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Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi celebrations held across the pae ʻāina from late January through early March brought together thousands of ʻohana and community members who actively participated in Hawaiian Language speech competitions, kōnane tournaments, and so much more.

These events uplift ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi through practice, competition, and community engagement, creating meaningful spaces for learners and speakers of all ages to grow and thrive.

Mahalo nui to all the ʻohana, kumu, and community members who continue to support and celebrate our language. This year’s celebrations were especially meaningful as we honored the 200th birthday of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani, a steadfast champion of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian identity. E ola mau ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi!

The post E Ola Mau ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi! appeared first on Ka Wai Ola.

Presented by the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition, Ke Kauā o Ka Lāhui: The Life of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi is a compelling theatrical experience that brings history to life for today’s audiences. Written by acclaimed playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and directed and produced by Sammie Choy, the living history play traces Kūhiō’s journey from a young aliʻi to a visionary leader committed to the wellbeing of his people.

First debuted in 2022 at ʻIolani Palace during Hawaiian History Month, the production returns to deepen our shared understanding of Kūhiō’s legacy — one rooted in leadership, civic engagement, and service to lāhui.

Audiences will witness pivotal moments in his life, including the founding of the Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the establishment of county governments, and his advocacy for the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The play also highlights his broader impact, from protecting lands that would later become part of the National Park System to championing women’s suffrage.

Each performance includes opportunities for reflection and discussion, inviting community members to consider how Kūhiō’s vision continues to guide Hawaiʻi today.

Another highlight this month is the annual Prince Kūhiō Parade, organized by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. As one of Hawaiʻi’s recognized legacy parades, this beloved tradition brings together civic clubs, cultural organizations, schools, and community groups from across the pae ʻāina to celebrate Kūhiō’s life and contributions.

Events like these offer meaningful ways for ʻohana and community of all ages to connect with Hawaiian history and celebrate a leader whose work continues to shape Hawaiʻi today. Everyone is welcomed to join in honoring Prince Kūhiō – a true servant of the lāhui.

Ke Kauā o ka Lāhui

Oʻahu Performances

• March 7 at 5:30 p.m.: Kroc Center, ʻEwa Beach
• March 20 at 6:30 p.m.: King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center
• March 21 at 6:30 p.m.: King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center
• March 22 at 2:00 p.m.: King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center

Molokaʻi Performance

• March 14 at 10:00 a.m.: Lanikeha Recreation Center, Hoʻolehua

Ke Kauā o ka Lāhui, a play about the life of Prince Kūhiō, debuted in 2022 at ʻIolani Palace and has also been presented on Kauaʻi. – Courtesy Photos

More info available at hawaiiponoi.info

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In 2007, after years of planning with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiian language and studies programs, the UH Board of Regents established the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge to create a dedicated home for Hawaiian language, history, cultural practice, and worldview within higher education.

Dr. Maenette K. P. Ah Nee-Benham became the new college’s inaugural dean in 2008. She was succeeded in 2017 by Dr. Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwoʻole Osorio.

In less than two decades, Hawaiʻinuiākea has grown to include some 50 faculty members – plus numerous other support staff, graduate assistants and student workers. Since its founding, the college has conferred nearly 900 baccalaureate degrees, more than 130 graduate degrees, and is currently finalizing the details of a new Ph.D. program.

Additionally, Hawaiʻinuiākea is the only college of Indigenous knowledge within a Research 1 university (institutions that confer 50 or more doctoral degrees per year) in the U.S. – a distinction that reflects both opportunity and kuleana.

Hawaiʻinuiākea includes four centers: Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies; Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language; Ka Papa Loʻi ʻo Kānewai Cultural Garden; and Native Hawaiian Student Services. Together, they form a puʻuhonua – a refuge and source of learning – where haumāna can engage deeply with ancestral knowledge while preparing to lead in service of their ʻohana, lāhui, and community. For many, this experience is transformative.

Guided by Ancestral Principles

The work of Hawaiʻinuiākea is grounded in six principles drawn from primary repositories of Hawaiian ancestral knowledge. They provide both philosophical direction and day-to-day guidance in how we teach, research, lead, and serve.

Ka waihona o ka naʻauao
The repository of learning
Hawaiʻinuiākea will be a resource for courses and programs rooted in ancestral knowledge, supporting high-quality education for students, faculty, staff, and the global community.

ʻIke i ke au nui me ke au iki
Know the great current and the small current
We promote research that honors both tradition and innovation, generating new knowledge informed by ancestral foundations.

E lawe i ke aʻo a mālama, a e ʻoi mau ka naʻauao
Learn, apply, and knowledge will grow
We awaken and circulate ancestral knowledge through undergraduate, graduate, and community-based learning.

ka ʻāina, hānau ke aliʻi, hānau ke kanaka
Land, leaders, and people are born together
We strengthen genealogical relationships between people and ʻāina, preparing students to live their learning through action.

Hoʻoulu Lāhui
Strengthen the Nation
We cultivate self-determination and empower our people to lead with confidence and responsibility.

