Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

Keiki and Kupuna Mo’olelo Project

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Kalia Purdy-Avelino showed the circle of keiki and kupuna gathered at Home Pumehana some of Molokai’s most famous books of mo’olelo, including “Tales from the Night Rainbow” and “Tales of Molokai: the Voice of Harriet Ne.” As she flipped through the books, Purdy-Avelino described what they all had in common: stories of Molokai’s past heroes, descriptions of natural phenomenon and historic events, and not many pictures for kids to enjoy.

Part of the goal of Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai’s Keiki and Kupuna Writing Project is to engage young people in the telling and recording of mo’olelo. Taught by Purdy-Avelino, the program aspires to bridge the gap between older history and today’s stories of Molokai, as well as reinforce stylistic aspects of Hawaiian storytelling.…

Posted in Community, Culture & Art, Hawaiian Culture, History, Island Youth

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The King’s Gala

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

Molokai celebrated King Kamehameha I Day early this year with the King’s Gala. On Friday June 7, Molokai community members gathered at Hiro’s Ohana Grill to commemorate the third annual King’s Gala, organized by nonprofit Ho’omohala O Molokai.

Kamehameha Day has been celebrated since 1872, when King Kamehameha V established it in honor of his grandfather, Kamehameha I. This year’s celebration included a fashion show by Kalae Tangonan’s Kupu A’e Molokai, amongst musical and hula performances.

To the backdrop of Keaka Kaiama’s singing, Molokai wahine modeled Tangonan’s batik and silk screen designs.

“Every piece is original. You can’t duplicate it,” said Tangonan.…

Posted in Community, Culture & Art, Hawaiian Culture, Music

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Ho’omau Celebrates Olelo Hawaii

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

In the 29th annual Ho’omau celebration on Molokai, residents from across the island gathered to commemorate the study of ‘olelo Hawaii. The event was a fundraiser for the preschoolers of Punana Leo o Molokai, a Hawaiian language immersion preschool.

“This whole movement is a revitalization starting with our keiki so ‘olelo Hawaii can live on throughout the whole family,” explained Pueo Akina-Sumarnap, a teacher at Punana Leo o Molokai. “This program, this movement, is so important because it’s who we are.”

Last Saturday’s Ho’omau included vendors, food and entertainment. Proceeds help fund school supplies, programming and tuition for the students and families of Punana Leo.…

Posted in Community, Education, Hawaiian Culture, Island Youth

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Ross Selected for Deep Sea Exploration Voyage

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024

“All my life, I grew up in and around the ocean, but not really in the deep ocean,” said Molokai’s Gandharva Mahina Hou Ross.
This summer, the Hawaiian language immersion teacher at Molokai High School’s O Hina I Ka Malama program will get the chance to explore the depths of the ocean floor, and share that knowledge with the world.
Ross was selected as one of 13 science communications fellows aboard the exploration vessel (E/V) Nautilus, operated by nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust. He was the only Hawaii resident chosen out this year of applicants from around the world.
“He mea koʻi koʻi no mākou ke kau ana i luna o ka moku E/V Nautilus e ʻimi ʻike e pili ana i ka papakū o ka moana i hiki ke kaʻana like me nā poʻe o Hawaiʻi a me nā poʻe a puni ka honua,” said Ross.…

Posted in Community, Hawaiian Culture, History

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Hana Keaka: Hawaiian Theater

Thursday, March 7th, 2024

Three Molokai legends came to life last Wednesday, Feb. 28, performed by students from the Kualapuu School’s Hawaiian immersion program. The memorable performance of Hana Keaka theater was held at the Molokai Community Health Center.

The kindergarten through sixth graders tested their drama skills in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 300 Molokai community members. The keiki actors performed the stories of the giant Ha’eha’eku, the wise Kuapakaa, and the famous Kaohele.

