About Lawai‘a ‘Ohana Camp
When: July 6-9, 2011
Where: Ka‘ūpūlehu Interpretive Center in Kona, Island of Hawai‘i.
Who can apply: The entire family with children ages 10-15.
Number of participants: 30
Cost: FREE!
Application Deadline: Friday, June 10, 2011.
The Lawai‘a (fisherman) ‘Ohana Camp’s purpose is to provide youth and family members with the opportunity to learn about sustainable approaches to preserving and managing Hawai‘i’s marine life through in-class and hands-on training experiences, as well as to learn about mauka-makai resource relationships and management. Kalaemano, within the ahupua‘a of Ka‘ūpūlehu, is a historical fishing area. Participants will be camping at the Ka‘ūpūlehu Interpretive Center.
Educational Sessions
At this fun-filled 4-day, 3-night camp you will learn:
• How to make a throw-net
• How to throw a net
• How to prepare and rig a bamboo pole
• How to take care of our reefs and monitor water quality
• How to identify fish
• How to practice sustainable fishing methods
• How to clean and cook fish
Throw-Net Making/Patching: Participants will learn about the art of starting and making as well as patching a fishing net. Hawaiians have used this method for hundreds of years, making their nets out of fiber. Our instructors will teach participants how to make nets using materials that are found today.
Throw-Net Practicing: To use a Hawaiian throw-net you need to have four fundamental things—patience, timing, focus and skill. Knowledge of your fishing grounds helps, also. This session will provide each member with the ability to practice throwing a net with control and skill.
Bamboo Pole and Rig Making: Participants will learn how to successfully trim and measure a bamboo pole, and set the rig properly for shoreline fishing. The bamboo poles made in this session will be used for the catch and release Fishing Derby at the end of camp, and camp participants will be able to take the poles home with them.
ReefTeach (Reef Etiquette): The ReefTeach presentation will provide participants with an overview of the importance of coral reefs, including coral reef ecology, the relationship between fish, corals and other reef animals, and how to take care of the reef and behave responsibly when swimming or fishing on a reef. This orientation will provide participants with the background needed to become regular ReefTeachers at Kahalu‘u Beach Park.
Water Quality Testing (Citizen Science): Participants will learn why water quality monitoring isimportant and what kind of equipment we use to monitor it. Instructors will show participants how to use the YSI probe as well as other water monitoring sets to take water quality measurements for salinity, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. This will allow participants to continue to work with The Kohala Center in on-going citizen science programs.
Fish Anatomy, Biology and Identification: This session will help participants identify Hawaiian fish species, both in Hawaiian and English. Participants will learn about some of our local fish in detail by looking at their anatomy and biology through dissection, including learning about what their diets consist of, and how to scale and clean fish.
Sustainable Fishing Practices: Participants will learn about current conservation and management measures in today’s fisheries and reefs, including marine protected areas, catch limits, seasonal closures, etc. and the science behind them. They will learn about specific fish species vulnerability to over fishing and sustainable fishing sources/species. The session will include an overview of traditional fishponds and the kapu system as well as an introduction to modern aquaculture.
Cleaning and Cooking Fish: Every day a different group of participants will be responsible for preparing dinner for the day. They will learn how to prepare a meal that includes cooking different fish.
Basket Weaving: By using ti-leaves and coconut leaves, camp participants will learn the unique skill of basket weaving as a way to keep their fish fresh. They will also be able to take their basket home with them.
Camp Excursions
During the camp, there will be excursions to Mauna Lani to practice throwing net and snorkel, and Kalaemano to visit some of the culturally significant sites, including the remnant salt pans of old Hawai‘i and do some service work on the land.
Fishing Derby
On the third day, a Fishing Derby will take place. Bamboo poles and rigs will be used to catch and release the fish. Prizes will be given out for the most fish caught, the largest fish caught, the youngest to catch a fish, etc. On the last evening, there will be a celebration pa‘ina. Everyone in the community who helped with this camp will be invited. Our kūpuna say “When your hands are down you are working…when your hands are up you are ready to have fun…” so there will be Hawaiian music, too.
Photo Credits: John Russell/PhotoResourceHawaii.com and Doug Sell