ʻIke ʻia ke kanaka ma kāna ʻōlelo
Identity is known through language
We revitalize and renormalize Hawaiian language and identity so they continue to flourish across Hawaiʻi and throughout the world.

Hawaiʻinuiākea organizes its work into four key priority areas, drawing from the metaphor of wai as life and knowledge: 1) Ka Wai Puna – Knowledge Generation & Dissemination; 2) Ka Wai Inu – Knowledge Transmission and Teaching; 3) Ka Wai Mana – Governance and Institutional Leadership; and 4) Ka Wai Ola – Community and Civic Engagement.

As wai sustains life, knowledge must circulate among classrooms, loʻi, community gatherings, and policy tables to nourish the lāhui.

The Legacy of Dean Jonathan Osorio

Osorio became dean of Hawaiʻinuiākea in 2017 after decades of service as a professor and as the former director of Kamakakūokalani. His leadership has been instrumental in Hawaiʻinuiākea gaining recognition as the only Indigenous-knowledge college at a Research 1 institution.

Under his leadership, in 2024 Hawaiʻinuiākea also earned a 10-year accreditation renewal from the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC), reaffirming the college’s essential role in revitalizing Hawaiian language, culture, and educational practices.

Born and raised in Hilo, Osorio began his teaching career in 1991 at Kapiʻolani Community College following a successful musical career. He joined UH Mānoa in 1994 and advanced from an assistant to full professor. His scholarship has helped shape the field of 19th century Hawaiian political and social history, while his music continues to resonate across generations. In 2019, he was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

After eight years of dedicated service as dean, Osorio has announced his return to teaching.

“It’s time to go back to teaching and let a younger, more vigorous and eager person take on this job. And I know it will be a blessing to that person – whoever it is,” Osorio said. His transition reflects continuity, humility, and trust in the next generation of leaders.

A Call to Future Leadership

UH Mānoa Interim Vice Provost for Student Success Kapā Oliveira, a former professor of Hawaiian Language at Kawaihuelani, will chair a committee to select the next dean of Hawaiʻinuiākea. Oliveira emphasized that this role is about service as much as leadership.

“The search represents a pivotal moment for Hawaiian higher education,” said Oliveira. “We seek a visionary leader who understands the profound kuleana of guiding an Indigenous knowledge college – someone committed to strengthening our lāhui through the perpetuation of ʻike Hawaiʻi and the cultivation of future generations of scholars and cultural practitioners.”

The position is expected to be filled by August 2026. It is a rare opportunity to step into a legacy grounded in ʻike kupuna and committed to the growth and future of the lāhui and guided by principles that continue to transform education for Hawaiʻi and beyond.

Those interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Executive Search website: manoa.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/

Learn more about pursuing a degree in Hawaiian language and/or Hawaiian studies

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“This designation affirms our collective responsibility to share Hawaiʻi’s true story,” said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who sponsored the legislation. “It honors Queen Liliʻuokalani while inspiring civic participation rooted in aloha ʻāina.”

The measure reflects decades of advocacy and cultural work led by the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition, founded in 2007 to educate residents and visitors about Hawaiʻi’s true history. That same year, the coalition launched the ʻOnipaʻa Celebration at ʻIolani Palace, honoring the queen and igniting community engagement through history, culture, and the arts.

In 2019, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs passed a resolution calling on the state to officially designate September as Hawaiian History Month. This year, that call was finally answered.

Honoring the Queen’s Legacy

Born in 1838, Queen Liliʻuokalani was Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch and a fierce protector of her people and their sovereignty. She was a gifted composer, advocate for education, and an unwavering symbol of aloha ʻāina even through the painful overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. Hawaiian History Month is timed to coincide with her birthday on September 2, ensuring that her memory and contributions are central to the month’s celebrations.

Throughout September, communities will gather for celebrations of mele, film showcases, walking tours, and cultural presentations to reflect on the past, engage in dialogue about the present, and imagine Hawaiʻi’s future.

Step Into History: Mai Poina Tours Return This September

One of this year’s most anticipated events is the return of Mai Poina: The Overthrow walking tours. Originally developed in 1993 by acclaimed playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, the tours were created as part of the 100th anniversary commemoration of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Reimagined for today’s audiences, the tours take participants through six stations around ʻIolani Palace, where actors bring to life the pivotal days of January 1893. These dramatic interpretations highlight perspectives often left out of mainstream narratives – Native Hawaiians, as well as Japanese, Chinese, and European immigrants, whose lives were deeply affected by the overthrow and the unlawful annexation that followed.

Accompanied by scholarly discussions and a detailed viewer’s guide, the Mai Poina experience is designed not only to inform but to provoke reflection and dialogue. By walking the very streets where history unfolded, participants are invited to consider both the injustice of the past and the resilience of those who carried aloha ʻāina forward.

The Kumulipo Experience: A Sacred Cultural Offering

Another centerpiece of this year’s observance will be the Kumulipo Experience scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on September 14 (Kamaʻāina Sunday) on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace.

