Shawna Makala West
Ka Hui Makua O Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Hau‘ula participated in this project because of love and passion for our mother tongue, and to encourage and support our keiki (children) in the creative process of expressing their mana‘o (thoughts, ideas) through writing. The name Alligator Pond is celebrated by the imagination of the children of Hau‘ula: that this rock formation resembles the body of an alligator. No one knows where the name originated. This beach area has been known as Alligator Pond for a very long time. Alligator Pond is a special place for the children and parents of this area. It is a place where the neighborhood comes to enjoy hot days and not so hot days. Families love to participate in all types of beach activities together. They include sand play on the beach, sea creature search in shallow water, fishing off of Alligator’s body and jumping off of Alligator’s nose into the sea pool. This is, and will always be, a beautiful place for the neighborhood of Kaipapa‘u. Ka Hui Makua O Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Hau‘ula was established in August of 1998. Although we were a group of parents that met monthly to discuss our visions and goals, we did not have an organization name until this year of 2004. Our primary goal is to help provide a quality Hawaiian Immersion educational environment within the moku (district) of Ko‘olauloa. We believe that dialogue must begin and continue with reference to what is pono (excellent, goodness with true nature) for our program. It cannot only take place within the Hawai‘i Department of Education circle but must include all who desire to have the program succeed. Ka Hui Makua perpetuates and encourages the concepts of laulima (many hands working together), lokahi (unity, harmony), kuleana (right, responsibility), ho‘ihi (sacredness), and malama (to attend, preserve). We affirm our belief that when each of us strengthens our spiritual connection from our na‘au to Akua, we receive the ‘ike (knowledge) and mana‘o (thoughts/ideas) that are
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