communitynon-profit
Ikuna Koa
Program Teaches Hawaiian Values
and Traditions
by K. Cervantes
Dedicated to perpetuating and preserving Hawaiian culture in the Pacific Islander community on the mainland, Uncle Gus—also known as Kahiko, “the ancient one”—is a part-time Maui and mainland resident who runs a cultural immersion program through the Ikuna Koa Outrigger Canoe Club on San Diego Mission Bay. Ikuna Koa—Tongan and Hawaiian words for victory and strength—is a nonprofit organization that guides and supports those who have found a passion for the
ocean, paddling and the ancient tradi- tions surrounding outrigger canoeing. Ikuna Koa’s Na ’Opio (youth)
cultural immersion program is the only one of its kind on the U.S. mainland. Youth paddlers are taught and com- pletely immersed in Hawaiian culture from every perspective: values, history, language, chants, warrior dances and prayers. They also learn about the main Hawaiian demigods and their cultural importance. The ’opio are instructed in lei making, Ipu (gourd) crafts, and how to create Hawaiian warrior helmets and paddle a Hawaiian outrigger canoe, using only the Olelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language).
Uncle Gus’ mission is to instill
Pacific Islander youth with pride in who they are, so they will gain self-confi- dence and become highly productive members of society. After one season in the program, they leave filled with knowledge and a sense of their heri- tage. While attending the program, the ’opio can also participate in outrigger canoe races. Their impressive record: medals in every race they have entered since the program began in 2007. Uncle Gus not only teaches the
youths many Hawaiian proverbs and values, he also demonstrates them by example. One of the proverbs, Malama kekahi i kekahi, is taught in and out of the canoe and means, “to take care of one another.” Honoring this value, Un- cle Gus and the ’opio do charity work for other organizations. For example, in
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San Diego Edition
www.na-sd.com
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