‘Aina Aloha Project

Community Contributed

By MHS O Hina I Ka Malama Students

Editor’s note: Students of Molokai High’s O Hina I Ka Malama Hawaiian language immersion program are working on a project called ‘Aina Aloha with their Kumu Mahina Hou Ross in which they will be researching about the history and stories of different parts of Molokai. Below are short introductions to two of the students’ projects. Ross would like to invite any community members who are interested in sharing their resources and stories with the class for their project to contact Ross at gandharva.ross@k12.hi.us or call 808-567-6950 ext. 66. 

By Kauiaonalani Hamakua Felix, Tiani Keohuloa and Pilialoha Kaahanui

Aloha, we are Kauiaonalani Hamakua Felix, Tiani Keohuloa and Pilialoha Kaahanui and we are members of the senior class of O Hina I ka Malama. This year we are doing a project about a place that is special to us called “‘Aina Aloha.” For our ‘Aina Aloha we chose Ho’olehua and Mo’omomi being that we were bought to and are from this area. Throughout our project we will be sharing the mo’olelo told to us by our kupuna and sources with a little bit of history researched about our aina. A couple of the topics would include stories from our wa kahiko (pre-western contact), throughout the time of the overthrow, before Hawaii became a state all the way up till events happening now. 

By Lilia Ritte Camara Tangonan

Mai ka lepo ulaula o Hoʻolehua a i ka wailele o ka home ʻo Moʻoula, kau ka ahupua’a kaulana ma waena o ka mokupuni o Molokai.  Aloha, my name is Lilia Ritte Camara Tangonan and I will be taking you through our famous ʻaina of Kalama’ula for our ʻAina Aloha project.  It is situated on the southern shore of Molokai, is the famous ahupua’a of Kalama’ula.  It is home of the famous Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove, planted by King Kamehameha IV, just short of a mile from our namesake’s pohaku, pohaku o Kalamaʻula.