The eight members of the ‘Aha Ki‘ole advisory committee were appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle and sworn in Nov. 1, 2007. (L-R), Jean Ilei Beniamina (Ni‘ihau), Chairperson Vanda Wahinekuipua Hanakahi (Moloka‘i), Winifred “Winnie” Mano Basques (La-na‘i), Charles Kapua (O‘ahu), Leslie Aipalena Kuloloio (Kaho‘olawe), Timmy Paulokaleioku Bailey (Maui), Sharon Pomroy (Kaua‘i) and Hugh “Buttons” Lovell (Hawai‘i). - Photo: Courtesy of ‘Aha Ki‘ole advisory committee.

Vanda Wahinekuipua Hanakahi, CHAIR (Molokai)

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Vanda was born in Hoolehua, Molokai, and was raised and adopted by Elena Makaiwi Wallace and William Wallace Sr. Her mother was a laau lapaau (healer) and blessed with many spiritual gifts. In their home, Hawaiian was the spoken language and Hawaiian cultural practices were a way of life. In this rich cultural environment, Vanda learned her mother tongue and knew her kupuna through genealogy and moolelo.

On the dry plains of Hoolehua, her parents grew wetland kalo (loi kalo), maia, uala, ko and hei. Planting occurred by the moon according to practices passed down from kupuna. Moomomi Beach was their ipukai (ice box), and loi at Honouliwai (40 miles plus on Molokai‘s east end) was an extension of the family's food supply.

Timothy Paulokaleioku Bailey (Maui)

Email: paulokaleioku@hawaiiantel.net
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Timothy is recognized as a premier authority of the relationship between native Hawaiian natural resources and culture. He has given numerous presentations on this topic at Kamehameha Schools, University of Hawaii, Baldwin High School, St. Louis High School, National Park Services and the Hoohanohano I Na Kupuna puwalu series.

He has worked since 1992 as a biological science technician for the Haleakala National Park on Maui. He is an expert in living, working and adapting to remote conditions and in tracking and capturing animals and is a certified primary bird surveyor in Hawaiian forests.

Winifred "Winnie" Mano Basques (Lanai)

Email: winnie@aloha.net
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Winnie learned the lawaia and mahiai practices and knowledge of her ancestors from her kupuna. She has been using this generational knowledge on the island of Lanai (moku of Kona and Koolau) for 40 years. Winnie currently serves on the County of Maui's Council of Aging.

Jean Ilei Beniamina (Niihau)

Email: jeanilei@yahoo.com
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Ilei is known statewide as an award-winning singer/songwriter and leading organizer and community liaison for Hawaiian education. She is one of the founders of Aha Punana Leo, which beckons Hawaiians to reclaim their native language and culture, and is the Native Hawaiian Education Association's 2007 Educator of the Year.

Born and raised on Niihau, Ilei received a firm foundation of cultural traditions from her grandmother and mother. She was educated on Niihau up to the 8th grade and then at Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawaii at Manoa and at Hilo, where she received a bachelor's degree in secondary education and Hawaiian studies and pursued a graduate degree in literature. In 1985, she began lecturing at Kauai Community College and is currently assistant professor in Student Services. Her priority is to be an advocate for the Niihau community and indigenous knowledge.

Leslie Aipalena Kuloloio (Kahoolawe)

Email: puniawalei@hotmail.com
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A treasured kupuna, Les and his ohana from Maui have been gathering and fishing on six ahupuaa for more than 10 generations. Les believes in a simple Hawaiian lifestyle, which includes fishing and planting using one's own natural resources within one's own moku boundaries. The island of Kahoolawe is part of his ancestral and cultural connections through both of his parents' genealogy. He and his ohana are known for taking care of and sustaining the ecosystem off of Kahoolawe and Maui for generations.

