Over 55 members and friends of Hawai‘i Betsuin went on an excursion on August 16, 2024 to the ‘Aiea ahupua‘a (traditional Hawaiian mountains-to-sea land management unit). Dr. Kyle Kajihiro, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa was our main guide and curator.

‘Aiea Huaka‘i – We got on the bus at Hawaii Betsuin the morning of August 16, 2024. We picked up a few more at Aiea Hongwanji.‘Aiea Huaka‘i – We got on the bus at Hawaii Betsuin the morning of August 16, 2024. We picked up a few more at Aiea Hongwanji.
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Happy that our driver was able to get the school bus all the way to our destination, we walked over to the shelter at Kea‘iwa Heiau‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Happy that our driver was able to get the school bus all the way to our destination, we walked over to the shelter at Kea‘iwa Heiau
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Hearing from Kumu Hula Vicky Holt at Kea‘iwa Heiau‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Hearing from Kumu Hula Vicky Holt at Kea‘iwa Heiau
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Preparing ti leaves for lei-making‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Preparing ti leaves for lei-making
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Making a community lei at Kea‘iwa Heiau‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Making a community lei at Kea‘iwa Heiau
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Dr. Kyle Kajihiro shows an old map of Pu‘uloa (Pearl Harbor)‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Dr. Kyle Kajihiro shows an old map of Pu‘uloa (Pearl Harbor)
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – protocol at Kea‘iwa Heiau‘Aiea Huaka‘i – protocol at Kea‘iwa Heiau
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – offering at Kea‘iwa Heiau‘Aiea Huaka‘i – offering at Kea‘iwa Heiau
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – walking from the bus to the fish pond; we had a good-sized group!‘Aiea Huaka‘i – walking from the bus to the fish pond; we had a good-sized group!
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – with Kehaulani Lum at the fish pond‘Aiea Huaka‘i – with Kehaulani Lum at the fish pond
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – showing a photo of the mangroves that have been cleared‘Aiea Huaka‘i – showing a photo of the mangroves that have been cleared
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – making an offering at Loko I‘a Pa‘aiau Fishpond‘Aiea Huaka‘i – making an offering at Loko I‘a Pa‘aiau Fishpond
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – distributing pieces of cooked sweet potato to feed to the fish‘Aiea Huaka‘i – distributing pieces of cooked sweet potato to feed to the fish
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – distributing pieces of cooked sweet potato to feed to the fish‘Aiea Huaka‘i – distributing pieces of cooked sweet potato to feed to the fish
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – the group on a rock wall in the fish pond feeds sweet potato to the fish‘Aiea Huaka‘i – the group on a rock wall in the fish pond feeds sweet potato to the fish
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Kehaulani Lum shows a map of historical fish ponds‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Kehaulani Lum shows a map of historical fish ponds
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Kehaulani Lum tells the group about the fish pond‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Kehaulani Lum tells the group about the fish pond
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Dennis tells stories of times gone by at Aiea Hongwanji‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Dennis tells stories of times gone by at Aiea Hongwanji
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Claire Tamamoto at Aiea Hongwanji‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Claire Tamamoto at Aiea Hongwanji
‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Lehua with Shinran statue, Aiea Hongwanji‘Aiea Huaka‘i – Lehua with Shinran statue, Aiea Hongwanji

At Kea‘iwa Heiau we were met by Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine and together we wove a lei offering from ti leaves. Vicky, Rev. Hasebe, and Lehua Matsuoka offered Hawaiian chants and sutra.

We then visited Loko I‘a Pa‘aiau Fishpond at McGrew Point, and Kehaulani Lum and Uncle Bruce Keaulani with the Living Life Source Foundation provided us an orientation.

We had lunch at Aiea Hongwanji where we were greeted by Claire Tamamoto and Rev. Eric Matsuomoto. Dennis Sekine also joined our guides there in telling stories. We also heard from Sam Ikehara and Pete Doktor on the bus. More to come in the Goji newsletter!