hellwoman
01-21-2007, 08:32 PM
Hawaiian art of surfing and surf sledding to be honored
Honoring H'e Nalu : photo David Pu'u
Surf History News
Historic Hawaiian He'e Nalu and He`eholua event to highlight the Hawaiian culture and history of extreme sports
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 November, 2006 : - - Honolulu, HAWAII -
Picture Waikiki, Hawai`i in the 1920's, swaying palms, white sandy beaches, Hollywood socialites taken surfing by dark skinned young Hawaiians, everybody happy, faces full of smiles. The emergence of the early surf clubs gathered on the shores, sitting atop heavy wood boards basking in the warmth without a care in the world.
The Hawaiian Beachboys gliding across the face of the waves as their fathers did before them, sitting in the sand under a coconut tree strumming their ukuleles singing sweet melodies to all the wahines. This was an era of Hawai`i that many of us wish we could have been a part of. The carefree lifestyle, the pure enjoyment of surfing with friends - what surfing was all about - and today, Hawai`iBC will take you on a journey back to those days of old Hawai`i when....
Come with us and learn how surfboards from the late 1800’s were built, from the time a “koa or wili wili” (endemic species) trees were felled, to the cultural significance of location, to carving of a solid wood slab transforming its kinolau (body form) and life through ancient ritualism of the Hawaiian using the implements of old – creating story and chant in the process.
Follow the journey of resurrection, life reborn, from the eyes and hands of native Hawaiians as we revive the traditional practices of surfing with the construction of “Olo” (longest) and kiko`o” (averaging about 3.3m), alaia (shortboard) surfboards, and the making of the papaholua (Hawaiian sleds) for competition for the first time in nearly two centuries as we honor the Hawaiian people and their culture, nearly vanished.
Traditionally the process begins with the giving of the koko (blood) - to it’s bonding with sea and land – to the finished implement (using traditional methods of preservation) - to sliding across the face of a mountain and wave.
Then come along to the North shore of O’ahu, or Kailua,Kona, or perhaps to Maui to join in the ho’olaule’a of Makahiki (festival), with chants and ancient protocol reintroducing the traditional form of surfing and sledding, Hawaii's great extreme indigenous sports, at surf breaks and off of the high mountains or barren lava fields where ancient surfing and holua sledding would often occur with the blessings of the many akua, ‘aumakua, küpuna as we gather at the old places in the spirit of competition as a means o re-invigorating the Hawaiian culture yearly.
Adorned in traditional dress (malos, etc.) and surfing the various types of wooden surfboards and sleds spanning nearly two millennium of design these contemporary competitor’s (women and men) will test their skill in the old way. Coming together to experience what it was like to ride a wave with no fins to steer their surfboards or handbrakes to slow their sleds as it was in those early days of riding the great waves of the sea and the mountains.
They will compete against each other as was done in the days when the Ali’i (Hawaiian chief and chiefess) would challenge one another, most often for fun but sometimes for ritualistic purposes of acquiring “mana”. During this time of ancient Hawaiian pageantry, we will re-unite the ancient art of surfing water and land as we bring back the practice of "rock sliding" on a papahölua (Hawaiian sled), considered one-and-the same as it's more widely known papahe'enalu (surfboard) displaying once again the two forms of sport that was evident in ancient Hawaii, but rarely seen by the Western world.
HE`ENALU/HE`EHOLUA SURFING SERIES
Historic wooden surfboard and sled event highlighting the Hawaiian culture and history of extreme sports – Feb.17 – March 11, 2007 (holding period)
WHAT: The first surf and holua event using wooden carved surfboards and sleds highlighting the chants and protocols never seen in modern times associated with the Hawaiian culture surrounding these two unique sports. Surfboards weigh in at over 100 pounds and papaholua (sleds) 12 ft. long, have no fins or steering are shaped in a manner consistent with boards and sleds used prior to 1778 and through the late 1800s to the early 1930s.
WHEN: Opening ceremonies / chants to honor the akua (gods) and ancestors to begin at 9:00 a.m. Feb.17, 2007 with events to follow – TBA
WHERE: The surfing event is to take place at one of the following venues at one of the following locations – Kaunalu (Phantoms) North Shore, O`ahu, Lani’akea (Himalaya’s), Avalanche (Hale’iwa), or Kailua, Kona. Holua sledding event will take place at one of the following – Parker Ranch, Kohala, Kahua Ranch, Kohala, or Ulupalakua Ranch, Maui.
HOW: Regarded Kupuna (elders) and chanters and will perform opening chants/stories and offerings rarely seen in public as we recognize the living relationship the Hawaiian people have with their gods of old.