The Kumulipo, a 2,102-line cosmogonic genealogy chant that connects Kānaka ʻŌiwi of today to over 100 generations of their ancestors, tracing back to the time of source darkness, the genesis of the universe. It is a sacred text of ancestral knowledge and worldview, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all existence.

In 1999, Kumu Kamuela Chun revived a complete three-hour performance of the chant, a feat not witnessed for over 200 years. This year, Chun (Hawaiʻi Island) joins forces with Kumu Kalani Akana (Oʻahu), Kumu Kalei Nuʻuhiwa (Hawaiʻi Island), Kumu Mehanaokalā Hind (Oʻahu), and Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau (Maui) to present the chant once more. Their performance will be both a cultural showcase and an offering in honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani during the month of her birth.

As the sun sets over ʻIolani Palace, the voices of chanters will rise to affirm continuity between generations, honoring the queen’s role as both leader and cultural torchbearer.

A Living Month of History

Other highlights include the Eō e Liliʻu concert at Kawaiahaʻo Church, birthday festivities at Kapolei Satellite City Hall, free palace tours, a Student Film Showcase at Aliʻiōlani Hale, and virtual programs telling the stories and history of Hawaiian communities abroad in Utah and California. Together, these events offer opportunities for families, students, and visitors to engage with history in meaningful, memorable ways.

For the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition, the recognition of Hawaiian History Month is not an end, but a beginning. It provides a foundation to expand education, encourage dialogue, and ensure that the queen’s vision of justice, compassion, and aloha continues to guide Hawaiʻi into the future.

“By designating September as Hawaiian History Month, the state has given us space to reflect and to celebrate,” said Soulee Stroud, Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition organizer. “But more than that, it reminds us of our responsibility to carry forward the values Queen Liliʻuokalani stood for – aloha, resilience, and hope for her people.”

For the full schedule of Hawaiian History Month events, visit hawaiianhistorymonth.org

The post Hawaiʻi Rises Up for Hawaiian History Month – In Honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani appeared first on Ka Wai Ola.

Nearly 40,000 Native Hawaiians now call Clark County, Nevada, home. And this past June, many of them gathered at Palace Station in Las Vegas for the 3rd Annual Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha (KAHĀ), a vibrant celebration of Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions.

This year’s KAHĀ , held June 27-29, honored the island of Kauaʻi with the theme “Maikaʻi Kauaʻi, Hemolele i ka Mālie” (Beautiful Kauaʻi, Peaceful in the Calm). The gathering creating a space for multigenerational Hawaiian families and Kānaka kākoʻo (those who support Native Hawaiians) to reconnect with their roots while living far from home.

KAHĀ’s origins are deeply spiritual. Inspired by a moe ʻuhane (dream) on New Year’s Day 2023, founder Dwayne Kuʻualohanui Kauliʻa saw a joyful gathering of people, signaling the need to create a space for Hawaiian community connection and healing.

Supported by kūpuna and loea, the dream became a hoʻokō (fulfillment) of four pillars: aloha, hoʻoponopono, ʻike hoʻoilina, and honoring Kamehameha Paiʻea.

Gatherings like KAHĀ allow Kānaka to remain ʻonipaʻa (steadfast) despite the challenges we face, and move forward while grounding themselves in aloha, culture, and language.

KAHĀ 2025 featured over 20 kumu and loea from across Hawaiʻi and the continent – nearly half of whom were from Kauaʻi – sharing ʻike and moʻomeheu (knowledge and culture) through hands-on, interactive workshops. Participants learned hula kahiko and ʻauana under the guidance of nā kumu hula Puna Dawson, Maka Herrod, Kalani Flores-Hatt, and Leimomi Ho, while also engaging in oli, mele, and Hawaiian language immersion.

Hana noʻeau were showcased through lauhala weaving, lei-making, kapa, and featherwork, allowing attendees to create pūpū Niʻihau earrings and bracelets, raffia kūpeʻe, and nā hulu kāhili paʻa lima. The Kauaʻi cultural practitioners who shared these hana noʻeau included me, Kumu Sabra Kauka, and ʻAnakē Awapuhi Kahale (Niʻihau).

Sessions on lāʻau lapaʻau, Hawaiian ecosystems, Kauaʻi and Niʻihau moʻolelo, and sacred hymns provided a holistic cultural curriculum that embraced the mind, body, and spirit. KAHĀ was blessed with experts and practitioners from Kauaʻi including Tuti Kanahele, Mike Demotta, Chucky Boy Chock, and Pam Smith Chock.

“This gathering isn’t just about learning skills; it’s about living the legacy of our kūpuna and healing as a lāhui,” Kauliʻa shared during the opening ceremony, emphasizing that aloha remains the foundation of all that we do, wherever we are.

With Clark County’s growing Hawaiian community, KAHĀ serves as a cultural bridge, addressing the longing for connection and opportunities for cultural immersion that many Kānaka living on the continent desire.

