Ho'oulu 'Aina

• About Ho'oulu 'Aina
• General Agenda & Schedule of Events
• What To Bring
• A copy of this page in PDF format
• A flyer for the event itself
• Registration Form
• Registration Form (Longform - MS-Word Doc)
  
  Schedules:
• Friday Schedule
• Complete Schedule

About Ho'oulu 'Aina

Growing that which feeds us. A food sovereignty youth conference in the spirit of “Hands Turned to the Soil”, and “Hoea ea”.

Location:
Main Conference: Waipa, Kaua`i; Breakout sessions: Kaua`i locations TBA

Dates:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008-Sunday June 15, 2008, Please note: This is Kamehameha Day weekend.

Host:
Waipa Foundation, and community partners TBA

Transportation & Accomodations:
Groups will need to pay for their own airfare to Kaua`i and make their own airline reservations, and arrangements ground transportation if possible. Waipä and our partners may be able to assist with ground transportation from Lihu`e airport, and out to individual sites but this is still being worked out. Accommodations will be tent camping at Waipa, and at individual host sites. Food will be hunted and gathered on-site, and see “what to bring” on page 2.

Target Community:
Youth and `ohana who are affiliated with schools and organizations within Hawai`i’s grassroots communities; and who are studying, returning to, and celebrating cultural and subsistence practices. Emphasis on youth groups who have attended previous conferences, but new groups will also be welcomed. Group size should be 5-6 students and 1 chaperone from each organization, school, etc. Target: 100 youth and chaperones, 50 additional attendees at Friday Conference.

Vision:
A gathering of youth and `ohana from Hawai`i’s grassroots communities to experience, share, and learn about food sovereignty and ho`oulu `aina, Kaua`i style. An event to maintain and build the community connections, and knowledge and skills gained at the previous conferences.

Overall Schedule / Conference Structure:
Groups arrive at Waipa the evening of Wednesday, June 11th, and camp on site through Friday afternoon. Groups have the option of selecting a community site elsewhere around Kaua`i [which still have to be confirmed] where they will work, contribute, camp, and share, from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening or Sunday morning. The gathering will be closed on Sunday with a mid-morning pa`ina.

Registration & Fees:
Groups need to fill out and submit registration forms. A group form to save your space will be attached and will be a good 1st step. Fees will be nominal, $10 per person for the entire gathering

Overall Themes:
A old-style weekend of living off the land, learning new skills and working together, building community and lifelong friendships and memories, and living and practicing the lifestyle and values of our kupuna.

For More Information:
Contact Waipa Foundation through waipafoundation.org or 826-9969 or your island coordinator (O`ahu and Maui-Summer Shimabukuro of MA`O Farms, and Hawai`i Island-Manu Meyer).

General Agenda & Schedule of Events

June 11th, Wednesday:
Groups arrive on the afternoon/evening of Wednesday, June 11th, and set up camp at variousites within the ahupua`a of Waipa.

June 12th, Thursday:
A full day of events for youth and chaperones, including morning protocol, establishing a sense of place, food gathering and preparation from Waipa’s gardens and farm. Thursday afternoon and evening will include, ho`oulu `aina/teambuilding work at various sites around Waipa, relax, swim, explore, and sharing stories, video and slideshows in the evening. Meals will be prepared by teams of youth and chaperones, primarily from food grown and harvested from the land at Waipa and nearby.

June 13th, Friday:
A full conference day for youth, chaperones, and interested individuals from the larger community, which can be attended just for the day. The day will include breakfast for youth staying over, A morning welcome, introduction of all the groups and presentation of ho`okupu [see what to bring], and morning and afternoon hands-on breakout workshop sessions on food, gardening, and related topics. In the mid to late afternoon youth groups will leave to their host- sites around the island, and the day will be closed with sharing stories, food, and kanikapila.

June 14th, Saturday:
Groups staying at Waipa will participate in preparation for the Sunday closing pa`ina, and do more exploring of, and working in, the ahupua`a. Most of the groups will be out at host-sites around the island, working, doing place-based experiential learning, and connecting with communities at those sites. Some groups will return in the evening to share stories and kanikapila.

June 15th, Sunday:
The rest of the groups return to Waipa early, while everyone else gets up early to prepare for a brunch pa`ina around 11am. Closing pa`ina, evaluations, and sharing of mele/oli/ho`okupu from each site. Groups pack up and leave for the airport. If groups cannot get flights out on Sunday, they may stay through Monday, but meals will be on your own beyond the closing pa`ina.

What To Bring

Ho`okupu:
Possibly the most important thing to remember. Two ho`okupu should be brought:

1. A contribution to the overall gathering (not a ho`okupu to Waipa or Waipa Foundation) of something food-related to help feed the group. This item should be something your group made, grew or caught, or participated in the making, growing, or catching of, and preferably a specialty of your place or community. Please be prepared to share the story of how you made, grew or caught your ho`okupu with the larger group, by oral mo`olelo, and photo slideshow or video. Your ho`okupu is very important and will help to introduce you and your group. The amount you should bring should be enough to feed 25-50 people
   
   
2. A ho`okupu to your Kaua`i weekend host-site if you have one: The same thing as above, or something different, as a ho`okupu or gift for your hosts/host site.

Mana`o:
Mele, oli and mana`o from your group, `ohana, and place to introduce yourself, express your mahalo, and share with the larger group and smaller gatherings throughout the event.

Eating Supplies:
Please bring your own plate, utensils and cup, which you will wash and use each day. These things should be marked with your name, plastic plates and cups and real silverware are preferable.

Personal Items:
Personal toiletries, and clothes for four days of camping including swimsuits, tabis (for fishing, working in the lo`i, and hiking), dirty work clothes, mosquito repellant and sunscreen, reusable water bottle, hat.

Camping Gear:
Sleeping bag, sleeping pads, flashlight or headlamp, at least one camping lantern per group.

Attitude:
Respectful, positive and open attitude with aloha toward all that you meet; attitude of being ready to work hard, camp and be outdoors, learn, share and be flexible and resilient.

What NOT to bring:
Gameboys, electronic games or other valuable recreational and/or personal items, dressy clothes that you want to keep clean, gum and excessive amounts of candy.

If some groups can bring sleeping tents and camping lanterns that would be helpful.

What will be provided:
For Camping: Sleeping tents, cold showers, and porta-potties.
In General: Food, learning, work, and fun!