We wanted to create a resource to reinforce the teaching and learning of Hoʻākea: Waʻa Kaulua Pae Kula for haumana (students) and kumu (teachers). The main focus for the design is the ʻolelo noʻeau,
“He waʻa he moku, He moku he waʻa”
“The canoe is an island and the island is a canoe.”
This olelo noʻeau is intergral to our voyaging way of life and the foundation of our program. It reminds and honors the interconnectedness between our moku and our waʻa.
The design features an ancient kiʻi pōhaku (petroglyph) specific to Kauaʻi o Manokalanipō laid against an outline of our beloved island.
It started at Kōloa Elementary Schoolʻs Hoʻākea: Waʻa Kaulua Pae Kula
Aunty Napua Wong Romo (Wearing the sunglasses) who is a part of Mālama Māhaʻulepū, brought hand stamped book marks for each haumana.
She shared that she carved the image of the waʻa as a stamp based on the the kiʻi pōhaku (petroglyph) found in the Kona Moku. On their display board they had a picture of the original image which you can scroll below to see.
Here is the bookmark hand stamped by Aunty Napua.
We were so inspired by this that when we wanted to design an image to remind the students of He waʻa he moku we asked Aunty Napua since she made the stamp if we could use the waʻa in our design.
Picture from the display board of the original kiʻi pōhaku (petroglyph)
Normally covered in sand the original kiʻi pōhaku peʻa (Petroglyph Sail) can only be seen after a big wave swell or storm washes away the sand.