When: Anytime

Minimum/Maximum Guests: Minimum 4

Length of Stay: the courses last from half a day to a full day, and you may take as many as you wish

Fee charged:.depends on the program

HAWAIIAN ORIENTATION
by Leilehua Yuen

Aloha! I live and work on Ka Moku Hawai`i (Hawai`i Island), the largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago. My home is in Hilo [HEE-low], the capitol of my island. The easiest way to reach it is to fly to Honolulu [HOH-noh-LOO-loo], the capitol city of the State of Hawai`i. Honolulu is located on Ka Moku O`ahu [oh-AH-hoo]. From Honolulu take a commuter flight to Hilo, my home town.

Hawai`i is the name of both my island and the state. So, to avoid confusion, I will refer to the island as Ka Moku [kah MOH-koo] - The Island.

We have eight "main islands." Starting with the oldest, they are: Ni`ihau [nee-ee-HAH-OO], Kaua`i [ka-oo-AH-ee], Lana`i [lah-NAH-ee], Moloka`i [moh-loh-KAH-ee], O`ahu, Maui [MOW-ee], Kaho`olawe [kah-HOH-oh-LAH-veh], and the youngest, Hawai`i.

We are the most isolated landmass on earth, and so we are home to some of its rarest species. We have wingless flies, yellow blackberries, and singing snails.

The truth about Hawai`i is far stranger than the strangest Hollywood fiction. For instance, did you know that the Hawaiians did not throw virgins into volcanos? Did you know that the men did all the cooking? We did not have any parrots or monkeys until Western sailors brought them. We did have a six foot tall flightless goose, and a type of ibis, both now extinct.

Explorers, migrants, and adventurers, our ancestors left their Southern Pacific homes for many reasons. Some 2000 years ago, they began settling these islands. Some archaeological evidence indicates they may have landed first on Ka Moku Hawai`i. For the next 1200 years, they voyaged back and forth, visiting family, finding spouses for children, acquiring seed stock for plants and animals missing from their new home. About 1240 the voyaging stopped and we did not have significant outside contact until 1778, when Capt. James Cook arrived and a new era of voyaging, migration, and discovery began.

THE PROGRAMS

Na Lei o Hawai`i- full day

$150 per person, 4 participant minimum
Smaller groups and individuals can be accommodated at a rate of  $50 per hour plus expenses.

This program teaches the interrelationships of the Hawaiian people and the ecosystem - especially the plants, and the Hawaiian gods. It also teaches the history, tradition, etiquette, and use of the Hawaiian lei.

Part 1
We begin with prayer and a cleansing ceremony, traditional before beginning any new learning or work. A breakfast lecture follows, during which participants learn basic rules of etiquette for entering the forest and removing plant materials. En route to the collection site, the group will hear facts, legends and myths of the areas, plants, and animals seen along the way. We then hike into the rainforest to make ho`okupu (offering) and gather the foliage needed to fashion traditional lei - garlands. Proper collection and storage techniques are practiced. We give thanks to the forest, and then travel to an appropriate site for the lei-making portion.

Part 2
After a light lunch, we again begin with prayer and then learn the etiquette of making, giving, and receiving lei. While learning to make the physical form of the lei, we will discuss the spiritual and emotional forms of lei. When the lei are complete, a light traditional Hawaiian supper is shared. Closing prayer and thanks are offered.

Notes:

1) Site selection is determined by weather, time of year, and condition of available sites.
2) Participants may opt to drive themselves to the collection site, or, for an additional fee, arrangements can be made to hire a van for the group.
3) Please mention any special dietary needs. Meals will be traditional Hawaiian foods.
4) Can be modified to accommodate many disabilities.

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Religions of Ancient Hawai`i - full day

$150 per person, 4 participant minimum
Smaller groups and individuals can be accommodated at a rate of
$50 per hour plus expenses.

This tour provides an overview of the religious beliefs and practices of Hawai`i prior to European contact, as learned through oral tradition from my kupuna (elders) and from formal western-style studies. I DO NOT teach Huna. However, due to the interest many people express in Huna, I do discuss it.

We begin with prayer and a cleansing ceremony, traditional before beginning any new learning or work. A breakfast lecture follows, during which participants learn basic rules of etiquette for approaching religious sites. After breakfast, we will travel to the selected sites. These will include three sites where the formal temple religions were practiced as well as three sites where the lands-people practiced their religions. The formal sites likely will include a place of refuge, a temple of human sacrifice, and an agricultural temple. The informal sites likely will include a fishing shrine, a tapa-making shrine, and petroglyph sites. Which sites are chosen will vary depending on time of year, site and weather conditions, etc. At some point in all of this, we will share a luncheon. At the end of the day we will construct a simple alter of thanksgiving and share a light supper.

Notes:

1) Site selection is determined by weather, time of year, and condition of available sites.
2) Participants may opt to drive themselves to the collection site, or, for an additional fee, arrangements can be made to hire a van for the group.
3) Please mention any special dietary needs. Meals will be traditional Hawaiian foods.
4) Can be modified to accommodate many disabilities.

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Hawaiian Food,
Family, and
Philosophy
- full day -

(picture shows Leilehua & daughter Ehu making traditional hula dress from tree bark)

$150 per person, 4 participant minimum
Smaller groups and individuals can be accommodated at a rate of $50 per hour plus expenses.

This class teaches the basics of Hawaiian cooking, family values, and life philosophy - all considered inseparable in traditional Hawaiian lifestyle. The musically inclined are encouraged to bring instruments for the pa`ina (dinner).

We begin with prayer and a cleansing ceremony, traditional before beginning any new learning or work. A light breakfast and lecture follows, during which participants learn basic rules of etiquette in food harvesting and handling. After breakfast and clean-up, we will harvest many of the foods we will prepare for the pa`ina. as we harvest, we will learn about the kinolau (god's body form) represented by each item, and it's place in family, community, and religious life. After harvest, we will give thanks. Then, we will prepare the food. At lunch we will discuss traditional Hawaiian family and lifestyle, Hawaiian mythology, and mythology about Hawaiians, and other topics of interest to the group. After lunch we will continue to prepare the food. At supper we will continue our discussions, ending with kanikapila (musical jam session) and a prayer of thanksgiving.

Notes:

1) Please mention any special dietary needs. Meals will be traditional Hawaiian foods.
2) Can be modified to accommodate many disabilities.

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Introduction
to Hula
- half day -

(picture shows an `uli `uli, a rattle used during dances of the monarchy era; the base is composed of a coconut shell)

$50 per person, 4 participant minimum
Smaller groups and individuals can be accommodated at a rate of $50 per hour plus expenses.

This class provides an overview of the history and myths of the hula. Participants will learn a simple hula and chant which they can perform at home.

We begin with prayer and a cleansing ceremony, traditional before beginning any new learning or work. At the end of the ceremony, we will begin learning a simple chant, which we will practice periodically throughout the class. We then will discuss the history of hula, its major deities, its mythology, and its place in Hawaiian society. We then will learn basic movement. During a short rest break, we will discuss hula costume and hold a short "fashion show," trying on various costumes. After the break, we will practice our chant and learn a simple hula. We will finish by making simple lei to wear with appropriate costumes and perform for each other. We will close with a prayer of thanksgiving.

Notes:

1) Can be modified to accommodate many disabilities.

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Other Introductory Classes are Available by Request:

Tapa Making (Polynesian bark cloth)
Hawaiian Featherwork
Gourd Craft
Story Telling and Oral Tradition