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Interviewing Process

When visiting aunty Kuʻulei Keakealani, someone who is known for collecting moʻolelo in Waimea, about my project I asked her about people with different perspectives that I should interview and so she gave me a list of potential people. I chose to interview 8 kamaʻāina from Waimea and asked them about their experiences growing up here based on their background. These people I chose have physically spent time around Hōkūʻula or spent time trying to understand the significance of this ʻāina. Everyone who spends time on ʻāina spends time with ʻāina differently, whether it's hunting, gathering, kilo, conservation or even for recreational use, we all spend time on ʻāina differently, which is why we all have a different relationship and perception of ʻāina.  For example, uncle Kanaina Case is a hunter who has been gathering from Kohala mountain since his childhood. I asked him questions particularly relating to how he navigated this mountain and his answers always lead to using Pu’u like Hōkūʻula as landmarks so that he along with his siblings wouldn't get lost in the forest. I also interviewed his sister, aunty Keomailani Case, although she obtained the same knowledge as her brother of using puʻu as landmarks, the connections she made between things within the environment was different then uncle Kananina. Two people who came from the same family, yet, both of them understand this place from two different perceptions. During my interviewing process, I recorded the conversation we had, of course with their permission, and after transcribing the interviews, I returned to the narrators that I interviewed, showed them what I had transcribed and was told whether or not I could use all of the information that was gathered. 

(Audio Recordings Coming Soon)

Kanaina Lloyd Everette Case

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Kanaina Case has lived below pu'u Hōkūʻula his whole life. He along with his siblings spent most of their free time exploring the hillside and the rest of Kohala forest. Uncle Kanaina is now the owner/ operator of Hawaiian Hogs Inc and spends some of his free time teachings and exploring with his daughter.

Roberta Kuulei Keakealani

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Ku'ulei Keakealani has lived in Waimea since her childhood. Her time spent on Hōkūʻula was in riding horses and working cattle with her Father and other Parker Ranch Paniolo. Aunty Kuulei is now the Cultural Director of Hui Aloha Kīholo.

Keomailani Ke-ala-lauae-o-Mana  Case

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Keomailani Case has lived beneath puʻu Hōkūʻula in Waimea her whole life. She spent time with her brothers exploring the Kohala mountain forest during her childhood and grew to understand the different connections happening between the elements and the ʻāina.

Aunty Keomailani has been a teacher at Kanu o ka Aina (NCPCS) for 17 years and is now the Elementary Principal Position. She helps lead Kanu teachers in implementing culturally- based education for students in grades K-12. She has a Master's degree in Education with a focus on Environmental Education.

Kealiimaunalaniakekai (Keanaliiomanae)  Bertelmann

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Keanalii Bertelman grew up in Puukapu spending time and listening to the stories of one of Waimeas special kupuna, tūtū Kalani Phillips. In his early adulthood, he did a lot of research for Annas ranch located in the ʻili ʻāina, Waiauia, which borders Hōkūʻula and collected all sorts of information for that area. Keanalii is now the Program Coordinator at Nā Kālai Waʻa and spends as much time as he can creating opportunities for children to be outside.

Diedre Francene Leimomi Anuhea (Lindsey) Bertelmann

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Diedre Bertelann, also known as Deedee in the Waimea community has been a life long resident here in Waimea. Deedee lived at the bottom of Puʻu Hōkūʻula from her childhood until her youth. She talks about the many memories she has of Waimea town. She now spends her days teaching children at Kanu o ka ʻĀina (NCPCS).

Pomaikalani Bertelmann

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Pomai Bertelmann grew up in Waimea on the flats of Puʻukapu. During her youth, she spent her summers working at Halekea Ranch which resides right at the foot of Hōkūʻula. During her time spent at Halekea she was fortunate enough to ride up to the back of Hōkūʻula and explore the area of Pʻ'u Pelu. Pomai is now a Coordinator and Project Base Collaborator at Kanu o ka Aina (NCPCS).

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