By Sonia Isotov

Archaeologists from around the Pacific region will gather for the annual Society for Hawaiian Archaeology Conference at the University of Hawaii Maui College between September 30 and October 2.

Scholars, students and other professionals will be attending and presenting research papers and leading discussions on a range of heritage issues, including shoreline erosion, soil analysis, the state inventory of historic places, technologies, ancient agriculture, mapmaking, astronomy, royal patents, and more.

Historic places that will be discussed include: Mauna Kea, North Kohala (Hawaii), Auwahi (Maui), Waiola Church Cemetary (Maui), the H-3 project (Oahu), Kalaupapa (Molokai), Moku’ula (Maui), Waikee Preserve (Maui), Palau, Marquesas, and more.

Ho'okele Wa'a DVD cover. Courtesy of turningthecanoe.org.

A highlight will be the keynote address given by Kawewehi Pundyke, who will speak on the Lo’iloa restoration in Iao Valley. His efforts were featured in the 2010 Maui Film Festival’s Audience Award winning documentary Ho’okele Wa’a: Turning the Canoe. A production of the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui, this feature length documentary film illuminated the importance of protecting Maui’s cultural and natural resources and featured interviews from those leading the effort to do so. The film included never-before-seen footage of the restoration of the ancient kalo lo`i (taro patches) and native forests as well as the latest breakthroughs in renewable energy technologies. Pundyke was also the UH Maui College Valedictorian in 2008, and he is reported to be a very charismatic speaker.

For more information on the conference, or to register, go online to http://www.hawaiianarchaeology.org/.

Loi'loa restoration in Iao Valley. Photo courtesy of ecomaui.org.