelming…I also sell cookies, banana bread, and mochi.” 

Kamauoha said she hoped both the crafters and the customers would find joy in the fair. “We have customers who come back every year…We also buy items from each other [members of Country Sister]. It is always fun to see what other women are selling. We love what each other make. I learned from other sisters and I will make new things next year. It is a lot of work, but it is so much fun.” 

Wishing students and community members to “find fun in buying handmade items that are made in Hawaii,” she said, “they are supporting women in the community too.” 

Besides being enjoyable, the craft fair also brought Kamauoha extra income to take care her family’s Christmas. “I usually earn enough to support our trip to the mainland. I have seven kids, and I earned enough to buy them gifts.” 

“Women in the North Shore community who are interested in sharing their talents are welcome to join the group. It is always fun to have new crafters join us,” said Kamauoha. “It is a big production [of team work] and wonderful friendship that we created.”

Alohi Clah is a new crafter in the “Country Sisters.” She said she is excited to try out the craft fair outside Utah where she previously lived. She shared the ups and down in preparing a craft fair. “Sometimes we sell a lot of stuff, but sometimes we sell nothing. I told my sisters to never take it personal. People buy what they want to buy, and if they don’t, someone else will. If you enjoy something, never give up. I like what I am doing.” 

Going along with Clah, Faye Munson said, “Most people come to the craft fair knowing that it takes a long time for us to make the products. I think they appreciate and enjoy our work.” Munson has been a crafter for 25 years and she was also one of the original members of the “Country Sisters.” Having lived in Laie for the past 37 years, she has participated in a lot of different craft fairs as well. She said she enjoys making beautiful things like stuffed animals, children’s furniture, tea sets, baby quilts, and wooden decorations. 

The Country Sister’s 19th Annual Craft Fair is scheduled for Nov. 30 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Dec. 1 at from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kahuku Community KUA Building (across from the old Kahuku Sugar Mill)

There is no charge to enter. Cash and credit card are accepted. Refreshments will be provided.

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