Once the ceremonial offerings have taken place, invited entrants will randomly select a surfboard and sled provided for use; a quiver of solid wood boards and traditional sleds will be provided for participants. In the surfing component, four surfers (per heat) will surf in heats at one of the aforementioned surf breaks in 60 minutes per heat.
The holua sledding segment will have each contestant doing 6 or more downhill runs in three (3) different positions – prone, kneeling, and standing individually as well one on one heats - There are no winners or losers, this event focuses on providing competitors and spectators the experience of surfing and sledding competitions in Hawai’i over 200 years ago. Traditional judging criteria will apply – distance, length or ride, style, size of wave, etc.
WHO: This event is by invitation only whom were chosen based on their knowledge and skills who would like to experience the unique Hawaiian culture surrounding surfing and Hawaiian mountain sledding. Few have experienced the exhilaration of paddling into and attempting to surf on what was once a living tree powered by great ocean waves or sliding down mountain slopes or lava fields at speed that may reach 50 miles per hour or more.
HISTORY: HawaiiBC and Tom Pohaku Stone, a former professional surfer who now is a professor at the University of Hawaii are collaborating with various community groups with the goal to educate, perpetuate and preserve what little is known about the history and culture surrounding these traditional sports. Surfing and lava sledding was born in the islands and was revered as a ritualistic and culturally significant sport, a fact that has been lost in today’s commoditized and commercialized world.
SPECTATORS: The event is free and open to the public to view. Spectators are invited to watch the chants and competition and view surfboards on display. Talk first hand with Pohaku on the cutting and carving the boards, a process also seeped with cultural ties.
AWARDS: Awards will be given for Overall Best Performance in each of the two disciplines and the recognition of an individual’s outstanding performance in both disciplines. Their peers based on traditional guidelines will judge competitors.
HOTLINE: The public may contact HAWAIIBC (Tom Stone or David Pu`u) for more information: 808-561-5663. Or check HawaiiBC website for updates. Community Support comes from Kamehameha Schools, University of Hawaii – Center for Hawaiian Studies, Kahuawai, Oils of Aloha, Mike Slattery
www.hawaiibc.com
Check the latest Hawaii Surf Reports and Forecasts
More Hawaiian & USA Surfing News available here
New! Get the latest news with Surfersvillage News-Alerts
David Pu'u
Roots - SurfersvillageHawaiian art of surfing and surf sledding to be honored
Honoring H'e Nalu : photo David Pu'u
Surf History News
Historic Hawaiian He'e Nalu and He`eholua event to highlight the Hawaiian culture and history of extreme sports
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 November, 2006 : - - Honolulu, HAWAII -
Picture Waikiki, Hawai`i in the 1920's, swaying palms, white sandy beaches, Hollywood socialites taken surfing by dark skinned young Hawaiians, everybody happy, faces full of smiles. The emergence of the early surf clubs gathered on the shores, sitting atop heavy wood boards basking in the warmth without a care in the world.
The Hawaiian Beachboys gliding across the face of the waves as their fathers did before them, sitting in the sand under a coconut tree strumming their ukuleles singing sweet melodies to all the wahines. This was an era of Hawai`i that many of us wish we could have been a part of. The carefree lifestyle, the pure enjoyment of surfing with friends - what surfing was all about - and today, Hawai`iBC will take you on a journey back to those days of old Hawai`i when....
Come with us and learn how surfboards from the late 1800’s were built, from the time a “koa or wili wili” (endemic species) trees were felled, to the cultural significance of location, to carving of a solid wood slab transforming its kinolau (body form) and life through ancient ritualism of the Hawaiian using the implements of old – creating story and chant in the process.
Follow the journey of resurrection, life reborn, from the eyes and hands of native Hawaiians as we revive the traditional practices of surfing with the construction of “Olo” (longest) and kiko`o” (averaging about 3.3m), alaia (shortboard) surfboards, and the making of the papaholua (Hawaiian sleds) for competition for the first time in nearly two centuries as we honor the Hawaiian people and their culture, nearly vanished.
Traditionally the process begins with the giving of the koko (blood) - to it’s bonding with sea and land – to the finished implement (using traditional methods of preservation) - to sliding across the face of a mountain and wave.
Then come along to the North shore of O’ahu, or Kailua,Kona, or perhaps to Maui to join in the ho’olaule’a of Makahiki (festival), with chants and ancient protocol reintroducing the traditional form of surfing and sledding, Hawaii's great extreme indigenous sports, at surf breaks and off of the high mountains or barren lava fields where ancient surfing and holua sledding would often occur with the blessings of the many akua, ‘aumakua, küpuna as we gather at the old places in the spirit of competition as a means o re-invigorating the Hawaiian culture yearly.