For many participants, KAHĀ is a rare opportunity to practice and normalize ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, to build ʻike pilina (healthy relationships), and to deepen their ʻike honua (sense of place) while living away from Hawaiʻi nei. It also fosters intergenerational learning, with kūpuna, parents, and keiki engaging side by side in activities that celebrate their heritage.

Ka ʻAha Hoʻolauna Aloha, Inc. (KAHĀ) is a Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building and strengthening the Hawaiian community on the continent while connecting them to the lāhui and ʻāina aloha. The organization is led by Kauliʻa who serves as president, and the KAHĀ Board of Directors with members representing Hawaiʻi, Clark County, and California.

KAHĀ’s commitment to fostering aloha, culture, language, and community ensures that Hawaiians across the Pacific are empowered to live their heritage fully while navigating life in the diaspora.

As KAHĀ continues to grow, the organization plans to expand its offerings and deepen its partnerships to bring even more opportunities for cultural exchange, language revitalization, and intergenerational learning to Kānaka Maoli living away from Hawaiʻi.

Whether you are a lifelong learner, a kumu, or a Hawaiian seeking to reconnect, KAHĀ offers a welcoming space to practice, learn, and celebrate together.

As KAHĀ reminds us, “ʻO ke aloha nō ka mea nui” (love is indeed the most important thing). In a world of change, gatherings like KAHĀ 2025 are vital reminders that aloha, culture, and language keep us grounded, connected, and strong – no matter where we live.

To learn more about KAHĀ, explore upcoming programs, or become a sponsor or vendor, visit hawaiikaha.org. Here, you will find resources for families, workshop registration, and ways to support this mission of aloha.

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Greetings to all from the sun rays in Haʻehaʻe to the setting of the sun on the sea at Lehua and to all those throughout the four corners of mother earth. Aloha!

February is Hawaiian language month, a time to strengthen and support the native language of Hawaiʻi, the mother tongue of the Hawaiian people. Thanks to former Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his support in signing Act 28 in 2013 dedicating February as Hawaiian language month.

This year, seven Ola Ka ʻĪ events are happening on four different islands. The goal of these events is to hear our beloved language in every corner of our community. Here are the dates for these events:

• February 1: Ola Ka ʻĪ Koʻolau at Windward Mall (Oʻahu)
• February 8: Ola Ka ʻĪ Hilo at Prince Kūhiō Plaza (Hawaiʻi) and Ola Ka ʻĪ Honolulu at Kahala Mall (Oʻahu)
• February 15: Ola Ka ʻĪ Maui Nui at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center (Maui)
• February 22: Ola Ka ʻĪ ʻEwa at Ka Makana Aliʻi (Oʻahu)
• March 1: Ola Ka ʻĪ Kona at Keauhou Shopping Center (Hawaiʻi) and Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi me Niʻihau at Kukui Grove Center (Kauaʻi)

Ola Ka ʻĪ means the “Hawaiian Language Thrives” and thanks go to a student at Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo S.M. Kamakau who gifted this event name in 2020.

Each of the events held at the shopping centers will include Hawaiian language speakers, Hawaiian immersion and charter schools, music, games, prizes, and so much more. We are all excited to gather with our Hawaiian language community. A few new activities that are planned include a kōnane tournment on Kauaʻi, a hōlua sled activity in Kona, and an interactive installation honoring Keʻelikōlani.

Eō e Keʻelikōlani!

Princess Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Keʻelikōlani, also known as Luka, held fast to Hawaiian traditions that many poʻe haole and converted Hawaiians felt were outdated and had no place in a modern kingdom.

She had a large community of people she supported on her extensive landholdings, and she had a reputation of being especially caring toward elderly Hawaiians. Though she had gone to a mission school and was perfectly well-versed in English, she refused to speak it as an adult. She spoke only Hawaiian and required those who could not speak it to use a translator if they wished to communicate with her.

The interactive installation invites folks via QR codes to listen to the sounds and share what it feels like listening and reading. They will be invited to share their own personal language journey and how Hawaiian language fits in their lives.

In the end we invite everyone to join in various Hawaiian games including two new games by Kamehameha Publishing, Nā ʻOno o Ke Kai and Pāʻani Pilina.

Have you joined us at a past Ola Ka ʻĪ event during one of the past Hawaiian language months? If not, we invite you to join us because Ola Ka ʻĪ will be lots of fun.

We especially want to thank a few of our main sponsors this year that are helping to support all the Ola Ka ʻĪ events: ʻAhahui ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Kanaeokana, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Kauaʻi Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

For more information on Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi events and a complete list of sponsors, go to https://www.mahinaolelohawaii.org/

The post Ola Ka ʻĪ Lives Across Hawaiʻi! appeared first on Ka Wai Ola.

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Welina e nā kini makamaka e noho maila mai nā kukuna o ka lā i Haʻehaʻe a ka lā kōwelo i ka ʻilikai o ka mole ʻolu o Lehua a pēlā pū i nā kihi ʻehā o ka honua nei. Aloha nui!

