b'KNOWING: THE PUUHONUA SOCIETYKPUKA The efforts of this family of women are also driving a resurgence of traditional cultural practices. Once known as the Producers -Network for Cultural Artisans, KIPUKA is a program that the Puuhonua Society has developed consisting of in-depth classes to promote and sustain cultural continuity, like making cordage from fibre plants that include hau (a type of hibiscus), olona- (a nettle relative) and niu or coconut: all important plants for the Indigenous peoples of Hawaii. Coconut is a sacred tree; every single part of it was used. Hawaiians [had] and continue to have an intimate relationship with our coconut trees. The words now associated with coconut trees are liability and ornamental, says Broderick.-Generally speaking, KIPUKA means a place of abundance and rebirth, but more specifically it refers to what happens after aPuuhonua Societys cultural initiatives include lessons on the volcano comes through, Broderick explains. It has the sense ofpractice of ulana lau hala: weaving the leaves of the tropical a slate wiped clean or a field freshly tilled to allow for new ideasPandanus tectorius plant into household matsand new growth. It addresses the need of the resident Hawaiian community and those returning to Hawaii to reconnect with traditional ways of life.-Among the other practices organized by KIPUKA are the making of shell jewellery; netting known as upena; lei (flower garlands); musical instruments made of ipu gourds and kapa; and a bark cloth produced from wauke (the paper mulberry plant), which is used to make traditional clothing.HALAAnother important program developed by the Puuhonua Society is Keanahala, which preserves the Indigenous Hawaiian practice of ulana lau hala: weaving the leaves of Pandanus tectorius, known as hala. Pandanis, or hala, has many uses. Besides the sails of boats, it was used to make baskets for the bones of those being interred. Above all, hala is used to weave household mats called moena. It was very common to have a hala mat in every home [and] it was very often common to have a grandmother weaving in the home, says Broderick. When a family moved to a new home, often the first thing that would happen was the grandmother would weave a new mat to fit into the new home. Group classes teach people how to weave a bathmat-sized version of hala, and first-time participants often return for further sessions to learn how to repair the mats, and even how to harvest and prepare the leaves. One of the things I love is that they always say, Oh my God, theres so much hala! But when you put your feet on hala first thing in the morning when you get out of bed, it helps you to start shifting your mindset to other ways of being in the world, says Maile Meyer. The programs all have that form of essence that brings you back to places and people, and that will take that back to new ways of thinking.Hawaiians come to our workshops who do not know the history of our people, Broderick adds. But everyone had and can have a weaver, a healer in [their] home. All of the things we want and need so deeply exist in our culture. I think were fortunate to live in the time that we do, when we can create a safe space, a safe haven.30Spring/Summer 2023'