Torch-bearing march around island comes to conclusion
Participants relate how 'spark of light' spread along path
The Maui News
Sunday, March 1, 2009
By KEKOA ENOMOTO Staff Writer
LAHAINA - A sea of people of all ages embraced and honi'd, or touched noses, Friday at Lahaina while celebrating the end of a weeklong, 193-mile torch march around Maui to raise attention for Native Hawaiian issues.
Elders of Na Kupuna O Maui had joined the marchers at Puamana, walking the last 1.2 miles of the journey called E Ka'apuni A Ho'a Kukui Na Moku'aina.
An estimated 400 people ended the march about 4:15 p.m. on a hot, dusty patch of Moku'ula, or Malu-ulu-o-Lele Park, with traditional haule-lani rites honoring deceased members of the Native Hawaiian community.
Coordinator Ke'eaumoku Kapu said the marchers fulfilled their goal, to ignite "a spark of light that spread across all of Maui." The "light," represented by the trek's continually lit torches, signified unity and enlightenment about Native Hawaiian issues, he said. Those issues included the ceded-lands lawsuit now before the U.S. Supreme Court; threats to Native Hawaiian trusts, exemplified by lawsuits related to Kamehameha Schools admissions; and Native Hawaiian health, education and well-being, he said.
The crowd buzzed as people passed around plates of food: kalua pig, Okinawan sweet potato, pohole (fern shoot) relish and potato salad, courtesy of The Ka'anapali Beach Hotel; and fresh poi from Palani Sinenci of Keanae. Amid wind-swirled red dust, participants munched and reminisced about the seven-day sojourn.
Teri Freitas Gorman said she had walked the first leg - 22 miles from Moku'ula to Honokahua - in six hours. Kimokeo Kapahulehua of Honokohau had given her an umeke of paakai, or bowl of sea salt, to carry on behalf of Clifford Nae'ole, their mutual friend who was ill with a heart ailment. At the Honokahua burial grounds, Ke'eaumoku Kapu placed the paakai as hookupu, or offering, while Gorman prayed and watched a pueo, or owl, fly overhead. She said the pueo is her aumakua, or family deity.
Sol Kaho'ohalahala, who also had walked the first leg, recalled "the most poignant moment" when kupuna Eddie Reimann of Napili sat waiting by his home for the marchers. At 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Reimann accepted a torch, walked 20 feet slowly, then returned the torch. His neighborhood had prepared for the marchers a predawn breakfast of sandwiches, boiled eggs, mochi cake, coffee, tea and cocoa, Kaho'ohalahala recalled.
Silla Kaina said she had walked from Lahaina to Kahakuloa. She tearfully remembered how 92-year-old Aunty Edna Farden Bekheart, sister of late singer/composer Irmgard Farden Aluli, had waited by her window to hear the marchers. Kapu had chanted to her and her ohana, and she had heard the early-morning oli, Kaina reported.
Makalapua Kanuha also reveled in the experience. She said she had joined the group at Launiupoko and, despite people talking all around her, had marched silently and "felt near to our kupuna," or ancestors.
The communitywide march had started at midnight Feb. 20 at Lahaina, traversed coastal roads clockwise around island, and stopped intermittently to honor ohana of Maui's 12 moku, or districts: Lahaina, Kaanapali, Wailuku, Hamakuapoko, Hamakualoa, Koolau, Hana, Kipahulu, Kaupo, Kahikinui, Honuaula and Kula.
For more information, visit the Web site www.kpoa.com and click on "News."
Kekoa Enomoto can be reached at kekoa@Mauinews.com.
Copyright © 2009 - The Maui News
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Original URL: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/515270.html
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