 This Hae Hawaiʻi, Hawaiian Flag, was left in Ahupū by our Ala Loa Crew in September 2019 to mark the camp they established there. The flag remarkably survived the recent fire unscathed. (Image: Poʻokela Hanson) A recollection by Poʻokela Hanson, Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana Kua
"To watch Kaho’olawe burn & not able to do anything was hard to stomach. This weekend, the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana was able to access the island to assess the damages caused by #KahoolaweFire. A small group of us were able to go, by zodiac, to Ahupū, the location of the newest Ala Loa field camp. As we approached Ahupū, Syd Boy (Kawahakui) Uncle Kel (Ho) & I imagined the worst. . When we landed on shore, we got out of the zodi & quietly walked about our separate ways to assess the aftermath of the fire. Walking around the trail & our camp, I began to think about the equipment, progress we made the last time we were here, & the setbacks we would experience as a result of the fire. As I approached the area where our gear & equipment was stored, I noticed all that was left of our supply tent was damaged gear (weed whackers, chainsaws, cooking equipment, & work supplies). I was disheartened, to say the least. My eyes shifted quickly to the location where I recall us leaving raised on a PVC pipe, our beloved Hae Hawaiʻi, our Hawaiian Flag. What I saw was awe-striking: In the grass, intact, & right at the base of where the fire stopped, laid our Hae Hawaiʻi! Such an amazing hō’ailona & incredible thing to witness. The reaction of Syd & Uncle Kelvin when we brought the flag home to Hakioawa was even more memorable. . The resolve & strength of our ‘Ohana and Lāhui is represented by this flag. As we struggle to protect our culture & home, images like this will forever be cemented in my heart because it serves as a reminder of our pride & resiliency as a lāhui. Just like our kūpuna, we refuse to be erased from history. This symbol of pride, unity, & strength will be remembered forever. Honor the people that came before us, take care of each other, & love one another until the last aloha ʻāina. . We may remember this flag as the one that graced the backdrop as Po and the 4 Fathers (@po4fathers on Instagram) blessed us with their voices in the #Jam4MaunaKea rendition of Liko Martinʻs composition, "All Hawaiʻi Stand Together." In these trying times, let's all remember the lyrics of this mele: Hawaiʻi loa, kū like kākou, kūpaʻa me ka lōkahi..." All of Hawaiʻi, stand together. Stand firm in unity." . The Ala Loa must continue. To the hundreds of people that set their pōhaku on this path, we need your kōkua now more than ever. Donations of any sort will help the ʻOhana replace the damaged equipment needed to complete the Ala Loa. Please visit http://charity.gofundme.com/kahoolawefire to make a donation. You may also visit at @kahoolawe on Instagram to learn about other opportunities to kōkua recovery efforts. We understand these are difficult times for many in the face of global events. Sharing this story with others, your experience on Kahoʻolawe, or spreading our value of aloha ʻāina is also a valuable contribution. . Your continued pule & aloha is appreciated. Aloha ʻĀina, Aloha Kahoʻolawe, E ola Kanaloa! "
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Mahalo nui to the following participants of 2019 Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana huakaʻi:
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