Kalae Tangonan, a parent volunteer who created the costumes and set design for the performance, explained that Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapu`u has been performing Hana Keaka annually for more than 10 years.…

Posted in Community, Hawaiian Culture, Island Youth

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Ka Molokai Makahiki 2024

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

Ka Molokai Makahiki festivals for 2024 kicked off on Jan. 24 with the shouldering of the lei-draped Lonomakua banner in Halawa. The Ka’ahele A Lono procession began their four-day journey on foot across Molokai, stopping for community ho’okupu along the way, ending on Sunday at Kaiaka.

The theme of this year’s Makahiki was “Aia i Molokai ku’u aloha,” or “there upon Molokai is my love, my lineage, my connection, my ‘ohana.”

“May we be reminded of the unwavering aloha we have for our island and our ‘ohana, anchoring our aspirations in a steadfast commitment to love and uplift all that is around us,” wrote Ka Molokai Makahiki committee on their Facebook page.…

Posted in Community, Culture & Art, Hawaiian Culture, History, Island Youth

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See What We Can No Longer See, Hear What We Can No Longer Hear… Part Two

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Keomailani Hanapi Hirata

As we drove down the dusty dirt road leading to Molokai Komohana, to Mo’omomi, the view of our Wahi Pana of Kawa’aloa, Kaiehu, Keonelele, Kalani, and Kapalauoa, made us smile with humbleness. We could see and hear our kupuna welcoming us. Birds playing and circling around us, the gentle and comfortable sea winds blowing around us, sounds of the oceans, the taste of the salt in the air, the rich colors of life all around us, this is our Kupuna greeting us with their Oli Komo. Kumu Mililani Hanapi went straight to the shoreline and gave an Oli aloha.…

Posted in Community, Hawaiian Culture

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See What We Can No Longer See, Hear What We Can No Longer Hear

Wednesday, November 8th, 2023

By Keomailani Hanapi Hirata

A Pu was blown from deep within our ‘aina kupuna o Molokai, vibrating from Komohana. The kahea was felt and answered; from the east, Mililani Hanapi, Keo Hanapi-Hirata and La’akea Poepoe; from the north, Keoki and Miki’ala Pescaia; from the south, Kawehi Soares; from Moku o Keawe, Halealoha Ayau. Nahulu and Pulama Maioho could not be with us this day but sent their mana with us. Within one week, and with the support of Molokai Ranch management and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Molokai, we planned our visit to Mo’omomi. None of us were prepared for the ‘eha and kaumaha we were walking into.…

Posted in Community, Hawaiian Culture

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Honoring ‘Anakala

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The Molokai community remembers and celebrates the life of ‘Anakala Pilipo Solatorio of Halawa Valley, who was born in 1939 and passed away earlier this month.

“[He was] more than just an ambassador of aloha and Hawaiian culture, [he] lived it and breathed it,” recalled one community member.

A taro farmer, cultural practitioner and the last of his generation living in Halawa, he kept cultural traditions alive and shared aloha with everyone he met.

Born and raised in Halawa, he was adopted at a young age after the death of his mother. As a teen, he joined the military, and while on the mainland, met and married his beloved wife, Dianna.…

Posted in Community, Hawaiian Culture, Obituaries

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May Day Memories

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Throughout the month of May, schools across Molokai celebrated Lei Day. Students participated in the royal court, draped in lei representative of each island’s colors. Each grade performed special songs or hula for their families and schools, as the community celebrated this cultural tradition and the aloha spirit.…

Posted in Community, Culture & Art, Hawaiian Culture, Island Youth

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Hawaiian Culture

Keiki and Kupuna Mo’olelo Project

The King’s Gala

Ho’omau Celebrates Olelo Hawaii

Ross Selected for Deep Sea Exploration Voyage

Hana Keaka: Hawaiian Theater

Ka Molokai Makahiki 2024

See What We Can No Longer See, Hear What We Can No Longer Hear… Part Two

See What We Can No Longer See, Hear What We Can No Longer Hear

Honoring ‘Anakala

May Day Memories

Submission Deadlines

Advertising

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Hawaiian Culture

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