Nā Wahine Toa Camp
Hosted by Ilima-Lei “The Ilimanator” Macfarlane
Oahu, Kingdom of Hawaii
February (dates TBA), 2022
Open to females ages 17 - 30+
Ilima sharing joy with her 2019 Scholarship Sisters
The NLW Hawaiian Islands Program will focus on Mālama Aloha Aina, Mālama Self. The Nā Wahine Toa Foundation and Female Warrior Camp aim is on self preservation, protection and defense of young women and sacred places. Ilima-Lei leads a short journey of self-care, self-awareness and female royal unity. Join a small group of we visit with Native Like Water and Ilima-Lei Ohana, family, on the island of Oahu and will include a two-day island to island excursion and flight to Mauna Kea.
Traditional relation of land, ocean, sky, self and sacred environments are to be seen and felt.
With the surmounting problem of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (#MMIW) on the mainland and in Hawaii, self-preservation is paramount. Likewise, the threat of disrespecting sacred sites and mother earth shows an existing parallel. How do we begin to protect the sacred in the now and start with self?
Education is easier when cultures share a universal knowledge. A deeper level of learning connects. This can be revealed through native communities’ generational observation and interpretation of environmental “phenomena”. Self defense and mixed martial arts can be a way to assist the daily threat of violence, abduction and murder. Knowledge can be shared in a sacred circle of wisdom and create a whirlwind of solutions, and spiritual tool box. For many times, our worst enemy comes from within, thus we start with self, return to the sacred, and move out from there.
Ilima Lei in works to provide Young Girls a fighting chance to Succeed, initiated 2018
The monumental event and completion of the Hokulea World Wide Voyage and real life “Moana” reinforced, globally, the importance and practice of female leader-ship Mālama Honua (Caring for Mother Earth) education, and traditional ways of being and solving. Native Like Water has benefited from the lessons of Hokulea and the inspiration of great mentors and mentor-ship . As a world-champion warrior, Ilima-Lei provides an example of that spirit.
ABOARD THE HAWAII LOA TRADITIONAL VOYAGE VESSEL PART OF THE HOKULE'A and PVS FAMILY OF CANOES.. Inspired the movie Moana
“Teach to the spirit not to the test”
In the face of colonial educational male-practice, a holistic approach to education has emerged, resurfaced. Communities of Hawaii are leading the way in indigenous based education. Over the past 8 years, research proves increased proficiency by students in science, mathematics, history, fine art, and geography, to name a few, when core subjects are applied with indigenous ways of being, knowing. It can happen as separate subjects, or better, as an holistic approach. The holistic approach aims to "indigenize education". Ilima Choy, NLW Curriculum Specialist, describes it as "teaching to the spirit, not to the test". Education can be stress free and flow, like water. This is the current aim of this Native Like Water Big Island of Hawaii Program.
Join Ilima and Native Like Water, various leaders, teachers, elders as we bring back experiential learning, tap all our senses, and feel the musical expression within our lessons. We are the ones we have been waiting for.
Program Service: Over 15 females from both Hawaii and U.S. Mainland, plus over 20 Hawaiian educators, cultural leaders, and community inter-generational exchanges.
Female Self Defense and Intergenerational Sharing: Round Circles, workshops, presentations, mentorship and presentations are aimed at sharing life skills and wisdom unity. The sacred circle will provide inspiration and spiritual tools of preservation of sacred self and spaces. Light (not over strenuous) morning and evening physical training will be included to bring aloha, sacred breath, mind, body and spirit together at center. The challenge of protecting and respecting Mother Earth can begin with seeing ones-self, ones reflection as a sacred site, a feminine power which requires nurturing and protection.
Aloha Aina, Mauna Kea
Documented Learning and sharing: In addition to visual reports and live social media feeds, the incorporation of program lessons specific to the learning journey will be shared. Assist in providing innovation, relevance and accountability during learning. "Kilokilo" / Field notes & Journal Entries are conducted daily so participants can gain a greater understanding of their personal environment and what they are experiencing. Included with Kilokilo obsrevations, sketch, word, sound and power will be noted and build to a final oral, written poetic or musical presentation.
Included: All Meals, lodging, instruction, mentorship, equipment, entrance fees, and 1 round-trip island to island flight between Oahu and Big Island. Airport Pick Up and Drop provided by Native Like Water Staff. All land private transportation. Lodging will be a combination of camping and Airbnb private large house.
Not included: Roundtrip Airfare to Honolulu, Hawaii Airport
Registration: Program is now at capacity and full. Our next Nā Wahine Toa camp will be determined. Please contact us for registration form and to reserve your space.
Agenda and Locations
Oahu: North Shore, West Side, Honolulu
Big Island: Mauna Kea and Kona
Tentative Schedule (subject to changes)
February 13: Honolulu Arrival and Check in, a Queen’s origin
Debriefing, relaxing, and recovering. Queen Emma Summer Palace
Evening Ohana Welcome Dinner, Opening Circle
Day 2: North Shore, Malaekahana Beach Camp. Along the “7 Mile Miracle”. International day of love and friendship will begin with self. Celebrating love of self, care of self, flow. An inside job. Its all in you.
