Ka ʻOihana Lawaiʻa: Hawaiian Fishing Traditions

If you haven’t seen this book on fishing and so much more by Daniela Kahaulelio yet, it is one of the stories David Kanewanui, editor of the Kuokoa, knew was important for him to print for the youths of his time, and perhaps more importantly, for those of today and tomorrow. Kanewanui writes:

“…O ka ike i loaa i na kupuna o kakou ke nalowale loa aku nei a he mea maikai e paa kekahi oia mau ike, ame ke ano o ka lakou kii ana i na ia o ka aina, maloko o kekahi buke a i ole maloko o kekahi mau nupepa i hiki ai ke hoomanao mau ia e like me ka loihi o ka loaa ana o kekahi mau Hawaii hiki ke huli i keia mau ike waiwai a hik i ka pau pono ana, e loaa ana no keia pomaikai i ka lehulehu. Ma na ike e hoonaauao ana i ka lehulehu malaila ko makou hooikaika, a aole ma na nuku waiwai ole.”

“The knowledge possessed by our kupuna is disappearing, and it is good to record some of that knowledge, along with how they caught the fish of the land, within a book or within some newspapers, so that they can always be recalled as long as there are Hawaiians who can seek this treasured knowledge until it is exhausted, and its benefits will be for all. Through knowledge will the public be educated, and this is our focus, and not worthless complaining.”

(Kuokoa, 2/28/1902, p. 2)

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XL, Helu 9, Aoao 2. Feberuari 28, 1902.