KA ULUWEHI O KE KAI (THE PLANTS OF THE SEA)

The film starts by introducing two locals from Hilo Intermediate school school on the Big Island. Aleiyah Silva (student) and Kumu Pohai ( Science teacher) share their knowledge about what hula means, why it is important to Hawaiian culture, and how it connects them to their ancestors. The song, Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai, means “the plants of the sea”. It celebrates the processes of gathering, cleaning, and feasting on seaweed (limu). And people frequently compare these traditional practices to a beloved person. Aleiyah Silva shares this story through the dance.