December 8th Leeward O'ahu floater launching...

On December 8th,

The plans for our Leeward O'ahu launching got changed.  Uncle LJ had a problem with his boat trailer, so at the very last minute we ended up postponing the leeward launch and got to learn about paddling with the Ka Mo'i Canoe Club out in Wai'anae.  They shared the history and genealogy of Ka Mo'i Canoe Club and how they go about by taking care of the debris that sometimes ends up at the location of their halau wa'a.  The MAMDRP hui worked as a team hauling the canoes to the beach and then went paddling in a couple of Ka Mo'i's canoes and had a day of bonding at the beach.  Also while out paddling, Uncle Kamuela and Uncle Kaina shared about their sailing experiences with Hoku Le'a and Hawai'i Loa.

Na Pua No'eau's MAMDRP Pathways featured in Star Advertiser...

Aloha Everyone,

MAMDRP continues to make headlines!  This time we've been featured in today's Star Advertiser.  Feel free to click on the photo below to read in detail.

Be on the lookout for our MAMDRP wooden floaters!

Aloha Everyone,

We are at the peak of our MAMDRP research project.  Through Na Pua No'eau's partnership with Kua'ana Native Hawaiian Student Services, we are trying to answer determine how ocean currents affect the flow of marine debris to specific sites on O'ahu, especially with the debris coming from the Japan tsunami incident.

On December 1st, a bunch of blocks were dropped off some 20 miles out into the ocean on the windward side of O'ahu and come this Saturday, December 8th, another group of blocks will be dropped off approximately 20 miles out into the ocean on the leeward side of O'ahu.

We are asking everyone to spread the word on this huge project and initiative.  Tell your friends and family across the state that if they find any of the blocks below, please call our MAMDRP hotline at 956-9531 or email us at mamdrp@gmail.com with the following information:
-The location or place of your find: include the island, town, or country (i.e.  Kihei Beach, Maui or Dedeo, Guam)
-The approximate time you found it and the date you found it.  Include the month, day and year. (i.e. Around 4:30pm, December 3, 2012)
-On the top of every block there's a number, please provide us with the number on the block you find.
-This is optional, but you may also leave us your name and a contact number or email.  This will allow us to contact you if we have any questions.

Photos from December 1st Windward O'ahu floater launching...

Aloha Everyone,

We got some great photos to share with all of you, this one comes from our December 1st Windward O'ahu launching date...

Windward O'ahu view from ma kai side...

Uncle LJ's boat...

Aunty Kahape'a's boat...

The "drop off" crew...

One of the alaka'i...

The "land" crew...

Mini workshops with the Kanehunamoku crew, where they share mo'olelo of Windward O'ahu, traditional and western says of sea farring, knot tying and windward currents and debris ...

Windward floater release...

MAMDRP hui...

Na Pua No'eau's MAMDRP Pathways featured in UH Manoa news...

Aloha Everyone,

Another article has been featured in UH Manoa's news, please feel free to check it out.  For an online version of the article click here:
http://manoa.hawaii.edu/news/article.php?aId=5423

Na Pua No'eau's MAMDRP Pathways featured in Ka Wai Ola o OHA...

Aloha Everyone,

Jus' wanted to share this article with all of you which was featured in the December edition of Ka Wai Ola o OHA.  Awesome stuff!  For an online version of the article click here:

http://issuu.com/kawaiola/docs/kwo01212_web/1

Na Pua No'eau's MAMDRP Pathways featured in KITV news...

Aloha Everyone,

Na Pua No'eau's MAMDRP Pathways was featured in KITV's news on Saturday.  In case you missed it, you can view the news bit here:
http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/Native-Hawaiians-study-marine-debris/-/8905354/17624584/-/hwtvmvz/-/index.html

Getting ready for December 1st & 8th...

Aloha Everyone,

Two of our most crucial days of MAMDRP Pathways are coming up and there's a few announcements that we'd like to share with all of you.

