Island Pacific Academy teachers shared how they are integrating lessons and what our students are learning about the worldwide voyage of the Hōkūle‘a as a Mālama Honua school at a recent Wa‘a Talk in Ko Olina.
Akiko Taira and Michelle Bradley at Ko Olina Marina with their display from IPA showing integration of the Hōkūle‘a journey in lessons and programs.
“At a Wa‘a Talk, members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and crew members from the voyage come to tell us the latest about the journey,” says Michelle Bradley, Secondary division Science chair and Middle Years Programme Coordinator (MYP) at IPA. “Likewise, schools that are following Hōkūle‘a are invited to share what we’re doing in our classrooms at the Wa’a Talks.”
During World Issues Day (Spring 2015), the sail of a wa’a stage piece was used as a projection screen for a program.
Surviving aboard a canoe on the open ocean for weeks at a time requires knowledge and skill to store life’s necessities: water, food, and plants. On a larger scale, the entire planet earth can be viewed as a canoe carrying precious cargo as it makes its continuous voyage in our solar system. This was the lesson from the Hokulea for IPA’s students on World Issues Day: “…indigenous and local wisdom can guide us in solving some of the greatest challenges we face as a global society today.” (from “The Malama Honua Movement” http://www.hokulea.com/malamahonua/)
Educators join members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society on board the Hikianalia at Ko Olina Marina for the most recent Wa’a Talk.
This fall all Wa’a Talks on O’ahu will be located dock side of Hikianalia as she travels around our island. “We got to board the Hikianalia while it was there at Ko Olina and learn more about the vessel,” says Akiko Taira, Japanese Language Department Chair at IPA who attended the talk with Bradley.
During May Day 2015, elementary students “sailed” a wa’a around the field symbolizing the Hōkūleʻa sailing around the world.
Malama Honua activities were even part of IPA’s May Day program last year. Once the May Day court had been introduced and seated, two symbolic wa’a traveled across an imaginary sea with the motion of the waves created by the young students who carried the canoes.
In its second year, Wa’a Talks continues to support teachers, administrators and communities that want to learn through the global journey of Hōkūleʻa and .