ʻO Pepeluali ka Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi he wā e hoʻomaikaʻi, hoʻoikaika a hoʻopaipai ai i ka ʻōlelo kupa o ka lāhui ʻo ia ka ʻōlelo makuahine na ke kanaka Hawaiʻi. Me ka mahalo iā Kiaʻāina Neil Abercrombie i kona kākoʻo ma o ka pūlima ʻana i Act 28 i ka makahiki 2013.

I kēia makahiki e mālama ʻia ana ʻehiku mau papahana i kapa ʻia ʻo Ola Ka ʻĪ ma ʻehā mokupuni ʻo Oʻahu, ʻo Hawaiʻi, ʻo Maui, a ʻo Kauaʻi. ʻO ka pahuhopu nui o nei papahana ʻo ia nō ke ola mau o kā kākou ʻōlelo makuahine a lohe pepeiao ʻia ka ʻōlelo i aloha nui ʻia ma nā kihi a pau o ke kaiāulu mai ke kuaʻau a i ke kualono. Eia nā lā ʻo kēlā me kēia hanana:

• Pepeluali 1: Ola Ka ʻĪ Koʻolau ma Windward Mall (Oʻahu)
• Pepeluali 8: Ola Ka ʻĪ Hilo ma Prince Kūhiō Plaza (Hawaiʻi) a me Ola Ka ʻĪ Honolulu ma Kahala Mall (Oʻahu)
• Pepeluali 15: Ola Ka ʻĪ Maui Nui ma Queen Kaʻahumanu Center (Maui)
• Pepeluali 22: Ola Ka ʻĪ ʻEwa ma Ka Makana Aliʻi (Oʻahu)
• Malaki 1: Ola Ka ʻĪ Kona ma Keauhou Shopping Center (Hawaiʻi) a me Ola Ka ʻĪ Kauaʻi me Niʻihau ma Kukui Grove Center (Kauaʻi)

ʻO ka manaʻo ʻo Ola Ka ʻĪ ʻo ia hoʻi ʻo ka “Hawaiian Language Thrives.” Mahalo nui ʻia ka ʻohana keiki ma Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo S.M. Kamakau no ke kōkua me kēia inoa papahana i makana ʻoluʻolu ʻia iā kākou ma ka makahiki 2020.

E piha ana kēlā me kēia kihi o nā kikowaena kūʻai me nā hoa ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, nā kula kaiapuni me nā kula kaiaʻōlelo, nā mele Hawaiʻi, nā ʻano pāʻani me nā makana like ʻole, a pēlā wale aku.

Pīhoihoi kākou e launa pū ma o ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. ʻO kekahi mau mea hou a kupaianaha nō hoʻi ʻo ia ka mālama ʻana i ka hoʻokūkū kōnane ma Kauaʻi, ka heʻe hōlua ma Kona, a me ka papa moʻolelo hōʻike’ike hou e hoʻohanohano ana i Ke Aliʻi Wahine ‘o Ruta Keʻelikōlani.

Eō e Keʻelikōlani!

Ua kūpaʻa ke kamāliʻi wahine ʻo Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Keʻelikōlani ma ka moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi i manaʻo ʻia e ka nui o nā haole a me ka poʻe Hawaiʻi i hoʻokolonaio ʻia he kahiko, he halapohe a ʻaʻohe waiwai no ke aupuni hou o ke au haole.

He kaiāulu nui kona i kākoʻo ʻia aku ma kona mau ʻāina ākea, a ua kaulana ʻo ia i kona mālama pono ʻana i nā ʻelemākule Hawaiʻi. ʻOiai ua hele ʻo ia i ke kula a ka poʻe misionari a mākaukau loa i ka ʻōlelo Pelekānia, hōʻole ʻo ia i ka ʻōlelo ma kona ʻano he makua ponoʻī. He kūpaʻa nō kona ʻano. Ua ʻōlelo ʻo ia i ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a koi aku i ka poʻe hiki ʻole ke ʻōlelo e hoʻohana i ka unuhi ʻōlelo inā makemake lākou e kamaʻilio me ia.

E kū ana nei papa hōʻikeʻike ma kēlā me kēia Ola Ka ʻĪ no ka lehulehu e komo piha ma o ka hoʻoili ʻana i nā QR codes like ʻole kahi e hoʻolohe i nā kani a e hoʻokaʻa like aku i manaʻo ma ka hoʻolohe a heluhelu. E kono like ʻia ana ka lehulehu e moʻolelo like mai i ka huakaʻi ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ponoʻī a i kona manaʻo i hea kahi kūpono e noho ai ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ma kona ola ponoʻī.

Ma ka hopena, e komo ʻokoʻa ana nā kānaka i nā pāʻani ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a Kamehameha Publishing. E hoʻomau ʻia ana nā pāʻani i pāʻani mua ʻia eia naʻe, nui loa maila ka pīhoihoi e hoʻokaʻa aku i ʻelua pāʻani hou, ʻo Nā ʻOno o Ke Kai lāua ʻo Pāʻani Pilina.

