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July 29, 2010 – North Kohala, Hawaii

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KOHALA MOUNTAIN BRUSH FIRE

(Video courtesy Tim O Bryan)

Fire crews were called to Kohala Mountain road to fight a fast moving brush fire just before noon on Thursday. The fire, which started near the scenic look out between the seven and eight mile markers, forced the closure of the road for several hours.

According to a fire department media release the blaze threatened four homes in the area, none of which was lost.

The fire department was helped by units from Pohakuloa Training Area, State Highway personnel and employees from Parker Ranch and local area ranches as well as others.

The two county helicopters also dropped water on the fire which was fueled by extremely dry conditions and gusting winds.

According to the fire department, the cause of the fire, which burned about 90 acres, was “undetermined.”

MAU PIAILUG

The late master navigator Mau Piailug was remembered by friends and family on the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday afternoon.

Relatives of the legendary navigator joined residents of North Kohala and other Hawaiian wayfinders for a special remembrance of “Papa Mau” at the Päpa’i at Mahukona, in view of the Maka O Hule Navigational Heiau.

Renown navigator Milton “Shorty” Bertelmann welcomed those who travelled from afar to be present for the event.

Kahu Danny Akaka, Jr led the gathering in an opening pule

Piailug’s family shared stories of the Micronesian wayfinder who called Satawal his home.

Piailug is credited as the man who resurrected the previously lost Hawaiian navigational techniques, and applying them in the maiden voyage of the Hokule’a sailing vessel. The knowledge passed on through Mau also fueled the second Hawaiian cultural renaissance, for which the Big Island’s native peoples expressed eternal gratitude.

The Hokule’a sailing vessel will be making a journey around the state in memory of Papa Mau over the coming weeks.

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