Eric Matanane - Cultural Practitioner
I have known Eric for many years. When I retired from the police department in November of 2000 I took a short break and then thought I should get back to work. I decided to take a position as a School Safety Manager as that seemed to be a job a lot of retired police officers were taking at that time. I accepted a position as a School Safety Manager at Waianae Intermediated School. On the first day of work I met Eric Matanane, a School Councilor. As most policemen I look at everyone I first meet with an inquisitive eye. I found Eric to be an unassuming local guy. I soon found out otherwise. This is the person I want to introduce you to.At that time I was very involved in the preservation and protection of traditional cultural landscapes and their associated watersheds. During breaks or while I was patrolling the campus or just taking a post and watching students going from class to class I had a chance to talk to Eric. I soon found he had a similar passion and I began to share much of what I was involved in outside of school work. That was the start of not just a lasting friendship but a partnership in a shared interest that continues to this day. The preservation, protection and care of cultural landscapes. It started with Palehua and Palikea in the Waianae Mountains, Pu’uokapolei, Pu’u ‘O Makakilo and today the Kalaeloa Heritage Park.He has taken this interest far beyond what I would have thought when we first met 16 years ago. In addition to all the cultural practices he has adopted along the way today he is considered amongst only a few an expert kauhale builder. His Kumu is Francis Palani Sinensi of Hana Maui. He has participated in the construction of our Kauhale at the Kalaeloa Heritage Park. Similar kauhale construction projects at the Lyons Arboretum, Kawainui, Ka’ala Farms, UH West O‘ahu and many others.In addition he finds time to water plants of a 4 acre interpretive parcel of the Kalaeloa Heritage Park by hand. He organizes, coordinates and supervises community workdays at the Kalaeloa Heritage Park. He assists in organizing, coordinating and conducting the Palehua Nakoa’s participation in annual Makahikis at Kapuaikaula Makahiki (Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam), Waimanalo, Royal Hawaiian Hotel and others. In addition to all of this he cares for his bed-ridden son.On Saturday, July 23 Eric Matanane will be conducting a workshop at the 2nd Annual Kalaeloa Heritage Park Fundraiser Luau. A fundamental traditional work equipment or implement used in ancient times in the traditional construction of a kauhale is a log tripod. It is used to support and debark large logs in the construction of kauhale. Eric will share this cultural practice as part of his workshop with all of us on July 23. Come and get to know him and perhaps you will learn that you may have a similar cultural interest.Article by Shad Kane