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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
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For Immediate Release:
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| HONOLULU— “Papa Ko‘a – The Reef and Hawaiian Culture” is the theme of the 2006 Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) calendar, produced with the Hawai‘i Heritage Center, and in conjunction with the “Hawai‘i’s Living Reef” awareness campaign. “The reef acted as the foundation of Hawaiian life in ancient times, and continues to be an important part of our modern lifestyle. If the reef is to remain a viable ecosystem, it must be respected and nurtured. Today it needs our care,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson. “We hope this calendar reminds us all to appreciate what we have, and prevent it from being lost,” he said. The vivid images of this attractive calendar portray the vital beauty of the Hawaiian reef, seen from the air, at sea level and beneath the waves. Colorful photographs feature reef fish weke, ulua, and ‘ala‘ihi, monk seals, limu, turtles, seabirds at Mokumanamana (Necker Island), fishing ko‘a, pencil urchin, koloa, and the reefs at Kapoho, Nualolo Kai, west Maui, Anahola, Hanauma bay, and at Ho‘okipa. The calendar introduction notes that “The words ‘papa ko‘a” refer to a coral flat or reef, with the world ‘papa’ referring to a flat surface, stratum, or foundation, and ‘ko‘a’ to coral. Fittingly, in Hawaiian culture, the reef is viewed as a foundation … with the ocean, sky and clouds layered above it… and supporting marine life, which in turn nourished the Hawaiian people.” Calendar text highlights the value of the reef in traditional Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiian creation chant Kumulipo tells that life begins with the coral polyp, and from it springs the coral and all other life forms follow. The marine resources which lived in, on and around the coral reef have provided sustenance and health for Hawaiian families to this day. Sustainability of the reef also served as the basis for the kapu system which utilized natural cycles to determine when, and when not to, harvest its resources. In addition to the biological and cultural information about reef life, the calendar is a tide chart, and gives boating and ocean recreation safety tips as well. “Papa Ko‘a” calendars may be obtained for $10 from the DLNR Division of State Parks office at 1151 Punchbowl St. room 310 in Honolulu. Sorry, no mail orders are available. The calendar was designed by Clarence Lee Design and Associations, with photography by Ric Noyle, James Watt and Hal Hammatt. Calendar coordination was by Athline Clark and Don Hibbard. Support was provided by: the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation; Belt Collins;, Chris Hart & Partners, Inc.; Cultural Surveys, Hawaii; DLNR Divisions of Aquatic Resources and Boating and Ocean Recreation; Fung Associates, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Ku ‘iwalu, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Peter Vincent and Associates, LLC; Scientific Consultant Services, Inc.; Spencer Architects, Coral Reef Outreach Network; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Hawaii’s Living Reef Program and the Wallop/Breaux Trust Funded administered by the United States Coast Guard. # # # For more information media contact: |
