7th Annual Hāna Limu Fest, Nov. 20-21

Nā Mamo O Mū‘olea announces the 7th Annual Hāna Limu Festival, taking place this weekend, Nov. 20-21, 2015 at Kapueokahi, Hāna Bay Beach Park.

The event is funded in part by a grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Each year the festival attracts hundreds of attendees, and organizers anticipate a crowd of nearly 1,000 at this year’s event.

This year’s theme is “Ahupua‘a,” and features music, booths, games, crafts, hula, a silent auction and cooking.

Organized by Hāna residents, the Limu Festival is designed to promote a deeper understanding of native limu or seaweed, and to make the public mindful of their role in ensuring ocean resources are here for generations to come.

The festival is focused on how Hawaiʻi’s oceans and fresh water – and the health of limu, fish, plants, culture and more – are inherently connected. Native limu is important, not only as a nutritious part of the traditional Hawaiian diet, but also for its vital importance to the health of the nearshore ecosystem, serving as the base of the food chain, and providing food and shelter for fish and invertebrates.

Each year, funds raised through the silent auction enable Nā Mamo O Mū‘olea to award the Isabelle Aiona Abbott Scholarship to Hāna students who want to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Abbott, the pioneering Hawaiian limu expert who was born in Hāna.

The OHA grant will allow the organization to increase the amount of the scholarship this year by supporting most of the festival operations, including the free limu-based dinner provided to symposium attendees on the evening of November 20th.

The schedule of events includes the following:

Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Helene Hall, Kapueokahi – Hāna Bay Beach Park

• Friday Night Talk Story – E Walaʻau Kākou: Come and hear inspiring speakers discuss life in the ahupua‘a and the many natural and cultural connections found from mauka to makai. Speakers include: Ed and Mahealani Wendt, Nā Moku Aupuni o Ko‘olau Hui Maui; Kāʻeo Duarte, Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘il Sol Kahoʻohalahala, Maunalei Ahupua‘a CMMA Lāna‘i; and Chris Bird, Texas A&M University – ‘opihi researcher.

Saturday, November 21, 2015, 10:00am-4:00pm ● Hāna Bay Beach Park

Saturday Festival and Hands-on Youth Activities: there will be a variety of activities, entertainment, and more including:

• Keiki games, art projects and interactive science activities;
• Limu and tidepool touch tanks;
• Hula from Hālau O Nakaulakuhikuhi, under the direction of Kau‘i Kanaka‘ole, granddaughter of Aunty Edith Kekuhikuhi Kanaka‘ole and grandniece of Uncle Nakaula;
• Live music by: CJ Helekahi and Kai Smith;
• T-shirt sales with art by Nai’a Ulumaimalu Lewis;
• Silent Action;
• Talk story with kūpuna and limu experts;
• Craft booths with Hāna-made items; and
• Food booths

Hāna Limu Festival features keiki games, art projects and interactive science activities. Photo credit: Manuel Mejia.

Hāna Limu Festival, file photo credit: Manuel Mejia.

Hāna Limu Festival, file photo credit: Manuel Mejia.

Hana Limu Festival. File photo courtesy Nā Mamo O Mū‘olea.

Hana Limu Festival. Courtesy file photo.