MEDIA RELEASE

Earl Kawaa of Molokai and Isaia Kealoha of Kalapana will “talk story” about three aspects of Native Hawaiian health and wellness in an Eia Hawaii presentation in Hilo and a Puana Ka Ike lecture in Kona this week.

Hooponopono (to make right/correct) is a style of healing a person both physically and spiritually. Laau Lapaau (the use of plants to make medicine) is an alternate process in which plants and natural elements are used to heal external and internal illnesses. The third topic will be kalo (taro), its importance in the Hawaiian diet, the terms used for preparation tools, and varieties of taro from each kūpuna’s (elder/older person) place of origin.

The Hilo lecture is noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in Campus Center (CC) 301 at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. This lecture will be presented in Hawaiian as a challenge and treat for Hawaiian language students and native speakers.

The Kona lecture is 5:30–7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the Keauhou Shopping Center, Suite 140, in the inner courtyard next to Bianelli’s — a venue change. This lecture will be in both Hawaiian and English.

For more information on this presentation, contact Joy Cunefare at (800) 842-4682, extension 25340, or e-mail info@kohalacenter.org.

For lecture schedules and webcasts of previous lectures, visit http://kohalacenter.org/puanakaike/about.html or www.keauhouresort.com/learn-puanakaike.html.

The lectures are sponsored by Keauhou-Kahaluu Education Group, Kamehameha Schools, The Kohala Center, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Kipuka Native Hawaiian Student Center, and the Keauhou Shopping Center.