More than 70 Kamehameha Schools leaders from across the organization came together at dawn on July 29 for a traditional ceremony and chapel blessing to mark the official launch of KS’ Strategic Plan 2020 (SP2020), signifying the leaders’ commitment to leading the plan over the next five years.
Wehena Kaiao – The Breaking of the Dawn – featured an ʻaha ʻawa ceremony at the Kaʻiwakīloumoku Hawaiian Cultural Center, followed by a service at the Bishop Memorial Chapel where the SP2020 plan document was placed on the altar as a hoʻokupu to Ke Akua in honor of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
“The purpose of this event was to help us commit and recommit ourselves to a strategic plan that is going to launch our next five years,” said KS CEO Jack Wong after the morning’s activities.
“As we leaders commit to it, we’re also all going to go back and talk with our staff members so that we can all commit to it. It’s important that we did it first as a Native Hawaiian school with a traditional ceremony, with Pauahi in our hearts and minds, and in our chapel with God, to make sure we start off these next five years the right way.”
Wehena Kaiao began promptly at 5:30 a.m. with the blowing of pū in the dusky dawn light with all attendees sitting in solemn silence awaiting what was to follow.
“With our senses quietly attuned to the sights and sounds of the early morning, we were better able to appreciate the ancestral signs and messages that affirm our collective work for Pauahi,” said KS Executive Cultural Officer Dr. Randie Fong, whose Hoʻokahua team organized and led the ceremony.
“SP2020 represents a five-year horizon of profound and unprecedented change. The early morning hours before the sun rises is a time of transition: the breaking of a new day symbolizes a new era – huliau – a new current and trajectory for the Lāhui.”
A highlight of the event was the ʻaha ʻawa assembly, with Cultural Specialist Lāiana Kānoa-Wong of Hoʻokahua serving as the haku ʻawa officiating over the ceremony.
Kānoa-Wong led the leaders in reciting Kamehameha ʻEkahi’s famous battle cry, “I mua e nā pōkiʻi, a inu i ka wai ʻawaʻawa – ʻaʻohe hope e hoʻi mai ai – Go forward young brothers and sisters and drink of the bitter waters, for there is no retreat.”
“This ʻōlelo noʻeau (traditional proverb) is the inspiration for our KS motto ‘I Mua!’” Fong said. “Kamehameha said this to his battalions prior to the battle of ʻĪao on Maui. He addressed his warriors using the intimate family term pōkiʻi, younger siblings. The bitter waters is a reference to any kind of challenge set before you: this a charge to be bold and engage with every fiber of your being – we’re going all the way!”
Beginning with the executive core team, all guests and attendees were served ʻawa followed by a mixture of paʻakai (sea salt) and limu kala (seaweed).
“Salt is a cleanser for both physical and spiritual impurities, and the variety of seaweed called ‘kala’ (to forgive) as its name indicates represents forgiveness and the need to account for misgivings and let them go,” Fong explained.
“The serving of ‘awa on this occasion, Wehena Kaiao, formalized and emphasized our collective commitment to successfully execute SP2020 over the next five years.”
Following the ʻaha ʻawa, attendees proceeded to the chapel, where nā kahu Kordell Kekoa and Kalani Wong gathered the leaders near the Waikīkī door where Codicil 13 from Pauahi’s will is engraved on the outside of the chapel wall. Codicil 13 directs the creation of Kamehameha Schools.
“Kamehameha Schools may be finishing up a strategic plan and embarking on a new one, but all need to remember that Pauahi’s will was our first strategic plan and is our guiding document,” Kahu Kekoa said.
“We asked the Lord to give us direction before we put these words on paper, and we worked very hard to put these words on paper. But until we ask the Lord to bless it, then it has life. And we can now move forward with the Lord’s blessing.”
Members of the executive core team each read scripture in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian) once again illustrating the “new normal” at KS.
Wehena Kaiao wrapped up with a return to Kaʻiwakīloumoku for a special meal.
In a gesture rich in meaning, all members of the KS core executive team hosted an ʻaha ʻaina hoʻomaikaʻi – meal of unity and commitment – to invited leaders representing KS’ seven major groups: Education, Administration, Finance, Community Engagement and Resources, Communications, Legal Services, and Strategy and Innovation.
The meal was cooked in Kaʻiwakīloumoku’s imu, which members of the core team had helped prepare the day before, and which they all helped open that morning.
After the meal, CEO Wong closed the gathering with a reminder of three key concepts for all to keep in their thoughts going forward.
“The message for all our staff is understanding our new normal for the organization,” he said. “We talked today about being a Native Hawaiian school, being grounded in our Hawaiian and Christian values, and then making sure that we’re all acting as one Kamehameha Schools ʻohana.
“Not just doing that sometimes, but doing it consistently and doing it as part of how we advance our strategic plan. We need to not just say that but live it.”
Understanding the cultural significance behind Wehena Kaiao
An ‘aha ‘awa is an assembly where ‘awa is served. ‘Awa is a member of the pepper family and is a revered plant in Hawaiian culture. It is valued for its medicinal properties (lāʻau lapaʻau) and its use is regaining popularity among Native Hawaiians today. Ceremonially, the ritual use of ‘awa marks an occasion with formality and was traditionally the offering of choice when communing with akua and ‘aumākua (gods and family guardians) – ‘awa was the kinolau or body form of the akua, Kāne. Socially, ‘awa represents hospitality: guests, hosts, friends, and relatives engage in conversation and relaxation when ‘awa is served. Across all its many uses, ‘awa is associated with relationships: an occasion where ‘awa is served provides an opportunity to express thoughts and feelings to either strengthen bonds or to address issues. The ʻawa bowl is called a kānoa, and the coconut shell cup used to drink the ʻawa is called an ʻapu. Paʻakai (sea salt) is a cleanser for both physical and spiritual impurities. The variety of seaweed called kala as its name indicates represents forgiveness and the need to account for misgivings and let them go. Like ‘awa, the sharing of a meal is about relationships: the wind-borne smoke of the imu, and the aroma of traditional delicacies are all part of the experience that mark a special observance. An ‘aha‘aina can be highly ceremonial with strict rituals and requirements. The ‘aha‘aina at Wehena Kaiao was noa: it was non-ceremonial and free from kapu or restrictions. At the same time, meaning is drawn from particular food items which are manifestations of ancestral entities, as KS leaders celebrated the abundance of our ʻāina momona – our fertile lands and bountiful sea.
As we leaders commit to [SP2020], we’re also all going to go back and talk with our staff members so that we can all commit to it. It’s important that we did it first as a Native Hawaiian school with a traditional ceremony, with Pauahi in our hearts and minds, and in our chapel with God, to make sure we start off these next five years the right way.
Jack Wong, KS CEO
Wehena Kaiao began with the blowing of pū in the dusky dawn light with attendees sitting in solemn silence awaiting what was to follow.
KS CEO Jack Wong receives his ʻawa during the ʻaha ʻawa.
The KS executive core team, along with Cultural Specialist Lāiana Kānoa-Wong, prepares to begin the ceremony.
Members of the executive core team help remove food from the imu.
Leaders begin the procession to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel following the ʻaha ʻawa.
Kahu Kordell Kekoa offers his thoughts at a short chapel service.
KS Communications VP Kevin Cockett serves haupia to Controller Debbie Erskine at an ʻaha ʻaina hoʻomaikaʻi – meal of unity and commitment – held after the service.
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