Hawaiian Culture

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.…

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.…