Lei making class, talk story, Ilima Flower Project and spreading love and aloha. Special presenters to be announced. Meals and Vitals by Mama T’s Ital Kitchen
Day 3: North Shore and Kaneohe Native Like Water, Water is Life: Creation and sustenance from the Mountain to the Sea. Learn traditional Hawaiian water protection and cultivation from the waterfalls, taro patch agriculture, to the fish pond. Lead by Macfarlane Ohana and FieldTrip Friends.
Ohana MUSIC and Composition Introduction session
Makaha’s Buffalo Big Board Surf Classic
Day 4, 5: Westside, Buffalo Big Board Surf Classic, Makaha Beach, West Side. The original surf and waterman events of its kind. The Buffalo’s Big Board Classic, founded by the legendary Richard “Buffalo” Keaulana and Ohana is approaching its 44th year. Behind each strong man, is an even stronger woman. Meet the Keaulana Ohana and share with DeSoto Ohana, as we see how princesses and queens are rising. Meet the Nā Kama Kai Foundation and the standard of water recreation, safety and mentorship. Special presentation by young female champion surfers and fashion designers. Enjoy water recreation.
Day 6: Flight to Big Island, Mauna Kea Cultural leaders on the Mauna teach a classes in oli (chant) and pule (prayer).
Day 7 : Sunrise at Mauna Kea
Visit to Mauna a Wakea to sunrise CEREMEONY Aunty Pua Case joins us on this visit. Talk story about the history and current works with Mauna.
Mauna A Wakea
Aquifer systems
Protecting sacred spaces, Mauna a Wakea
Astronomy, Traditional Wayfinding
Flight Back to Oahu: RELAX TIME
Casual Evening Dinner: Presentation by Olukai and Polynesian Voyaging Society (to be confirmed).
Real life Moana. Presentation in collaboration with Polynesian Voyaging Society and Hokulea’s World Wide Voyage experience.
dont forget the reef-safe sunblock and when at the beach we always practice K.A.I. : K.now your limits, A.sk a lifeguard and I.dentify hazards
Music/Composition: evening youth workshop and composition presentations, break outs. Ukele and Olukai Giveaways for stand out performance/composition presentation (Sponsor TBD).
February 20th Day 8: Closing Circle, Free Time and Return Home
Extended Stay: if you would like to extend your stay, after the 20th, on your own, please let us know.
Registration: Please contact us for registration form and to reserve your space.
Hawai'ian collaborative partners (anticipated):
Haumana (students), Makua (adults) and Kupuna (elders) as well as young children.
Voyager on Hokule'a and Polynesian Voyaging Society
Nā Kama Kai Mentorship & DeSoto Wahine
Mana Maoli Music Mentorship, Hālau Kū Māna Charter School, Mana Mele Project
Pua Case and Kumus TBA: Advocate for Mauna a Wakea
“InterTribal Youth - “Ilimanator Scholarship” Recipient Program
Inter-generational youth - elder exchange: Malama Honua practice to take home to their own communities.
Mamma T’s Ital Kitchen / Umeke Market and Education
Macfarlane Ohana and Field Trip Friends
Salted Logic Mosaic Murals, Big Ocean Management Nai’a Lewis
Program Lead Kumus
Ilima Lei MacFarlane, Lead Warrior, is a 2014 graduate from San Diego State where she majored in Cultural Anthropology and ran the Pacific Islander Student Association. She went on to receive her M.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a focus on indigenous issues. Originally from the island of O’ahu, this Native-Hawaiian has always dreamed of becoming an educator. However, her life took a slight detour when she began a successful a career as a professional MMA fighter. Now 6-0 and World Champion Bellator MMA Flyweight, Ilima still continues to bring awareness to indigenous issues with hope and determination. In 2018, Ilima Initiated "The Iliminator Scholarship" providing young females a fighting chance at opportunities in education. More on Ilima check this vid>
Julie LaBrake, Co-Lead: Named “Wicahpi Wawokiyasa Win” meaning “Star Woman Who Helps Many”. Julie is an enrolled member of the Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay Nation in San Diego, Ca. Julie has been involved with InterTribal Youth, Native Like Water program for years. Julie organizes community events such as a women’s self-defense seminar, coat and blanket drives, and runs a women’s Lakota tradition sweat-lodge bi-monthly. She leads up one of Southern California’s largest Powwows and began dancing northern traditional brought in by her grandmother Amrita Swanson. Julie has been living a clean and sober life for over 11 years. She’s a traditional pipe carrier and a Sundancer. She also is a massage therapist providing various modalities of healing techniques. During the summers, Julie travels throughout Indian county with family either going to ceremonies, powwows or gatherings. Julie has four adult children and five grandchildren.
Invited: Mana Maoli is pending participation. They are the leading youth and mentorship music program across the Hawaiian Islands. Mana Maoli has received acclaim for its mentorship and stand out recognition for its musical and outstanding visual/film production. In addition, Mana Maoli's founders have helped create some of the most progressive K-!2 schools and helped change the standard for Indigenous Education.
