Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

OHA Trustee Meetings on Molokai Tonight and Tomorrow

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

OHA News Release

Native Hawaiians on Molokai will get an opportunity to provide feedback to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) at a community forum as well as a regular meeting scheduled by the Board of Trustees. The community meeting is designed for OHA officials to listen to concerns and highlight efforts to improve conditions within Hawaiian communities. Both meetings are open to the public. Here are the specifics: 
Community Meeting
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
6:30 p.m.
Külana ‘Oiwi Halau, Kalama’ula
600 Maunaloa Highway, Kalama’ula, Moloka’i

OHA Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, June 20, 2013
9:00 a.m.
Külana ‘Oiwi Halau, Kalama’ula
600 Maunaloa Highway, Kalama’ula, Moloka’i

For more information, visit oha.org…

The Next Generation of Paniolo

Monday, June 17th, 2013

The Next Generation of Paniolo

The paniolo tradition may appear to be riding off into the sunset, but a few young wranglers are taking the reins and carrying the legacy forward. For these Molokai boys and girls, it’s not just about rodeo arenas and competition; it is about the paniolo lifestyle – working on ranches, maintaining a horse shelter, driving cattle and giving each other a helping hand. Newbies may need to do some research and read online articles from websites like All About Horses. Those who are looking for a horseback riding lesson Roanoke may contact Slocum Appaloosa Ranch. Before riding a horse, ensure that you have these saddle pads for a comfortable ride.…

Support Keiki Surf Series

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Ko Molokai Keiki O Ke Kai News Release

The Ko Molokai Keiki O Ke Kai summer surf series celebrate its 24th anniversary this year thanks to the generosity of donors like you. This event is more than just a fun activity. It provides a way for families to spend quality time with their children and promotes a safe, drug- and alcohol-free activity for youth during the summer break. A total of 75 children, age 12 years and younger, participate on a yearly basis.

This year, the surf meet series will be held on Saturdays, June 15 and 29, wrapping up with an awards luncheon on Saturday, July 13.…

Na Mea Pono Learning Series

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

Na Mea Pono Learning Series

Community Contributed

By Roberta Cross and Zelie Duvauchelle

Zelie Kuliakaikanu`u Duvauchelle invites all those interested to a learning series called “Na Mea Pono” (Pono Things) starting June 2. Duvauchelle and the group will explore Hawaiian ways and cultural concepts.

In keeping with the oral tradition, Duvauchelle will encourage the group to try a new/old approach – a Hawaiian way of learning, listening and sharing.

“I’m really excited about this series,” said Duvauchelle. “What I see as part of my kuleana is being a bridge between people and cultures. I do this through music, facilitating groups, and consultations with individuals.”

The first session is on kuleana — responsibility to yourself, your family and community.…

Beyond Big Wind: Molokai’s Energy Future

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

With the possibility of an industrial scale wind farm no longer hanging over the heads of many concerned Molokai residents, the community is now looking toward Molokai’s energy future. Many options are being discussed in a conversation that is including residents, land owners, state and county officials and other energy stakeholders.

Molokai residents pay among the highest electric rates in the nation, second only to Lanai. Those prices are due largely to the rising cost of fossil fuel used to produce electricity. The price of fuel so greatly impacts electric bills because more than 50 percent of each bill is made up of fuel costs, according to Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO).…

Hale Connects People to Land and Sea

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Hale Connects People to Land and Sea

At Ka Honua Momona (KHM) Ali`i fishpond, workers take breaks in the shade of a large traditional thatched hale, where it is cool even on the hottest days. Office workers can look out at the hale and 30-acre pond from the windows of the sustainable office building where administrative work supports KHM’s mission of sustainability.

KHM hasn’t always had these amenities. The office and hale are the newest addition to the Ali`i fishpond, which nine years ago was overgrown with mangrove and knee-deep in mud. Today, because of the efforts of staff and volunteers eager to preserve the site’s ancient heritage, the Ali`i and Kalakoeli fishponds serve as a place for learning, sharing and restoring.…

May Days 2013

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Each year, schools around the island celebrate May Day, known as Lei Day in Hawaii. Students at each school are selected for the royal court to represent every island, and perform songs and dances for family and friends. Here are some photos from May Day at  Molokai Middle, Kualapu`u, Molokai High, Kaunakakai, Kilohana and Maunaloa schools.…

Students Share Culture and Innovation

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Students Share Culture and Innovation

The Molokai Golden Eyes, a group of six Molokai Middle School students, shared both their culture and their innovation in robotics at the First Lego League national competition in California Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The team represented Hawaii among 74 championship teams from across the country as well as Korea and Canada.

The Golden Eyes — Noah Keanini, Erik Svetin, Caele Manley, Kaitlin DeRouin, Lily Jenkins, and Katy Domingo, with coaches Kawika Gonzales and Jennifer Whitted — achieved a personal best in robot performance. They also won a trophy from the competition’s primary sponsor, ViaSat Satellite Company, which is a leading satellite company in North America.…

New Pavilion for Coconut Grove

Friday, May 17th, 2013

New Pavilion for Coconut Grove

Each weekend, community members and organizations host gatherings at the pavilion of Kiowea Park, causing a strain on the building built half a century ago. Kalama`ula homesteaders are trying to ease that strain by building a second, larger pavilion with updated facilities in the park, which is located in the Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove area.

County councilmember Stacy Crivello presented the plan for the new pavilion to the Molokai Planning Commission for comments May 8. As a Kalama`ula homesteader, she is acting as a project coordinator for the new facility.

“It’s been well used, and it’s continually overused at this state,” she said about the existing pavilion, which was built in the 1960s and renovated in the 1990s.…

Kalaupapa Residents Sign Kana`iolowalu Petition

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Kalaupapa Residents Sign Kana`iolowalu Petition

Kana`iolowalu News Release

The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, chaired by former Governor John Waihe`e III, attended the 10th anniversary celebration of Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa at Kalaupapa on April 27 where Kalaupapa residents were given the opportunity to sign the Kana`iolowalu petition along with the descendants of Kalaupapa and friends who came together for the event.

“We felt it was important for Chair Waihe`e and the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to visit Kalaupapa for support of the Kana`iolowalu petition just like Ahahui Aloha `Aina came to Kalaupapa in 1897 to give our people the chance to sign the Ku`e petition against annexation,” said Clarence “Boogie” Kahilihiwa, a resident of Kalaupapa for more than 50 years and President of Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa.…