First off are the announcements of the groups for each of these dates.  At our last November 17th meeting date, students and alaka'i ranked on a scale of 1-4 ("1" for first preference choice, 4 for last preference choice) of which opportunities they wanted to be a part of.  The groups have been formulated today and are listed below.  Students and alaka'i were assigned and ranked accordingly based on their attendance and how they ranked their choices.  The groups are as follows

Group A: 
December 1st: Kapuamae'ole to launch wooden floaters on Windward, O'ahu
December 8th: Ka Mo'i to go paddling/onshore presentation
Lelemia
Natasha
Noah
Vanessa
Kristynn
Justice
Keikilani
Mahina

Group B:
December 1st: Kanehunamoku sailing/onshore presentation
December 8th: Kapuamae'ole to launch wooden floaters on Leeward, O'ahu 
Jordan
Aliah
Kim Hee
Kaua
Hoaliku
Fili
James
Koa

Group C:
December 1st: Kanehunamoku sailing/onshore presentation
December 8th: Ka Mo'i to go paddling/onshore presentation
Kamuela
Dana
Ilikea
Rochelle
Leila
Hope
Rhys

Group D:
December 1st: Kanehunamoku sailing/onshore presentation
December 8th: Ka Mo'i to go paddling
Kali
Samson
'Anela
Kekai
Nanea
Camryn

Here's the agenda for December 1st* (Please note the extended time in schedule):
8:30-8:45am Bus departing from UH Manoa Varney Circle at ma kai side of Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services Building and heading to He'eia Boat Harbor/Pier
*For those students who would like to meet us at He'eia Boat Harbor/Pier, please meet us there on time at 9:15am
9:15-10:00am Briefing, protocol and pule
10:00-3:00pm Group A launching wooden floaters, and Groups B, C & D at the sandbar for onshore presentation and sailing with Kanehunamoku
*Lunch and snacks will be provided by Na Pua No'eau
3:00pm Everyone meets back at He'eia Boat Harbor/Pier
3:00-3:15pm Closing protocol and evaluations
3:15pm Head back to UH
4:00pm Return to UH

Here's the agenda for December 8th
8:30-8:45am Bus departing from UH Manoa Varney Circle at ma kai side of Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services Building and heading to Wai'anae Boat Harbor
*For those students who would like to meet us at Wai'anae Boat Harbor, please meet us there on time at 9:45am
9:45-10:15am Briefing, protocol and pule
10:15-2:00pm Group B heads out to launch wooden floaters, and Groups A, C & D head to Poka'i Bay for paddling with Ka Mo'i and onshore presentation with E Ala
*Lunch and snacks will be provided by Na Pua No'eau
2:00pm Everyone meets back at Poka'i Bay
2:00-2:15pm Closing protocol and evaluations
2:15pm Head back to UH
3:30pm Return to UH

*VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BELOW CAREFULLY!

For everyone going on Kapuamae'ole to launch wooden floaters on either the Windward side of O'ahu (December 1st) or on the Leeward side of O'ahu (December 8th), please prepare for the following:
1.  If you think that you might be getting motion sickness on Kapuamae'ole (to launch wooden floaters), Kanehunamoku (sailing canoe) or Ka Mo'i (paddling canoe), bonine or dramamine medication is strongly recommended.  Please be sure to follow instructions to either of these medications very carefully and be sure to do a "test run" prior to the Saturday dates.
2.  To minimize sea sickness it is highly recommended that you do not eat greasy foods or oatmeal the morning of December 1st and December 8th.
3.  To also minimize sea sickness it is highly recommended that you get a good night's rest.
4.  Everyone will be required to wear life vests on both Kapuamae'ole and Kanehunamoku
5.  All females are required to wear swim shorts for both dates
6.  Pack/bring the following with you:
-Water bottles THIS IS A MUST!
-Light jacket (Not required, but strongly recommended)
-Sunglasses (Not required, but strongly recommended)
-Long sleeve shirt or long sleeve rash guard (Not required, but strongly recommended)
-Sunscreen
-Hat
-Tabis or slippers
-Change of clothes
-Towel
*Please pack very lightly and preferably in a backpack or bag that can be zippered up, do not bring "extra stuff" like money, makeup, food, etc.
7.  There might be press people there for either of our December 1st or December 8th dates, please defer all reporters to Aunty Ku'umeaaloha, do not answer questions by any of the media unless instructed to do so by Aunty Ku'umeaaloha.

If you have any further questions, please call Uncle Kinohi at 956-0939.

Getting ready for November 17th...

