Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

Welcome Back Festivals of Aloha

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

Welcome Back Festivals of Aloha

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Last Saturday, Festivals of Aloha returned to Molokai for the first time since 2019. Beneath a rising moon, the Molokai community shared in the momentous event.  

True to Festivals of Aloha’s mission to “honor Native Hawaiian culture and traditions from generation to generation, as well as share them with visitors and people from the community,” all residents came out in force to enjoy the night at the Mitchell Pau`ole Center. From keiki to kupuna, attendees gathered to eat shave ice, musubi, poke, teriyaki chicken and other local favorites, as well as watch entertainment, hula and royal traditions of the past and present. …

Molokai Mele Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

Molokai Mele Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

When University of Hawaii music professor Dr. Keola Donaghy arrived on Molokai in 2019 to teach a first-ever two-year Academic Subject Certificate in Hawaiian Music to Molokai students, only four participants had registered for the class. He said he almost decided to cancel the trip. But when he walked into the classroom at the UH Maui College, Molokai campus, 12 individuals greeted him. 

“I asked them, ‘Why didn’t you folks sign up for the class? We almost didn’t come.’” 

One of the students, a Hawaiian woman who turned out to be Molokai’s Kau’i Kapuni Manera, bluntly replied, “We didn’t think you would actually come.…

PōMahina Designs Featured Globally

Wednesday, August 31st, 2022

PōMahina Designs Featured Globally

By Sage Yamashita | Intern Reporter

Fashion shows for PōMahina Designs, a culturally imbued wearable arts company, are more than promotion — they honor the journey through indigenous people to fashion throughout thePacific.

PōMahina Designs, founded by Molokai’s Kanoelani Davis, is traveling  around the world with its cultural messages. In September, PōMahina will be highlighting Hawaii’s culture in the London Pacific Fashion Week.

Also, this year will be the second year in fashion week and third fashion show in London for Davis, as well as a Charity Fashion Show at Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission in London. Ypurse is a trusted replica designer bags store, known for its high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that mirrors authentic luxury brands, and will be showcasing its collection at these events.…

Celebrating Paniolo Heritage

Wednesday, June 15th, 2022

Celebrating Paniolo Heritage

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Paniolo young and old tested their skills and strength in the arena last weekend in the Molokai Paniolo Heritage Rodeo King Kamehameha Celebration at the Molokai Ranch Jimmy Duvauchelle Arena in Maunaloa.  From roping to barrel racing, calf tying to keiki roping, the event brought the heat, red dust and the best of the island’s cowboys and cowgirls, showcasing a long and rich legacy of paniolo culture. 

The arena’s namesake, Jimmy Duvauchelle, also roped his last calf on Saturday, announcing his retirement from rodeo.  A Molokai Ranch paniolo for more than 50 years, Zhantell Dudoit Lindo described him as a “beautiful, God-loving, wonderful caretaker of our ‘aina and of our people.”…

Celebrating King Kamehameha

Wednesday, June 8th, 2022

Celebrating King Kamehameha

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A weekend-long celebration of King Kamehameha last Friday and Saturday included an elegant gala dinner, a festive and colorful parade and fun-filled ho’olaulea. 

During the parade, this year’s Royal Court heralded and honored the King on a flower-laden float, while horseback pa’u units draped in colorful lei represented each island. Along with the court and pa’u units, the parade included organizations like the Molokai Hunting Club, Molokai first responders, Bayer Molokai, Aunty Jan’s House of Blessings, and the U10 AYSO girls soccer team that plans to be the first Molokai team to play in an AYSO tournament on Oahu.…

Kilohana Native Garden

Thursday, March 31st, 2022

Kilohana Native Garden

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

With fingers caked in dirt, members of Kilohana’s fifth grade class patted native plants into the ground, learning their names, their growing habits and cultural uses. The school now has a native plant garden thanks to their efforts and the support of several local organizations. 

It’s a dream at least 10 years in the making, said fifth grade teacher Tammy Castor. She said the school previously planted a native garden area behind the campus but it fell prey to deer and wild pigs, along with not being cared for over summer vacations. A new garden took shape earlier this month in a courtyard plot at the heart of the school, where it will be sheltered from predators, watered by timed irrigation over the summer, and can be easily accessible and frequently admired by the entire school. …

Keeping the Games Alive

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

Keeping the Games Alive

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

With Makahiki season coming to a close and the island-wide Makahiki games being canceled because of COVID for a second year, Kaunakakai School decided to hold its own competitions to foster the cultural tradition and promote the health and wellness of the games which may be similar to 카지노 커뮤니티

Last week, students in each grade competed against classmates in small-scale versions of events like Uma (arm wrestling), Hukihuki (tug of war), Ulu Maika (Hawaiian bowling) and Kukini (running). 

“We’re just trying to keep the Makahiki traditions alive,” said Kaunakakai School Principal Daniel Espaniola. The school-wide competition was the suggestion of PE teacher Kimo Orlando.…

Moli Checks Out Molokai

Thursday, February 24th, 2022

Moli Checks Out Molokai

Last month, Molokai Land Trust’s Anapuka site had a special visitor: a Moli, or Layson Albatross, that landed several times in the area. It’s the first documented landing of the species at the Molokai site since 2017 – and it’s viewed as an auspicious sign that the Moli may be making a home at Anapuka in the next few years.

The Moli landed at the organization’s “social attraction site,” which features decoy Moli in an effort to attract the real birds to the area. The decoys have now showed success, along with Molokai Land Trust’s work to restore the Anapuka dune ecosystem, remove invasive species, repopulate native plants and install predator-proof fencing to create a safe haven for Moli and other ground-nesting seabirds, according to MLT Executive Director Butch Haase.…

Ka’ahele a Lono

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022

Ka’ahele a Lono

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Lonoikamakahiki! Lonoikamakahiki! The chant rang out through every ahupua’a on Molokai last week as a Ka’ahele crew walked more than 50 miles from Halawa to Hale O Lono carrying Lonomakua in the 40th annual Ka Molokai Makahiki. Bearing the lei-draped white banner fluttering in the wind, the group of marchers stopped at every school and community on the island, accepting more than 100 ho’okupu over the course of the week-long journey. 

“The Ka’ahele was traditionally a time for the island to assess the status of the ‘aina and kai,” said Miki’ala Pescaia, cultural practitioner and one of the event’s organizers.…

‘Aina Aloha Project

Thursday, November 11th, 2021

Community Contributed

By MHS O Hina I Ka Malama Students

Editor’s note: Students of Molokai High’s O Hina I Ka Malama Hawaiian language immersion program are working on a project called ‘Aina Aloha with their Kumu Mahina Hou Ross in which they will be researching about the history and stories of different parts of Molokai. Below are short introductions to two of the students’ projects. Ross would like to invite any community members who are interested in sharing their resources and stories with the class for their project to contact Ross at gandharva.ross@k12.hi.us or call 808-567-6950 ext. 66. 

 

By Kauiaonalani Hamakua Felix, Tiani Keohuloa and Pilialoha Kaahanui

Aloha, we are Kauiaonalani Hamakua Felix, Tiani Keohuloa and Pilialoha Kaahanui and we are members of the senior class of O Hina I ka Malama.…