Hawaiian Practioner Projects

Ryan took Hawaiian Culture, a one-semester class this spring. With some help from my co-worker, Ryan (with instruction and help from his dad and me) made a set of two feather kahili out of dyed goose feathers and rooster hackle. My co-worker took me to Na Lima Mili Hulu No'eau, a feather shop on Kapahulu Ave. run by Aunty Mary Lou Kekuewa and her daughter Paulette Kahalepuna to buy the feathers. We made the kahili using modern items such as florist wire picks, a wooden dowel stick and florist tape (not to mention the satin ribbon), but they came out pretty nice.

We also did a poster of his family tree, going back several generations: he is 4th and 5th generation Japanese and 4th generation Filipino. And I was able to trace back 7 generations on Darrell's mom's side (the Hawaiian side).

He also worked hard with Grandpa to make three Hawaiian weapons. This one is a club that he later stained a dark brown to make it look more natural.

After all this work, I'm a little sad that he has nothing to show for it except a few pictures. He tried bringing the kahili home but he left it in one of his classes and when he went back, they were gone. The teacher asked to keep the genealogy chart and the weapons as examples. At least he got good grades on the projects!