Adorned in traditional dress (malos, etc.) and surfing the various types of wooden surfboards and sleds spanning nearly two millennium of design these contemporary competitor’s (women and men) will test their skill in the old way. Coming together to experience what it was like to ride a wave with no fins to steer their surfboards or handbrakes to slow their sleds as it was in those early days of riding the great waves of the sea and the mountains.
They will compete against each other as was done in the days when the Ali’i (Hawaiian chief and chiefess) would challenge one another, most often for fun but sometimes for ritualistic purposes of acquiring “mana”. During this time of ancient Hawaiian pageantry, we will re-unite the ancient art of surfing water and land as we bring back the practice of "rock sliding" on a papahölua (Hawaiian sled), considered one-and-the same as it's more widely known papahe'enalu (surfboard) displaying once again the two forms of sport that was evident in ancient Hawaii, but rarely seen by the Western world.
HE`ENALU/HE`EHOLUA SURFING SERIES
Historic wooden surfboard and sled event highlighting the Hawaiian culture and history of extreme sports – Feb.17 – March 11, 2007 (holding period)
WHAT: The first surf and holua event using wooden carved surfboards and sleds highlighting the chants and protocols never seen in modern times associated with the Hawaiian culture surrounding these two unique sports. Surfboards weigh in at over 100 pounds and papaholua (sleds) 12 ft. long, have no fins or steering are shaped in a manner consistent with boards and sleds used prior to 1778 and through the late 1800s to the early 1930s.
WHEN: Opening ceremonies / chants to honor the akua (gods) and ancestors to begin at 9:00 a.m. Feb.17, 2007 with events to follow – TBA
WHERE: The surfing event is to take place at one of the following venues at one of the following locations – Kaunalu (Phantoms) North Shore, O`ahu, Lani’akea (Himalaya’s), Avalanche (Hale’iwa), or Kailua, Kona. Holua sledding event will take place at one of the following – Parker Ranch, Kohala, Kahua Ranch, Kohala, or Ulupalakua Ranch, Maui.
HOW: Regarded Kupuna (elders) and chanters and will perform opening chants/stories and offerings rarely seen in public as we recognize the living relationship the Hawaiian people have with their gods of old.
Once the ceremonial offerings have taken place, invited entrants will randomly select a surfboard and sled provided for use; a quiver of solid wood boards and traditional sleds will be provided for participants. In the surfing component, four surfers (per heat) will surf in heats at one of the aforementioned surf breaks in 60 minutes per heat.
The holua sledding segment will have each contestant doing 6 or more downhill runs in three (3) different positions – prone, kneeling, and standing individually as well one on one heats - There are no winners or losers, this event focuses on providing competitors and spectators the experience of surfing and sledding competitions in Hawai’i over 200 years ago. Traditional judging criteria will apply – distance, length or ride, style, size of wave, etc.
WHO: This event is by invitation only whom were chosen based on their knowledge and skills who would like to experience the unique Hawaiian culture surrounding surfing and Hawaiian mountain sledding. Few have experienced the exhilaration of paddling into and attempting to surf on what was once a living tree powered by great ocean waves or sliding down mountain slopes or lava fields at speed that may reach 50 miles per hour or more.
HISTORY: HawaiiBC and Tom Pohaku Stone, a former professional surfer who now is a professor at the University of Hawaii are collaborating with various community groups with the goal to educate, perpetuate and preserve what little is known about the history and culture surrounding these traditional sports. Surfing and lava sledding was born in the islands and was revered as a ritualistic and culturally significant sport, a fact that has been lost in today’s commoditized and commercialized world.
SPECTATORS: The event is free and open to the public to view. Spectators are invited to watch the chants and competition and view surfboards on display. Talk first hand with Pohaku on the cutting and carving the boards, a process also seeped with cultural ties.
AWARDS: Awards will be given for Overall Best Performance in each of the two disciplines and the recognition of an individual’s outstanding performance in both disciplines. Their peers based on traditional guidelines will judge competitors.
HOTLINE: The public may contact HAWAIIBC (Tom Stone or David Pu`u) for more information: 808-561-5663. Or check HawaiiBC website for updates. Community Support comes from Kamehameha Schools, University of Hawaii – Center for Hawaiian Studies, Kahuawai, Oils of Aloha, Mike Slattery
www.hawaiibc.com
Check the latest Hawaii Surf Reports and Forecasts
More Hawaiian & USA Surfing News available here
New! Get the latest news with Surfersvillage News-Alerts
David Pu'u
Roots - SurfersvillageHawaiian art of surfing and surf sledding to be honored