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Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

Molokai to Feature on Travel Show

Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

After filming on the Friendly Isle in February, Anthony Bourdain’s award-winning CNN travel show “Parts Unknown” is set to air an episode this Sunday, June 14, featuring Molokai, Maui and Oahu. In his program, the globetrotting chef and author uncovers “the little-known, off-the-road, and seemingly-familiar areas of the world,” according to a CNN blog post.

“We using this opportunity for promote how we aloha aina,” said Keawanui Fishpond operator Hanohano Naehu, who spoke with Bourdain during his visit. “… Every generation fought to keep this place like this, so we inherited not only a place that was unchanged, but we inherited that responsibility for keep fighting for this.”…

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Ka Hula Piko T-Shirts

Friday, May 29th, 2015

Ka Hula Piko T-Shirts

Halau Hula o Kukunaokala News Release

In Native Hawaiian tradition, it is common for natural elements to symbolize body forms of ancestors.  The natural element will usually have characteristics that are reminiscent of the ancestor represented.  This year’s Molokai Ka Hula Piko T-shirts will be available for purchase on Saturday, June 6 at this year’s Ka Hula Piko celebration at Lanikeha Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This year’s design depicts kinolau, or body forms, representative of Laka and `Olohe.  It symbolizes the foundation and commitment of their given kuleana to malama all that they were entrusted with.

The `Ie`ie vine only grows and flourishes with the aid of an unyielding foundation. …

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Nonprofit Receives OHA Grant to Restore Fishponds

Friday, May 29th, 2015

KHM News Release

Ka Honua Momona (KHM), a Molokai nonprofit focused on sustainability mauka a makai (from the mountains to the sea), has recently been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to restore two Hawaiian fishponds, Ali`i and Kaloko`eli.

The greater goal of the project is to return momona (health and abundance) to the land and people of Molokai through the community-based restoration of two ancient Hawaiian fishponds.

Ali`i and Kaloko`eli, located just past Kaunakakai Town, are approximately 30 acres each and were originally built in the 15th century. KHM holds a license for both fishponds, as well as 1.5 acres adjacent to Ali`i Fishpond, from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.…

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Hula in Germany

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Hula in Germany

Community Contributed

By Patricia Waiehu Hammond

When I was invited to Bavaria, Germany, to share hula and the aloha spirit, I was really shocked! As I prepared for the trip over this past year, I was instructed by my own Kumu Hula, Pomaikai Gaui, as well as  Molokai’s  own beloved and oldest living Kumu Hula, Anake Kauila Reyes, on what and how I was to share while abroad. After receiving their blessing and specific instructions, I embarked on a quest to learn hula auana (again) being that my past hula experience and passion was for hula kahiko.

Back in the 90s, I participated in the largest group to ever dance hula at the same time to the same song, “Waikiki.” …

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OHA Awards $7.4M To 27 Projects

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

OHA News Release

The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiians Affairs voted to award $7.4 million in grants to 27 community-based projects to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians. Almost 4,400 Native Hawaiians are expected to directly benefit from the projects addressing OHA priorities such as battling obesity, improving middle and high school test scores and increasing housing stability.

In addition, thousands more are expected to indirectly benefit from projects to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and to manage Hawaiian resources sustainably. The grants will fund OHA priorities over a two-year period beginning July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2017. The 27 grantees were selected from 149 proposals that were submitted to OHA.…

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Ka Hula Piko 2015 Theme

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

Halau Hula o Kukunaokala News Release

`Ae no Laka ka mole Ha`a o Ka`ana, `Ae no `Olohe ka mole Lua o Ka`ana. Recognized is Laka the root of Hula of Ka`ana, recognized is `Olohe the root of Lua at Ka`ana.

Each year at Ka Hula Piko we celebrate and honor the traditions and practices of our kupuna (elders) who have gone before us.  We strive to educate and enlighten all people about the pre-Western history of Molokai and to perpetuate the legacy of our beloved Kumu Hula, John Ka`imikaua.  With great effort we have worked to maintain the integrity of the `ike (knowledge) that was left in our care. …

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Mo`olelo of Laka and `Olohe

Friday, May 15th, 2015

Community Contributed

Editor’s Note: Molokai Ka Hula Piko is a three-day native Hawaiian cultural festival celebrating the birth of hula on Molokai.  Founded in 1991 by the late Kumu Hula John Kaimikaua, the festival continues to educate and enlighten all people of pre-Western Hawaii through excursions and a culminating celebration happening this year on June 4-6.  Each year a theme is chosen, and this year’s theme centers around the contributions of Laka and `Olohe.

By John Kaimikaua, contributed by Halau Hula o Kukunaokala

In Molokai tradition, the martial art form of lua evolved from out of the hula. Laka learned the art of the dance from her older sister Kapo`ulakina`u on the hill Pu`u Nana at Ka`ana on the top of Maunaloa, west Molokai.…

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Wild West End: Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Wild West End: Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo

As the bullriders packed up their protective gear and the last riders led their horses out of the Molokai Ranch arena, cowboy Maka Augustiro beamed with quiet pride. His 14-year-old son Chevy had just braved several long seconds in the ring with a madly bucking bull and won uproarious cheers from the crowd for his efforts. For the Augustiros and many other Molokai families, last Saturday’s Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo was a chance to admire each other’s grit and talent – and sometimes compete against each other.

“It gives us a time to come and have what we call a playdate for us, a time where we can make a sport of the work we do on the ranch,” said long-time paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle.…

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Hawaiians, Know You Are Royalty Today

Friday, April 24th, 2015

Community Contributed

Opinion by Harrie Ann Aki and Gavin Pelekane Tamashiro

Our group is proposing a plan to recognize our Maoli Kingdom, to the Hawaii legislature and our people who live in Hawaii.  If you agree and support our proposal, please go to change.org or go to Molokai Fish and Dive and sign our proposal petition.

This proposal could make a great impact for everyone to get out of suppression in Hawaii. It’s time to protect and malama what we have left for our children’s generation, before we lose it all to state of Hawaii, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kana`iolowalu and others.…

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After 11 Years, Molokai Dances in Merrie Monarch

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Molokai hula dancers and vendors spent months rehearsing and crafting with a specific purpose in mind: sharing the stories of Molokai at the 52nd Merrie Monarch Festival.

After a decade-long absence from hula’s premiere annual event, Moana’s Hula Halau traveled to Hilo for the weeklong hula and cultural festival from April 5-11, along with 10 Molokai businesses. Twenty-four halau from Hawaii and the mainland came to compete in solo and group competitions, bringing their own unique take on Hawaii’s renowned method of storytelling.

“It’s not about being pretty,” said Kumu Hula Valerie Dudoit-Temahaga of Moana’s Hula Halau. “… It’s not about the beauty of being on the stage.…

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