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Traditional Hawaiian k¨©hei adorn Â鶹´«Ã½²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ graduates

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Uncle George Place and Kammie Tavares. (Credit: SOEST Maile Mentoring)

To celebrate the achievements of graduates of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹’s (SOEST) , students and mentors designed and created k¨©hei worn during the spring 2018 graduation ceremony.

Stamps used to make kihei. (Credit: SOEST Maile Mentoring)

, assistant professor in SOEST‘s and program, invited two traditional ʻohe k¨¡pala practitioners from H¨­naunau on Â鶹´«Ã½ Island, Uncle George Place and UH Sea Grant’s , to lead the first SOEST Hana Noʻeau Workshop in May.

During traditional graduation ceremonies for the ancient arts, students who have acquired sufficient skill and knowledge to advance to the next level of training are presented with k¨©hei by their teachers. K¨©hei are traditional Hawaiian garments worn during ceremony and protocol, often adorned with symbols representing the expertise of the wearer.

“The SOEST Maile Mentoring Bridge program seeks to create nurturing spaces for °ì²¹³¾²¹ʻ¨¡¾±²Ô²¹ (local) students pursuing geoscience degrees at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹,” said Alegado. “A critical component in our students’ educational journey is contextualizing their science in the framework of our host culture.”

Representing the journey

3 graduating student at commencement wearing their kihei
SOEST graduates with kihei. (Credit: SOEST Maile Mentoring)

The Maile students learned how to design and carve symbols representing their science and academic journey on traditional bamboo stamps or ʻohe k¨¡pala. They were then stamped on k¨©hei made of undyed muslin, reminiscent of kapa or paper mulberry cloth. Students were also instructed on the significance of caring for and wearing k¨©hei.

two people wearing commencement cloths and kihei
SOEST Dean Brian Taylor and Assistant Professor Rosie Alegado in their kihei.

“This was my first experience making k¨©hei, and I was humbled to be a part of Uncle George and Chantal’s workshop,” said Kammie Tavares, graduate of the . “It was very special that my own hands created the tool of my k¨©hei pattern, and I was proud to wear my k¨©hei on graduation day.”

Additionally, Place designed and made a stamp that incorporated elements of ocean, earth and atmosphere to represent SOEST that was then used to create k¨©hei for SOEST Dean and Associate Dean .

Said Taylor, “This is a very special gift that I will wear with pride knowing the skill, care and tradition with which it was made.”

The workshop was made possible by grants from the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity Program and the National Science Foundation, and support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the SOEST .

See the .

—By Marcie Grabowski

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