La ‘Ohana o Pohoiki Festival

La ‘Ohana o Pohoiki Festival
(a celebration and gathering for all the Ohana)
July 20
10 am to 4 pm
Isaac Hale Beach Park
Pohoiki
He La Ohana
Celebrating Generational Ohana of Pohoiki
Story and Photos by Raydiance Joy Grace

A day of community, family and fun; a time to bring our community together to learn from one another and to celebrate. Through a diverse range of workshops, performances, and exhibitors, the aim was to  foster a deeper connection to Hawaiian culture and preserve traditions for future generations. The event coordinator, Leialoha Ilae- Kaleimamahu said, “La Ohana is a day to gather family from each generation to bring our families together to work as a community.”

The event appropriately started with a Pule from Kuamo-’o ‘Ohana who prayed, “honoring everyone getting together today to establish our way of living here and getting back to the roots to appreciate everything and thank you for your blessing. Amen”!

This event was organized by Na Maka Haloa and Hua ‘Āina in collaboration with the County of Hawai’i and Kamehameha Schools.

The opening set was with “Kanaka Nui Band” with well-known Kalapana favorites featuring Sam Keliihoomalu, ukelele & vocalist, with his brothers, Robert on guitar/vocals and Primo on bass, and Ikaika Marzo, lead guitarist/vocalist who played all traditional Hawaiian mele. Sam and these musicians perform every Wednesday night at Uncle Robert’s in Kalapana as the “Kalapana Awa Band.” Sam, the spokesperson for the band said, “I was there to play the music and support the event. I was happy to see everyone coming out to support all the generations.”

The 2nd fabulously long set was an all-girl local Hawaiian band from Hilo. Led by,  Kainaini Kahauanele, who shared with her fans, “ I invite all of my Mele Campers (Puna) to come down, you know just about every Puna song will be sung throughout the day!” In Hawaiian mele, the most important thing is location, location, location. My favorite location was about the road to Hana in Maui. Kainaini said, “It is easier to sing about the road to Hana than traveling there. I agree. The winding road inspired a famous T-shirt you can buy when you get to Hana, “I survived the road to Hana”!

Uncle Des, leader of the “Bamboo Band,” ended the day with his upbeat, up-tempo Hawaiian popular songs. The first Hawaiian song I ever heard that I danced to in the 3rd grade in a school performance in Texas, “I Want to Go Back to My Little Grass Shack in Kealakakua, Hawaii” opened his set to the cheers of the audience. Uncle Des commented, “I was happy to be there for the celebration of families showing new life and watching all the children playing.”

This photo of a double-hulled canoe represents the humble beginnings of the first Polynesians who settled on the Hawaiian islands and became the ancestors we all honored last weekend at the La ‘Ohana o Pohoiki Festival. We are all just immigrants here seeking a better life with meaningful work or purpose, wanting to be joined in a loving, generational ohana that supports and sees who we truly are.