Les has been involved with the Kahoolawe Conveyance Commission, the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission and the Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, of which he is the current kupuna spokesperson. He sat on the Cultural Resource Management Plans and Land Use Committee prior to the cleanup of ordinances on the island. He participated in marine research of the island's shoreline during a joint venture with NOAA and the Protect Kahoolawe Ohana Fishery Studies. Les has stepped down from his membership on the Maui-Lanai Island Burial Council in order to serve on the Aha Moku Council System advisory committee.

Charles Kapua (Oahu)

Email: leea030@hawaii.rr.com
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Charles was taught the ways of mahiai and lawaia from his grandparents, Elizabeth and David Hoopii, who began teaching him from the age of 6. His grandmother taught him to till the soil to make better crops; to make many kinds of lei; and to gather, prepare and weave lauhala leaves. Charles has been passing these practices to his grandson.

From his grandfather, Charles learned to set fish traps, lay upena (nets) and find hee (octopus) using a glass box. He was taught to take only what the family needed and to leave the small ones for later. He learned the names of fishes, different varieties of opihi, how to gather limu and what each could be used for on the dinner table and how to prepare them. He learned when to gather and when to let it be. He learned respect for the ocean and safe practices. Charles also learned the art of paipai (slapping the water) to fish in streams and gather opae kala ole and oopu.

Charles was taught the ways of mahiai and lawaia from his grandparents, Elizabeth and David Hoopii, who began teaching him from the age of 6. His grandmother taught him to till the soil to make better crops; to make many kinds of lei; and to gather, prepare and weave lauhala leaves. Charles has been passing these practices to his grandson.

Hugh "Buttons" Lovell (Big Island)

Email: Pihi52@yahoo.com
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Buttons was raised by his mother and grandparents, John and Precious Puniwai in Puueo, island of Hawaii (Moku o Keawe), from whom he learned traditional planting, gathering and fishing practices. As an adult, Buttons worked and resided in Kona and then South Kohala, during which time he continued to practice what he had been taught. For the past 20 years, Buttons has been residing in Puukapu, North Kohala. Retired from the Police Department, he farms and occasionally fishes.

Buttons has passed the knowledge he gained from his mother and grandparents on to his children and grandchild. He also instructs children at Hawaii ko Aloha, under a youth exchange program with Native American children, and has given statewide presentation with the University of Hawaii (UH) College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and, with UH professor Dr. Isabella Abbott, has given a kalo (taro) presentation at the Bishop Museum.

Sharon Pomroy (Kauai)

Email: pomroys001@hawaii.rr.com
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Sharon began learning the ways of lawaia at age 5 from her grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Several of her tutu kupuna had been konohiki (traditional overseers of an ahupuaa) on the north shore of Oahu, tending to the lands of Princess Liliuokalani in Haleiwa until her death and then maintaining those land and ocean areas into the late 1950s.

From her ohana, Sharon learned the names and conservation practices regarding fish, limu (seaweeds) and shellfish. She also learned to dive, set and throw nets, pole fish and crab. She learned the association between specific limu and specific fish. She also learned to fish in the muliwai (where the freshwater stream meets the ocean) and the fishing ways associated with fresh water.

Her learning began around the area of Waikiki, Kapahulu and Leahi and then to the Kahana side of Oahu up to Kahuku where her tutu wahine had ohana. At age 10, Sharon moved to the homestead of Waimanalo and sharpened her skills from Waimanalo to Kailua. In Waimanalo, her family began farming. During this time, Sharon learned not only about farming but also about gathering plants and lei making.

Today, Sharon lives on a six-acre farm in Anaholoa, Kauai, where she and her family have resided since 1985. One acre of the farm is dedicated to restoring the native forest that once grew there. She offers her knowledge in planting native tress to her neighbors and helps with plantings for the Kanuikapono Charter School in Anahola. Sharon believes that if others know how to malama laau Hawaii (take care of native plants), they will have a better understanding of and more respect for the laau in the forest.

Leimana DaMate (Coordinator)

Email: leimana@fastnethi.com
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