Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

Ka Hoʻolewa no ke Aliʻi Wahine

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

Ka Hoʻolewa no ke Aliʻi Wahine

Community Contributed

By Wailana Purdy-Avelino

On Sunday, Jan. 22, Iolani Palace was overflowing in sorrow as the gates opened. The sounds of wailing filled the air as Hawaii mourned the loss of Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa. Guarding her procession from the gates to the palace doors were men, women and children dressed in their regalia from the Royal Hawaiian Societies and the Hawaiian Civic Clubs. She was carried in her casket made entirely of koa wood into the palace, where her people could pay their respects as she lay in state.

On Monday, Jan. 23, the sacred resting ground of the aliʻi of Hawaiʻi, Maunaʻala is where the princess will be laid to rest.…

MHS Prepares for Ka Molokai Makahiki

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

MHS Prepares for Ka Molokai Makahiki

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

It’s a new year and the annual Makahiki games are right around the corner. In a time of joy and prayer, friendly competition will excite Molokai’s community. Last Thursday, Molokai High School students prepared with their own Makahiki games to find their representatives for the upcoming community games on Jan. 28.  

“Since we started academies this year, we wanted to kind of have our academies build that sense of belonging and that teamwork, that idea of teamwork,” said Vice Principal Tilana Roberts. “So each academy actually finds the champions.” 

According to Roberts, freshmen to seniors are in academies of community service and sustainability academy (CSS) or innovation and business technology (IBT).…

Makahiki, a Celebration of the Harvest

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH CTAHR Molokai Extension Agent

In ancient Hawaii, the rising of the constellation Makali’i, also known as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, signaled the start of the Makahiki season and the season of the harvest. Southerly storms signaled the arrival of Lono i ka Makahiki, a special season to give thanks for the bounty of food, and another year without famine. The celebration of abundance was probably the most important aspect of Makahiki, while also giving thanks to the God Lono, the god of fertility, agriculture, rain, music, and peace for blessing our fertile, fat lands or ‘aina momona. …

The Legacy of Dr. Aluli

Sunday, December 11th, 2022

The Legacy of Dr. Aluli

Molokai mourns the loss of a beloved doctor, Native Hawaiian healthcare advocate and activist who will be remembered for his infectious smile, kindness and generosity. Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli died on Nov. 30 at the age of 78.

Born on Oahu in 1944, Aluli was one of the first graduating class from University of Hawaii’s medical school in 1975, and chose to complete his residency on Molokai.

“I wanted to come here to learn from the people, learn from the patients, on how to deliver state of the art health,” said Aluli of his arrival to the island in 1975. “The health of this island, the health of the land, the health of the ocean, the health of the resources, is the health of her people.…

The Garden of Easy

Wednesday, November 30th, 2022

The Garden of Easy

By Paul Hanley, Community Reporter

It’s been about 15 years since Nelson Puailihau—aka Easy, aka Honeyboy—gave up his rough and rowdy ways. Three years ago, he began to tend a parcel of land near Kilohana school. From the thicket of bananas, papayas, and taro to the expansive, impeccable lawn, the “Garden of Easy” is the expression of his deep desire to bring life and beauty to the ‘aina.

“Since I got clean and sober and turned my life around,” says Puailihau. “I’ve put my heart and soul into this land.”

Each plant he nurtures symbolizes his commitment to growth, not just in the garden but in his own life.…

Kalaupapa Nonprofit Receives Award

Sunday, November 27th, 2022

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa was presented with a preservation award by Historic Hawaii Foundation last month for their efforts in designating January as Kalaupapa Month annually in Hawaii.

“Kalaupapa Month will be a way to bring the people of Kalaupapa back into their own history and to make sure their legacy lives on,” wrote Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of HHF in informing Ka ‘Ohana of the honor. “We congratulate Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa on their exemplary preservation efforts.”

It was the seventh preservation award bestowed upon by Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa by HHF in the past 10 years.…

Ka Leo o Nā Hōkū Welowelo: The Voice of the Comets

Sunday, November 27th, 2022

By Kumu Loke Han

Students in Papa 6 Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, Kualapuʻu Public Conversion Charter School, are excited to share some of their first quarter adventures ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Please enjoy their articles written to support student learning in and out of the classroom! E ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

Ka Heluhelu i ka Papa Malaaʻo

Mai Hawaiʻi a i Niʻihau, aloha mai kākou!  ʻO wau ʻo Maluhia Ignacio, a ʻo kekahi hana punahele ma ke kula, ʻo ia ka heluhelu ʻana i nā haumāna ma ka papa mālaaʻo.  ʻO kēia koʻu hana punahele no ka mea hiki ke heluhelu i nā pōkiʻi a ʻaʻole pono e ʻōlelo wikiwiki, a he leʻaleʻa loa! …

Ka Leo o Nā Hōkū Welowelo: The Voice of the Comets

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

By Kumu Loke Han

Students in Papa 6 Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, Kualapuʻu Public Conversion Charter School, are excited to share some of their first quarter adventures ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Please enjoy their articles written to support student learning in and out of the classroom! E ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

No ka Papa Robotics

Aloha mai kākou, ‘o wau ‘o Kealoha Nakihei. ʻO Brent Nakihei ko’u makuakāne, a ʻo Amber Rubin ko’u makuahine. E wala’au au e pili i ka papa robotics. Aia kēia papa ma hope o ke kula ma ka Poʻakahi a me ka Poʻakolu o ka pule. …

‘Auamo Kuleana

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Community Contributed

Opinion by Kahenawai Ho’oleii’a Hirata

U.S. History, the textbook that is given to every student in high school, states the United States of America fought for freedom for everyone. But is that true for the indigenous people of Hawaii? Oppression and exploitation of our language, culture, land and people is what we as the indigenous people of Hawaii got in the name of freedom!

I grew up attending community meetings with my family, with a front row seat of the issues which plague our island of Molokai. As I grew to understand our true Kanaka Maoli history, it has given me strength to listen for the mana’o behind what has been shared to us as the next generation of Molokai keiki.…

Ka Leo o Nā Hōkū Welowelo The Voice of the Comets

Friday, October 28th, 2022

By Kumu Loke Han

Students in Papa 6 Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, Kualapuʻu Public Conversion Charter School, are excited to share some of their first quarter adventures ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Please enjoy their articles written to support student learning in and out of the classroom! E ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

No Kauikeaouli – Kamehameha III

Aloha mai kakou o wau ‘o Ka’ikena Rawlins-Fernandez. Noho au ma Kaunakakai. ‘O Makena Fernandez ko’u makuakāne a ‘o Keani Rawlins ko’u makuahine. E ha’i ana au iā ‘oe e pili iā Kauikeaouli.  ʻO Kauikeaouli ka Mōʻī ʻekolu ma ka laina ʻo Kamehameha. ʻO kekahi mea nui i hana ia e Kamehameha 3, ʻo ia hoʻi ka hoʻokumu ʻana o ka lā Hoʻihoʻi ʻEa ma ka lā 31 o Iulai. …