ʻO ʻoe anei kekahi i komo mua i ka hana ma nā hoʻolauleʻa ʻo Ola Ka ʻĪ ma ka mahina ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi i nā makahiki i hala? Inā ʻaʻole, e naue mai a e komo koke, ʻoiai, e nui ana ka leʻaleʻa ma Ola Ka ʻĪ!

Mahalo nui i kēia mau hoa i ke kākoʻo ʻana iā Ola Ka ʻĪ: ʻAhahui ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Kanaeokana, KS Kaiāulu, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Kauaʻi Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

E huli i nā lāliʻi a me ka papainoa o nā kokua o nā hanana ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi a pau ma https://www.mahinaolelohawaii.org/

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This global gathering of Indigenous educators, students, administrators, and knowledge holders celebrated the advancement of indigenous knowledge and the role of indigenous education in uplifting native communities.

Indigenous peoples and participants from across the world – Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), First Nations Canada, Turtle Island (North America), and Norway – came together for five days of cultural exchanges, discussions, and collaboration. The meeting highlighted the shared vision of fostering Indigenous-led education grounded in native languages, philosophies, and worldviews.

WINHEC: A Global Network for Indigenous Education

WINHEC was founded in 2002 at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in Alberta, Canada. WINHEC’s mission is to bring together Indigenous educators, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to promote indigenous knowledge and practices in higher education. Its members include universities, research organizations and government agencies, all committed to advancing the role of indigenous perspectives in academia.

WINHEC is not only a platform for knowledge exchange but also a body that accredits Indigenous-serving institutions. This accreditation validates the quality of education provided by these institutions, ensuring that indigenous philosophies and cultural practices are at the heart of their operations.

Accreditation: Honoring Indigenous Educational Excellence

One of the key highlights of this year’s WINHEC AGM was the accreditation of three significant institutions: Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge (Hawaiʻi), ʻAha Pūnana Leo (Hawaiʻi), and Matawa Education (First Nations in Canada).

WINHEC accreditation is a rigorous process that requires institutions to examine their goals, operations, and achievements in light of their Indigenous communities’ worldviews and values.

The accreditation process includes a self-study and evaluation by an external review team. This ensures that institutions meet high standards of educational effectiveness while integrating their community’s indigenous knowledge systems. WINHEC accreditation also encourages institutions to continuously improve their programs to better serve their students and communities.

Accreditation by WINHEC serves several important functions. It validates the credibility of an institution and assures the public that the institution is fulfilling its mission. It also provides a framework for continuous improvement, ensuring that schools remain responsive to the evolving needs of their communities. Furthermore, WINHEC’s accreditation process is unique in that it centers indigenous philosophies and worldviews, making it a culturally grounded approach to quality assurance.

Strengthening Indigenous Institutions

The accreditation of Hawaiʻinuiākea, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, and Matawa Education is a significant milestone for these institutions and the communities they serve. It acknowledges their commitment to integrating indigenous languages, culture, and philosophies into their educational offerings. More importantly, it affirms their role in perpetuating indigenous knowledge for future generations.

Accreditation by WINHEC extends beyond educational effectiveness – it ensures that indigenous institutions are rooted in their cultural values. This approach supports the diversity and richness of indigenous worldviews while ensuring that institutions continue to provide high-quality education. As WINHEC-accredited institutions, Hawaiʻinuiākea and its counterparts will continue to play a vital role in fostering cultural resilience among Indigenous students.

A Global Collaboration for Indigenous Education

The WINHEC AGM in Waikīkī and Mānoa was a celebration of indigenous knowledge and cultural exchange. Attendees participated in workshops, ceremonies, and discussions on the role of education in preserving indigenous languages and traditions. A key highlight was an immersive cultural experience at Ka Papa Loʻi ʻo Kānewai at UH Mānoa, where participants learned about the history of the ahupuaʻa and Kānewai’s water system, engaged in hands-on activities in the loʻi, prepared food in an imu (underground oven), and connected with the land and the community. This event underscored the shared experiences and resilience of Indigenous communities worldwide, emphasizing education’s role in sustaining native traditions.

Looking Ahead: Aotearoa to Host the Next WINHEC AGM

As the 2024 WINHEC AGM concluded, it was announced that the next AGM will be hosted in Aotearoa in 2025. This continuation of the global collaboration among Indigenous educators reflects the ongoing commitment to strengthening indigenous education systems worldwide.

The 2024 WINHEC AGM in Hawaiʻi not only strengthened ties among Indigenous communities but also highlighted the critical role of education in preserving and revitalizing indigenous knowledge. As the global indigenous education movement grows, Hawaiʻinuiākea and its fellow WINHEC-accredited institutions will continue to lead the way in creating culturally grounded, community-centered education systems that empower future generations.

By bringing together educators, students, and leaders from around the world, the WINHEC AGM reaffirmed the importance of indigenous self-determination in education and set the stage for continued collaboration in the years to come.

For more information about Hawaiʻinuiākea go to: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/hshk or for WINHEC go to: https://winhec.org/.

