Opening Ceremony Friday, July 10, 2015 at South Whidbey TILTH

airing out the banner on the fence at home

Here's our intended flow of pule, welcome, and ceremony for Open House
... somethings may change, while others stay the same


Pule Ho'ulu'ulu (Prayer to the Ancestors)

Blessing with 'olena (Hawaiian turmeric) and ocean water

Aloha mai nei kakou, mahalo na aumakua

Greetings, Welcome and Thank-you

E Ho Mai
(asking and preparing our hearts and minds to listen)

Listen and repeat

"The Words Before All Else"
(From Braiding Sweetgrass written by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This text translated from the Onandaga language by John Stokes and Kanawahientun, 1993)

All participate

"Why we are here" Song

Tulalilip Lushootseed Language Department

 Describing the set-up for today's activities

and sharing our vision for HO'OMOKU ... making island 

He puko'a kani 'aina
A coral reef that grows into an island.
A person beginning in a small way gains steadily until firmly established.
(Kupuna words  of wisdom 'Olelo No'eau upon which Ho'omoku is built)

Niuola (water of life, the coconut)

The story, the drink, the gift

"I am the descendants of (fill in the blank) survivors." 

(the bowls of salt and making of bundles)

Ceremony of introductions one-to-one

Mea 'Ai (Lunch)

Kupe'e/Lei la'i (braiding bracelets/lei of la'i)

Braiding with another person

Hulo ('olelo Hawaii vocabulary game)

Fun way to building your Hawaiian vocabulary

Special mahalo to 

Christopher Kawika Brown our son from Antony, France for the HO'OMOKU Logo
Kaliko Amona our cousin from Pupukea, Oahu for the gathering, cleaning and shipping of La'i
Jude Bierman our dear friend from the Maxwelton Valley for the financial support to grow HO'OMOKU
Pete Little my husband and co-conspirator in this life for his mending, meddling magic and love
The South Whidbey TILTH Community and Board of Directors, especially Prescott for their commitment to our vision to encourage and create chemical and fragrance free public spaces
The Tulalip Lushootseed Language Department for sharing the First Names of this place, and the place where Pete and I live
Eric and the members of the Langley STAR Store produce department
for making it possible to enjoy
our young niuola

 The box of 100 la'i arrived Thursday morning. We opened the box that evening before the Opening Ceremony.

 Linda and Dawn sort the leaves by size

 Showing how to 'bone' the leaves to get the soft sides for braiding

 After the sides have been set into a pot of boiling water to soften, the haumana braid between them

Mahalo nui kakou a pau