Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

The public had a chance to participate in preparing a traditional Hawaiian luau on Saturday.

Volunteers with the Kohala Intergenerational Center, located behind Hisaoka Gym in Kapa’au’s Kamehameha Park, guided guests through each step in creating the “Kohala Style Luau”.

Poi pounding, traditional Hawaiian Saddle Making, and cleaning locally caught fish, and of course, preparing the laulau… were all a part of the day’s activities. Organizers say this program is helping to stimulate and revive the oldest economic development heritages in Kohala.

“It makes me feel good,” said David Fuertes, program director for Ka Hana No’eau, “because the people that that are here are engaged and they want to learn. Some people that are living in Kohala – I just spoke to a person… 10 years he has been here and he never did connect with our local people. And this is about connection, this is about learning, this is about knowledge… and sharing. Sharing the aloha spirit”.

“The Kohala Cultural Learning Project” which is part of the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s “Kukulu Ola, Living Hawaiian Culture Program”.