Hale ‘O Kūahuokalā

Hale ‘O Kūahuokalā

-a marker of the sun. (literal)
-an alter dedicated to our sun. (kaona)
-the animating place of our peoples. A space to honor growth, transformation, illumination, life. (noa huna)

Hale Kūahuokalā was constructed in 21 working days by Kumu Francis Palani Sinenci (Kuhikuhi Puʻuone), ten of his alakaʻi and haumana of Hālau Hale Kuhikuhi alongside UH West O‘ahu students, faculty, and staff as well as the broader island community. The hale is a functional art form nestled on the student organic garden. The 20×30 hale is constructed using ‘ike kupuna, without the use of nails, nuts, bolts or screws. Instead, 12 different kinds of lashings hold the hale together. The natural materials that are used for this hale are Ohi‘a Lehua, Ironwood, Strawberry Guava and Loulu. Traditional Ha-waiian dry stacking methods were used in the pa pohaku. Kaina Makua also led a dry stacking workshop in which he and nine wahine constructed a kuahu which he then dedicated to Lono.

The pouhana are facing east and west which can especially be observed on the fall and spring equinox. Because of this positioning, a sun rising and set-ting (art and functionality) were incorporated into the architecture, with a single rope lashed to the west post in homage of the mo‘olelo of Maui capturing the sun in Nanakuli. The hale was gifted its name by Uncle Shad Kane. The hale is noa and the piko for UH West O‘ahu. It is meant to be used as an out-door classroom, a space for meeting and hosting workshops. It is a welcoming space, a place that protects from the natural elements filled with the best intentions, mana and aloha. It takes a community to build a hale, and within this process of building a hale it strengthens, fortifies and builds community.