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In conjunction with the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC), the Pacific Indigenous Women’s Network (PIWN) hosted the “Weaving a Transpacific Indigenous Women’s Network” conference on June 7-8, 2024. Held at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, this significant two-day event brought together Indigenous women from across the Pacific to foster relationships, share knowledge, and discuss strategies to address the challenges faced by their communities.

Friday, June 7

As wāhine from various parts of the Pacific arrived at the conference, they were greeted by the beautiful voices of Kainani Kahaunaele, Kaniaulono Hapai, and Emma Coloma-Nakano from Moku o Keawe. This mother, daughter, and aunty trio created a comfortable and safe space for networking among wāhine of all ages.

The event began with a circle of aloha, led by Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Hawaiʻi), who shared mele and oli to ground the participants in Hawaiʻi and celebrate their connections as part of Moananuiākea. Wong-Kalu emphasized the importance of understanding one’s kulana (role) and kuleana (duty), reminding the wāhine to fulfill their roles and responsibilities diligently.

Via a video message, Makau Ariki (Royal Consort) Atawhai of Aotearoa highlighted the strength of collective dreaming and achieving: “If I am to dream, I dream alone. If we all dream together then we shall achieve. Wāhine together; we are always stronger. Let’s walk together, dream together, and achieve together.”

Mililani Trask (Hawaiʻi), a founding member and kupuna of PIWN, delivered the opening keynote address. She shared the genealogy of PIWN and its commitment to self-determination for women, children, and families. Trask called for participation from all Pacific sub-regions – Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Australia – stressing the need for diverse representation to achieve common goals.

A “Lei of Wisdom” dialogue session, moderated by youth member Julia Faye Munoz (Guåhan), featured elders Hema Wihongi (Aotearoa), Saina Faye Untalan (Guåhan), Grace Poll-Serious (Chuuk, FSM), and Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier (Hawaiʻi).

Titled “The Role of Pacific Indigenous Women in Caring for our Communities and Preparing the Next Generation,” the panel discussed the vital roles of Indigenous women as life-givers and caregivers. They shared their respective cultural backgrounds, experiences, and wisdom, highlighting the importance of passing on traditions and healing power to future generations to help address today’s complex challenges.

Saturday, June 8

The second day of the conference began with a spiritual blessing and cultural sharing from the FestPAC delegation from Guåhan. This set a reflective and empowering tone for the day.

The day’s first panel, “Indigenous Women Leading Environmental Justice and Empowering Sustainability,” addressed climate change and environmental degradation – and their impacts on human rights – emphasizing approaches to sustainable development that consider inequalities and can be transformative if implemented. The moderator was Noelani Puniwai (Hawaiʻi) and included presentations by Hema Wihongi (Aotearoa) and Malia Nobrega-Olivera (Hawaiʻi).

The second panel of the day, “Mauliola: Taking Care of Self, Girls, and Family,” was moderated by Lillian Segal (Kosrae). Presenters included Emeliana Musrasrik-Carl (Pohnpei, FSM), Alicia Limtiaco (Guåhan), and Suzanna Tiapula (American Samoa).

This panel, focused on critical areas of concern – gender-based violence, health and education – that directly impact the human rights of Indigenous women and girls, and provided recommendations for effective and sustainable advocacy and public actions by Indigenous women that reflect their voices and priorities.

Saina Laura Souder (Guåhan), shared the keynote presentation during lunch called, “Indigenous Pacific Women Leaders: Looking at Ourselves through the Eyes of the Future.”

Souder, an Indigenous CHamoru, explored historical networking strategies used by CHamoru women organizers and discussed the continuity and revitalization of the CHamoru language and culture. She shared seven recommendations and lessons gleaned from her work in Daughters of the Island: Adaptability is Key; Intergenerational Ties Matter; Engagement can be both Formal and Informal; Balance Traditional Ways with Modern Reality; Personal is Political; Indigenous Knowledge is a Platform for Organizing; and Manage Conflicts and Contradictions.

The conference closing session was a collective visioning session for PIWN led by Lisa Natividad and Julia Faye Munoz (both of Guåhan) reviewing the needs identified by wāhine from each Pacific region represented.

Weaving a Transpacific Indigenous Women’s Network was more than just a conference; it was a movement towards solidarity and empowerment for Pacific Indigenous women. By coming together, sharing experiences, and strategizing for the future, we can collectively pave the way for a stronger, more resilient Pacific community.

The conference was a powerful gathering of voices, ideas, and actions that inspired and mobilized Indigenous women across the Pacific to lead their communities with wisdom and strength.

PIWN would like to say MAHALO NUI to our funders and supporting organizations: Pawanka Fund, Ahahui Siwilia Hawaiʻi o Moikeha, Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, and Waiwai Collective.

The Pacific Indigenous Women’s Network (PIWN) was incorporated in 2019. Its mission is to protect and advance the human rights of Indigenous women, their families, and communities in the Pacific Region through the formation of strategic alliances with other Indigenous women and their associations. The organization aims to mentor young Indigenous women and enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities as leaders.

