Aloha Mai, Ethnomads
Aloha kākou, Keili here
Mahalo for reading, I don’t have much to add as we have not been sailing since we last spoke and we are still riding the high from the ‘A’ā screening.
But guys I waited until Sunday to finish this and I’m so glad I did because I got to visit my friend, Brittany Kamai’s boat in Waiʻanae!
Her name is holoholo, and Brit has been living/ working on her for a couple of years now. It was pretty amazing to see how she has continued her story with sailing, teaching and navigating. We talked story about our hopes and dreams being wahine who dare to push the limited of what people say is possibly, allowed, and managable.
Funny story, when i pulled up she was down on the rocks, seems with her camo waterproof fancy pack and radio - assisting her “neighbor” who had sailed into the rocks, dropped anchor, and was attempting to push off. She had ropes in hand, and I watched as she calmly and sternly orchestrated the boat to be towed by a boat and pushed by a jet ski slowly back to their slip. What a show.
Fortunately, everyone got off the boat safe and the boat was all good. Unfortunately, Brit and my own sailing window for the evening had closed 😂
We tied up the evening playing with the sails, and taking a sunset dip (not in the harbor, don’t worry).
I was fortunate to spend time on the west side of the island with this mana wahine, and I hope she will guest write on this substack to share all she is working on and towards to better our seas and communities
In other news…
Earlier today I was advocating for clean beaches at Puʻuloa beach park. The beach is next to a shooting range and the military as well as community working groups have found lead contamination as high as 70x and 24x above environmental action levels enforced by DOH.
Military has done testing on the firing range, but the HDOH and local community is hoping they will do further testing to include nearby homes, and the beach park where we were.
Many people have reservations about lead contamination, or the military and many other factors of this. But I urge you, if you live Hawaiʻi, or if it is important to you that the beaches stay clean and remain a resource for future generations to access… that you do your own research and if you feel moved, make a stance and make your voice heard - exercise your right as a kanaka person human being here!!!
https://www.relocatepuuloarange.org/#/
In that link you will find great resources and a petition to add your voice or get involved.
Anywhooooo…
Hopefully, we will have some exciting updates about the next screening and adventure soon to come!! On that note, if any friends and family have a venue that would be interested in hosting a showing of the film, we would be happy to collaborate!!