Aloha Everyone,

Our 5th MAMDRP meeting is coming up quick this Saturday!  We have quite an agenda mapped out for all of you.  In the morning we'll be practicing our oli that we've learned thus far.  Please be sure to have all of these oli memorized, we will be using them for our December 1st and December 8th launching dates.  The words to the oli we've learned thus far can be found here: http://mamdrp.blogspot.com/search/label/Oli

Also, we have a few very special guests who will speaking to all of you.  Mehanaokala Hind, a former NPN employee, NPN advisory member and now a member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' executive team with Chief Executive Officer Kamana'opono Crabbe.  Her many talents are rooted in hula, oli, education, Native Hawaiian advocacy, composition and Native intelligence in nearly all facets, just to name a few.  She is a well-respected and contributing member of our community and we are very blessed to have her share her views on "Papaku Makawalu" a Hawaiian way of learning, knowing, investigating and being.  Here's a wonderful video that was done on Mehana by Aha'i 'Olelo:

Also scheduled for the day, Aunty Noe will be sharing her 'ike on Hawaiian navigation, which will then transition into another special guest Dr. Tomoaki, who will be speaking to everyone on GIS or Geographic Information Systems.  With these two very special opportunities we will experience both traditional and western "mapping" and how we can see its similarities and then draw from its strengths as an overall benefit for our MAMDRP research project.

Finally, in preparation for our December 1st and December 8th launching dates, we will be meeting with Captain John "LJ" Benson who will be providing orientation to everyone on what to expect:
-Safety precautions
-What to prepare for
-What to expect

NOTE: Because of orientation, we will be getting out at approximately 3:45pm, please inform your families about this schedule change.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR NOVEMBER 3RD MAMDRP MEETING

Aloha to all of our MAMDRP Pathways students and staff,

At our upcoming November 3rd meeting date, we're going to be going completely outdoors to do some hands-on experiments and activities related to density and buoyancy... and you know it's gonna all go down NPN style!  We won't get into the specifics of where exactly where we'll be to conduct these activities but the picture below gives you a big clue to where we're heading.

NOTE: As of November 1st, from here on out, students must arrive on time at all of our MAMDRP Pathways meeting dates.  With the momentum and expectations building for this program, everyone is expected to arrive on time, tardies will no longer be accepted.  Also, with the content that is going to be discussed at our November meeting dates, these will be mandatory sessions.  Failure to attend these two important dates may jeopardize you going on the wa'a for the releasing of our floaters in December.

Finally, for our November 3rd meeting date, do not forget to bring the following:

1.  Water bottle
2.  Swimwear
3.  Towel
4.  Extra change of clothes
5.  Sunscreen (if needed)

Literature reviews, public speaking, working on those floaters and Cromwell's...

It's on day 4 of our MAMDRP program,

And it sure was a busy and productive one.  In the morning Aunty Noe opened with Kukulukumuhana where students practiced their oli, and yet another one was added in the mix for the students to learn...

"Makali'i"

Composed by Pua Case

Aue ua hiki e, ua hiki e 'o Makali'i e

Aue ua hiki e

Hele'e ka wa'a i ke kai e

Ho'okele wa'a (no ka) la 'ino e

'A'ohe e pule, he wa'a nui e

Aue ua hiki e

E lauhoe mai ka wa'a i ke ka

I ka hoe

I ka hoe

I ke ka

(E) pae aku i ka 'aina la

(E) pae mai la i ka 'aina e

Aue ua hiki e

After that was completed students broke up into their times and reviewed their literature review pieces they researched from the previous meeting on marine debris.  From that they prepared for their group's presentations. 

The students did an excellent job with their presentations.  With a little coaching from their alaka'i and a  fun "in house" exercise we did with everyone, the students got over their "um's" and "pauses" and presented their findings with professionalism and poise.

Before lunch, students finished the painting phase of the floaters project and as a reward for their hard work and productivity, after lunch everyone headed to Cromwell's Beach for a dip in the ocean.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL MAMDRP PATHWAYS STUDENTS AND MENTORS!

Okay students and mentors,

Uncle Kinohi mentioned at our last MAMDRP Pathways event (October 6) that there would be a very special announcement.  Being that everyone has been working very hard at our past three dates, we wanted to let you all know, in the morning we have some work to do, but after lunch on our October 20th gathering date we're going to head to the beach at Cromwell's!  For those of you who did not show up at our October 6 meeting date, you have some catching up to do BEFORE we head out to the beach.  So with that said, be sure to pack the following:

1.  Water bottle (PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THIS!)
2.  Swimwear
3.  Towel
4.  Extra change of clothes

Research and floaters...

