Collective Seasonal Hui Monitoring

Here is a brief Breakdown of Wā, or chapters in the Kumulipo to generalize origin orders of all life forms mentioned in the first four Wā. This will help us to understand and conceptualize growth processes, absence and presence of vegetative and reproductive plant and animal life forms and their functions in their natural ecosystems.

For this kilo experience to be relevant and meaningful for all learners and participants we chose to utilize the Kumulipo as a foundational reference to reveal and provide pairing of life forms that would be relevant for all community groups within KUA networks. The number four is a significant number historically for native Hawaiians therefore decided to use the number four as a theme for setting up pre-determined questions in which everyone would be able to consistently answer during 4 seasonal times of the year & a 4 day window of time in each seasonal observation period to observe, according to Dr. Kalei Nuʻuhiwa it takes the sun 4 days to move one degree across the horizon, hence the 4 day window to make observations from your respective pānānā or platform of observation.

1. - Piko o Wākea/ Ke Alaʻula a Kāne (Spring Equinox – March 19-23)
2. - Ala Polohiwa a Kāne (summer solstice – June 19-23)
3. - Piko o Wākea/ Ke Ala Maʻaweʻula a Kanaloa (Fall Equinox – September 19-23)
4. - Ala Polohiwa a Kānaloa (Winter Solstice December 19-23)

Continuing along with this numerical theme decided to select 4 species from each of the first 4 wā of the Kumulipo to help assist and narrow down our collective community kilo initiative. In addition to those species also adding 4 pairings with land, ocean, and air species that are common species identied from the kumulipo (Kumulipo Reference Link from Ulukau).

This collective inititaive to “E Kilo Pualu” will provide an opportunity for all of us to excercise and grow our Kilo skills and document these experiential learning opportunities using an app that will help us to store and organize our information using a remote monitoring platform to help us tell our stories and current realities about our special places and all the meaningful species that we value and depend on to live and maintain our health and wellness as Kanaka.

From the numerous lifeforms names we narrowed down a list of 44, consisting of about 4 organisms + 4 pairings from each wā where applicable. Some of the guiding parameters we considered were if these were common enough and inclusive of diverse landscapes of network participants, perhaps they are indicator species, species of particular interest, and demonstrate vulnerability to climate change, other factors and more. Roxane Keliikipikaneokolohaka reminds us that that Kumulipo names what is tied to a particular lineage so inherently does not contain everything. Also that parallel life forms are not paired in the same way: "... some may be paired because of same same “Hua” stage seasonally, but for other pairings, it may be about function within the system, or a variety of other things. And those other reasons may not be evident today because of changes to habitat, etc.".

1. Koʻa - smooth, rice, small branching coral
2. Hāʻukeʻuke
3. ʻOpihi
4. Pūpū ʻAwa (and other ʻōpihi eaters)
5. Limu Manauea /
6. Kalo (Manauea/Aweuweu and other varieties)
7. Limu Kala /
8. ʻĀkala
9. Limu Līpuʻupuʻu/Lipehu - Kohu & Līpoa
10. Limu ʻeleʻele
11. Manō
12. Pāpaʻi
13. ʻŌpelu
14. ʻAmaʻAma
15. Moi
16. Nenue /
17. Lauhue (and other gourds)
18. Heʻe /
19. Walaheʻe, ʻAlaheʻe
20. Pākuʻikuʻi /
21. Kukui
22. Puhi (laumilo and other eels)/
23. Milo
24. Weke /
25. Wauke
26. Pinao
27. ʻŪlili
28. Kōlea
29. ʻAkekeke
30. ʻApapane
31. ʻIwa
32. ʻAukuʻu
33. Noio /
34. ʻIo
35. Nēnē
36. ʻAukuʻu
37. Pueo
38. ʻUla (lobster)
39. Moʻo
40. Honu /
41. Maile
42. Wiliwili
43. Opeope (jellyfish in general)
44. Nanana (spider)

Mahalo to Uncle Mac Poepoe, Kēhau Springer, Ulu Ching, Kinohi Pizarro and Malia Kipapa for helping to lead this selection process. Special mahalo to Malia for the initial idea, lending her research and much of this language. And of course to our contributing photographers noted under each photo. Your photos and manaʻo are welcome too!