For more information or to subscribe to our email list go to https://piwn.org/ or follow us on FaceBook and IG @pacificindigenouswomen.

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I ka loli aniau ma Hawaiʻi a ma Moananuiākea hoʻi ke pau nei ka pono o nā kaiaola mokupuni kūʻokoʻa, nā waiwai moʻemeheu, ke ola kanaka, ka nohona kanaka, nā wahi i kūkulu ʻia, a me ka loaʻa ʻana mai o ka wai maʻemaʻe a me ka mea ʻai ola. ʻO kēia kekahi o nā hopena i hōʻike ʻia ma ka palapala i kapa ʻia ʻo ka Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). He palapala ia i koi ʻia e ka ʻahaʻōlelo lāhui no ke kuhi ʻana i ka loli ʻana o ka U.S. i ka loli aniau. ʻO ka hopena nui i puka mai ma ua palapala nei ke koʻikoʻi o ke kālele ʻana i ka ʻike a me ka hana ʻōiwi i hiki ke hoʻonui i ke kūpaʻa ʻana i loko nō o ka loli aniau ma Moananuiākea.

Ma Kekemapa o ka makahiki 2023, ua puka mai ka palapala ʻo NCA5 me kekahi mokuna i pili wale iā Hawaiʻi a me nā mokupuni Pākāpika i pili iā ʻAmelika me ka ʻikepili noiʻi o kēia au e hōʻike ana i nā pilikia, nā hopena, a me nā hāʻina e wehe ai i nā hihia o ka loli aniau. Hōʻike ʻia ma ia palapala ka hoʻāʻo ʻana ma nā ʻano hanana like ʻole ma ʻAmelika me nā mokupuni Pākīpika i ka hoʻēmi ʻana i ke ea hoʻomehana honua a me ka hoʻēmi ʻana i nā hopena ʻino a ka loli aniau ma ka ʻāina.

“Mau nō ka hoʻopilikia ʻana o ka lolianiau i nā mea nui a koʻikoʻi iā kākou,” wahi a Kauka Abby Frazier, Hope Polopeka ma ke Kula Nui ʻo Clark, me ko ka mokuna mea kākau alakaʻi. “ʻO ka hōʻeleu ʻana aʻe i nā ʻano hana no ka hoʻēmi i nā hopena ʻino a ka loli aniau ka hana pono. ʻO ka mea pōmaikaʻi, ʻo ka hoʻēmi ʻana i ke ea hoʻomehana honua a me ka hoʻomākaukau ʻana no nā pōʻino hou ke ala e pono ai ko ʻoneʻi – ke olakino maikaʻi, ka hoʻokele waiwai kūpaʻa, a me ke kaiaulu kūpaʻa i loko nō o ka loli aniau.”

Eia nā manaʻo nui i hāpai ʻia ma ia mokuna no Hawaiʻi me ka Pākīpika:

• Emi mai ka hiki ʻana ke loaʻa ka ʻai pono me ka wai i ka loli aniau.
• Pā hewa ke olakino kanaka i ka loli aniau.
• Pilikia ka ʻōnaepuni a me ka hoʻokele waiwai mokupuni i ka piʻi ʻana mai o ke kai.
• ʻO ka hoʻōla maoli ʻana i ka ʻāina, i ka wai, i nā kaiaola, me nā mea ola ka hana kūpono.
• ʻO ke kanaka ʻŌiwi, ka ʻike a me ka hana ʻōiwi ka mea nui o ke kūpaʻa ʻana o nā kaiaulu mokupuni i loko nō o ka loli aniau.

No ka palapala ʻo Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5)

He palapala ia i koi ʻia ma ke Kānāwai Global Change Research o ka makahiki 1990 e ka ʻahaʻōlelo lāhui no ke kuhi ʻana i ka loli o ka U.S. i ka loli aniau. He 32 mau mokuna ko ka palapala ʻo NCA5 no kālaiaopaku, mahele pae-kaumokuʻāina (ʻo ka wai ʻoe, ʻo ka ikehu ʻoe, ʻo ka ʻoihana mahiʻai ʻoe, ʻo ke kaiaola ʻoe, ʻo ka ʻoihana halihali ʻoe, ʻo ke olakino kanaka ʻoe, ʻo ka ʻōnaepuni ʻoe, a pēlā aku), ʻo nā hopena ʻino me ka hoʻoponopono pilikia o ka loli aniau ma Hawaiʻi, ka Pakipika, me ka U.S. hoʻi.

Mahalo nui ʻia nā kanaka i kōkua me ka mokuna no Hawaiʻi me nā mokupuni Pākīpika. Na 16 mea kākau moʻolelo me 41 kākoʻo i komo i kēia hana. Kākoʻo ʻia nei mokuna i nā moʻolelo he 500 a ʻoi i palapala ʻia. He ʻelua wahine Hawaiʻi i komo pū i ka haku moʻolelo ʻana, ʻo ia ʻo Haunani Kāne me aʻu, a he mau kānaka ʻimi noiʻi māua ma ke Kula Nui ʻo Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa.

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