For our 3rd MAMDRP Pathways meeting date,

The day started off with a presentation on the Northwestern Islands and the Eastern and Western Garbage Patches in the Pacific Ocean that are surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.

After that was completed, students then learned about conduct literature reviews and then broke up into their teams with their alaka‘i to do online research on marine debris.

After lunch, students went outside to continue painting their wooden floaters for their research project.  This time it was to paint another set of 900 blocks red (well more brick red).

It was yet another productive day!

To Kanehunamoku and Magic Island...

Our 2nd meeting date brings us another day of adventure,

In the morning the MAMDRP group headed on over to Halau Ku Mana (public charter school) up in Makiki to help work on Kanehunamoku (a voyaging canoe and mo‘opuna [granddaughter] of Hokule‘a) as part of their community service.  The plan for the MAMDRP group is to launch some 1800 blocks into the ocean with the help of Kanehunamoku.  For their community service project, the haumana sanded the main posts and iako of the canoe.

Before lunch, the haumana learned an oli...

"Lele A‘e"

Composed by Punawai Rice

Lele a‘e

Kau i uka

‘O Nihoa

Ka pae mua

Ho‘i e

Ho‘i la

Ho‘i mai na hoa

Aloha e

Kaneapua

Kahea aku

Ia lehua

Ho‘i e

Ho‘i la

Ho‘i mai na hoa

E poki‘i

E kau aku

Ma ka pola

O ka wa‘a

Ho‘i e

Ho‘i la

Ho‘i mai na hoa

And then a haka...

Hokule‘a Haka

Holo i ke kai (Alaka‘i)

Hoe, hoe (All)

Hoe, hoe

Holo i ka i‘a (Alaka‘i)

Hoe, hoe (All)

Hoe, hoe

Ho‘i i ke kai (Alaka‘i)

Ku‘e, ku‘e (All)

Ku‘e, ku‘e

Ia wa‘a Hokule‘a (Alaka‘i)

Eia ka wa‘a (All)

Eia Hokule‘a

KU!

After lunch was pau, the MAMDRP group went over to Magic Island to do their swim test, as part of their certification for when they board on Kanehunamoku for their research project.

A day with Kainani Kahaunaele & painting...

It was an awesome first day,

The morning started with a half day with Kainani Kahaunaele, a musician, an educator, a Kaua‘i native and now residing in Hilo as a lecturer at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.  The MAMDRP Pathways haumana were the first ever to learn the mele "Helu Kai," a chant which calls out to all of the Hawaiian Islands' ocean channels.  The mele, for our MAMDRP students is a reminder of what the ocean channels' names are, and how we are as a people connected to the ocean.

The mele was later turned into a mele inoa by composer Kaipo Frias (Dr. Taupouri Tangaro) in honor of Kainani.  This mele inoa was inspired by Kainani's name and the function of linking our islands and people together using our seas as the metaphor.  Kainani is a crew member on Makali‘i and Hokule‘a voyaging canoes and has used this mele to acknowledge our kupuna, home ocean and seafaring traditions.

"Helu Kai"

Composed by Kaipo Frias (Dr. Taupouri Tangaro)

If you'd like to hear a sample of how quick "Helu Kai" really is,
CLICK HERE

No Ni‘ihau laua ‘o Kaua‘i ‘o Kaulakahi

No Kaua‘i laua ‘o O‘ahu, ‘o Ka‘ie‘iewaho

No O‘ahu laua ‘o Moloka‘i, ‘o Kaiwi

No Moloka‘i laua ‘o Maui, ‘o Pailolo

No Maui laua ‘o Lana‘i, ‘o ‘Au‘au

No Lana‘i laua ‘o Kanaloa, ‘o Kealaikahiki

No Kanaloa laua ‘o Maui, ‘o ‘Alalakeiki

No Maui laua ‘o Hawai‘i, ‘o ‘Alenuihaha

E ki‘i i ka malo, hume i ka malo

Eia a‘e ka nalu, e kau i ka nu‘u

A pae a pae a pae ma ke one wali o ‘Ohele

Le‘i Waiakea i ka nuku na kanaka

No Kahaunaele Kainani la he inoa

Later that afternoon, the MAMDRP Pathways students and their alaka‘i (mentors) went outside to begin painting some 900 wooden blocks for their research project.  A total of 1800 blocks will be launched off on the windward and leeward sides of O‘ahu to get a better understanding of where marine debris float to on O‘ahu