Kahana Wa’a Day: Sustaining Our Coastal Foodways

Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging Academy will host a free public event in Kahana aimed at bringing together kupuna, keiki, ʻohana, and voyaging practitioners. The event will focus on a day of talk story, hands-on learning, and cultural exchange centered around waʻa (canoes) and food resources.

Rooted in the rich history and lived experiences of Kahana, attendees will explore the connections between canoes and our food systems, including fishing, gathering, trading, and the mālama of coastal resources. Esteemed kupuna such as Vann Kamaka’ala, Ululani Beirne, Nana Gorai, and Gary Yuen will share moʻolelo (stories) of Kahana’s past and present, highlighting tales of fishing families, fishpond practices, recreational impacts, water diversion, and loss of access to ʻāina.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to engage with double-hull coastal sailing canoes, including waʻa Ka Laʻi Ahiu and waʻa Kanehunamoku. This interaction will deepen their understanding of how voyaging traditions sustain intergenerational knowledge and food security across Oceania.

Additionally, the event may feature cultural exchanges with Micronesian and Taiwan voyaging communities, emphasizing the unbroken traditions of fishing, gathering, and inter-island trade as foundations of resilience.