Kauhale and Hālau

Molokai used several traditional structures to organize homes, communities and professions.

'Ohana had separate hale dedicated to specific uses.

Extended families lived close to one another. Some hale were private and some hale were shared amongst extended 'ohana members for gathering and group activities. The cluster of these hale formed a kauhale.

'Ohana worked together to maintain, supply and improve their kauhale for everyone's benefit.

While everyone in a kauhale learned to do the work of daily home life, those with exceptional skills were sometimes sent to train professionally.

A hālau is a special kind of kauhale where haumāna trained with kumu, kahuna or loea who preserved the practice in its highest form. Certain regions on Molokai were once home to several hālau operating in close proximity, forming piko (epicenters) of learning, discipline and community advancement.

Today, Hawaiians have been displaced, disconnected and scattered. Traditional ways of organizing and governing our families, communities and our island have been compromised, leaving us vulnerable, and struggling to succeed at caring for our 'āina, kai and each other. We struggle to communicate and work together, because we do not truly get to live and work together in authentically Hawaiian spaces.

Waipilihoa is working to restore these basic building blocks for our community.

Nā Kupa o Ke Kauhale

Each of us have a place in the community.

In both the kauhale and the hālau, every person has a rank and status that is based on age, wisdom, skills and responsibilities.

Many Molokai 'ohana and organizations still have these layers today.

'Ohana: Family Structure

Keiki- The youngest members are the youth - small children will limited responsibilities.
'Ōpio - Youth and young adults who gain responsibilities and standing through their experience and learning.
Mākua - Adults are in the working class age and ability, they provide for the needs of the family. Sometimes they are parents, but often they are aunties and uncles to all the keiki and 'ōpio. Likewise, they are nieces and nephews to the 'elemakule generation.
'Elemakule - The oldest members are the senior generation. They may or may not have children of their own.
Kūpuna - Elders who are respected, and offer wisdom, counsel, and leadership hold this special title. The 'ohana and community decide who their kūpuna are, it can not be given to one's self. An 'ōpio who passed away early without bearing children might be referred to as a kūpuna, because of their inspiration or aloha that supports the 'ohana, or because their iwi are in the kulaiwi.
Hānai - Those who are legally or informally adopted sometimes by kin, sometimes by non-blood relatives. They have same status and privilege in an 'ohana as blood relatives.

Hālau: Professional Structure

Niele - Curious observers, amateur participants or volunteers who are exploring a practice.
Haumana - Formally enrolled students committed to learning under a Kumu or Loea.
Hu'elepo, Po'opua'a - Individuals entrusted with roles that support the function and leadership of a hālau.
Loea - Master or expert of a craft, skill, occupation.
Kahuna - Master or expert of a craft, skill, occupation who also holds mastery in the ceremonial and spiritual aspects.
Kumu - A loea or kahuna who is willing to teach others, provides consultation and/or is a source of new content or skills.

Nā 'Aho o ka 'Aha Nui

Braiding all the strands together.

There are six kauhale made up of several hale. Each hale is home to 'ohana or guilds of practice. Each 'ohana may designate an alaka'i, a representative for their practice to participate in discussions within the hale. From that group of alaka'i, one person is selected to represent the interests of the entire hale and holds the title of kahu. The kahu is invited to sit on the 'aha nui, the high council at the senior leadership level, as an 'aho. Each hale may dedicate portions of their hale to the practitioners who have come before them to provide integrity to their structure. These kumu and kupuna are the pou who hold the mo'okū'auhau of the hale.

Kauhale. - cluster or compound made up of several unique hale
Hale - house
'Ohana - guilds of practice - can be an existing hui, club, or an in-house network of practitioners
Alaka'i - leader or president of a hui, club, organization (formal or informal) that is a member 'ohana of the hale
Kahu - caretaker of their hale, who advocates for all the 'ohana in their hale and is selected from the recognized active alaka'i.
ʻAho - strand of a rope; a seat on the 'Aha Nui held by the Kahu, there are 6 'aho, one for each hale.
'Aha Nui - high council, board of directors
Pou - the kumu and kupuna of each hale

The terms of leadership (such as duration, responsibilities, or selection process) are set independently by each hale, tailored to the traditions, needs, and practices of that specific hale. These six Kahu also become 'Aho strands in the ʻAha Nui and together with the Kahu Waiwai (kahu of resources/ finance director) and the Kahu Kaʻikaʻi (kahu of planning, operations, and logistics/executive director), the eight strand 'aha is woven.

The ʻAha Nui serves as the western board of directors for the non-profit organization's requirements.

The hale are under construction. The 'ohana are starting to organize, and eventually, the alaka'i, kahu, and 'aho will be identified. Until then, for purposes of building a non-profit organization that holds integrity, an interim board has been assembled to establish critical kahua for building.