4/30/2020 – The Ho‘opai Archaeology Apprenticeship will be recognized with a Preservation Programmatic Award as an innovative program that allows for hands-on learning while embracing Hawaiian culture and tradition. It is a beautiful example of what can be accomplished by balancing traditional thought with modern technology.
The Ho‘opai Archaeology Apprenticeship, described by founder Tanya Lee-Greig, principal of ‘Āina Archaeology, is a “vocational opportunity to learn archaeology through a Hawaiian lens and be equipped with the skills to protect, preserve and document Hawai‘i’s historic sites.” In Hawai‘i where land use and culture are an integral part of our values and way of life, we need to protect all that encompasses this place we call home.
The mission of Ho‘opai derives from the Hawaiian word pai, which means to urge, encourage, and excite. The program, explains Greig, aims to “urge and encourage those who join the apprenticeship to see beyond normal academic perceptions, and we want to stir up excitement about preserving our ‘āina. Like the pai fern, we are dependent upon our kumu. With these thoughts, we see Ho‘opai as a catalyst to nurture an individual’s growth, but to also deepen their roots to Hawai‘i.” It is vital, especially here in Hawai‘i, to always circle back to the mo‘olelo of those who came before us. We need to show respect for our ‘āina and that is exactly what Ho‘opai is striving to do through education and experience.
A striking component of this apprenticeship is that it “allows individuals to have the opportunity to reconnect to places that would otherwise be inaccessible or unknown.” Buried deep beneath the surface, there are stories to be discovered and told. In the right hands, the history found within these places and sites can be nurtured and brought back to life.
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation is humbled to recognize this incredible program and all that it stands for. “Ho‘opai is an invitation to come as you are, and have the ability to walk away educated in archaeological skills, equipped with cultural knowledge, and encouraged to continue the journey and kuleana of historic preservation.” If we allow it, this apprenticeship has the power to truly transform our way of life, our connection to the past, and the ways in which we view the world.
The Preservation Award will be presented to ʻĀina Archaeology and Mākena Golf & Beach Club.
The 46th Annual Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony was originally scheduled to be held in May 2020. However, the current public health crisis caused by COVID-19 has resulted in postponement of the public event. A new date will be selected and notices sent at a later date.
Ho‘opai Apprenticeship Program website: https://www.hoopaiarch.com/
“Archaeology holds all the keys to understanding who we are and where we come from.”
– Sarah Parcak
By Michelle Kiczek, Development Assistant. All photos courtesy of ʻĀina Archaeology.