It was a scorching hot day and there was a special event held at Pt England Beach! You probably didn’t know but the famous Hokule’a and Hikianalia canoes, (Va’a), travelled to our shores last Wednesday. Luckily for me I had a special role which was to record everything that was going on.
The other Manaiakalani schools also came to the beach and supported us with our songs, ‘He Honore’, ‘Nga Waka’ and our chant ‘E Oho’. As the Hikianalia Va’a sailed in everyone was chanting our chant. After that we sang ‘He Honore’ followed by ‘Nga Waka’ these songs put smiles on the crew members faces. Our school leaders did a speech. Then one of the crew members said a speech as well.
Not long after all students got to shake hands, hug or either hongi with the Hikianalia & Hokule’a crew members. This went on for a while so Jordan S, Ana, Sela, Mary and I all shook the students hands from the other schools.
Later that day we also had a hangi* that was scrumptious. Students that were school leaders were only supposed to get some, fortunately for me I stayed and ate. The hangi was wrapped in foil and was burning hot... inside was kumara, pumpkin, potato, chicken drumsticks with chicken stuffing.
This overall experience was significant, because wakas or other famous thing don’t normally come to any random shore or island like what the Hokule’a and Hikianalia did last Wednesday.
*Hangi is food that is cooked in the ground.
Malo Stevenson. You have delivered very good detail in your recount. For those who missed out they can certainly find out how it all went by this post. Yes I agree with you that this was a significant event for many - especially our community! Keep up the good writing Stevenson.
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