Hale Pai
Pacific American-News Journal
Kepakemapa - September 1996 Volume 2 Issue 9
MAUI'S TURNING BACK THE SKY
Kahuli I ka lani mahope a mamua
“Song of the Ancient Ocean”
This phrase is used in astronomy to explain the function of
the planetarium sky as it is “turned back” --- in this
case, two thousand years ago to the era of the initial
investigative journeys into the vast Pacific Ocean by the early
progenitors of the kanaka maoli (indigenous people).
One of Polynesia's noted and famous ancestors from this era
was Maui. As navigators, Maui and his family members ventured
forth on their sailing canoes to explore and discover new lands
throughout the expansive waters recognized by them as Ka Moana
Kahiko (The Ancient Ocean).
“Turning Back The Sky - Kahuli I ka lani mahope a
mamua” commemorates Hale Naua III's 19th Anniversary. Our
culture, a continuous, living, breathing, and ever progressing
entity travels through space and time accompanied by “all
that came before”. Through the many diverse stories told by
this multi-medium exhibit, we have “turned back the
sky” to the beginning of the First Millennium---our aim is
to empower the seeker with the knowledge to journey forward. The
thoroughly contemporary, conceptual mo`olelo, created by this
formidable group of artists, not only gives credence to a history
forever anchored in time but also confirms the fact that as
artists they continually set the precedence for excellence in
combining mastered techniques and application with research of
cultural knowledge.
Rocky Ka`iouliokahihikolo`ehu Jensen,
Director
Hale Naua III, Society of Hawaiian Arts
Send mail to halepai@punawelewele.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1996 Hale Pai Pacific American-News Journal
Last modified: February 28, 1998
Hale Pai Kepakemapa Page
Hale Pai Home Page
|