Culture & Art

Festivals Flourish with Aloha

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Festivals Flourish with Aloha

Whether it’s the coronation of the royal court, the procession of pa`u units riding atop lei-draped horses through town or the chaotic teamwork of the bed race, the annual Festivals of Aloha is all about pride, color and tradition. Every year, the three-day event draws large crowds to participate in fun activities that also perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture. The theme of this year’s Festival was “E kupuohi I ke Aloha –- Flourish with Aloha,” as symbolized by the Kamehameha butterfly, one of two butterfly species native to Hawaii.

“The point of the festivals is to carry on the heritage of Hawaiians,” said Moana Dudoit, who has been organizing the festivals on Molokai with her sister Raquel Dudoit for the past three years.…

How to Say E Komo Mai

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

How to Say E Komo Mai

 

 

While it is pau hana time for most teachers, Kumu Manuwai Peters and a few of his students are at Ho`olehua Airport getting ready for a busy afternoon. Holding an ukulele in one hand, Peters straightens a student’s kukui lei, all the while reminding the four student-volunteers to be professional, smile and engage visitors coming off the plane. By the time the next plane touches down, Peters and his band of students are already at the arrival gate, instruments, lei and smiles ready. As soon as the door opens, the group breaks into a traditional Hawaiian mele, or song, welcoming visitors and residents to Molokai.…

Molokai Hoe 2012

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Molokai Hoe 2012

Just before 100 canoes started launching from Hale O Lono Harbor Sunday morning, Wa`akapaemua team captain and steersman Bozo Dudoit hugged each of his teammates, one by one. While neighboring teams had loud chants and practiced slogans, the men’s open team from Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club gathered their hands in the middle and shouted just one word –Molokai. They picked up their six-man outrigger canoe and departed for the 41-mile legendary Molokai Hoe course to Oahu.

“We’ve trained mentally and physically,” said Dudoit a day before the race. “But I’ve never paddled 40 miles directly into the wind, so it’ll be an interesting experience.”…

Topside Kupuna “Rock” Kalaupapa

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Topside Kupuna “Rock” Kalaupapa

Community Contributed

By Cookie Robins-Kaopuiki

After six months of planning, reality set in as more than a dozen topside kupuna anxiously arrived at Kalaupapa as an August activity. For some it was a first visit, while for others it was a wet-eyed trip down memory lane or the joy of visiting of finding long-lost family.

Visitors’ quarters were set up for the two-night, three-day adventure and the welcoming committee and big-hearted sponsors Zianna Kaulia, Harry Arce, Kirk Dela Cruz and Luana Kaaihue truly outdid themselves in accommodating and honoring the kupuna with traditional Hawaiian values.

For kupuna, the peninsula tour and history with National Park Service staff Leanna Dixon brought educational enlightenment followed by a silent prayer for all the beloved people who endured to the end and have left their footsteps in the land.…

Art at Aka`ula

Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Art at Aka`ula

As the sun set slowly over the hills of Kalae on Friday, students, teachers, families and friends gathered to enjoy Aka`ula School’s “Celebrating the Arts” exhibit. The annual exhibit, which first started in 2006, features the works of Aka`ula students and some family members who donate their art to raise funds for the school.

“It really is about getting [the students’] artwork out into the community,” said Dara Lukonen, one of the school’s founding teachers. “New students have been very surprised and awed when they see their work displayed –sometimes it is as simple as putting a mat on it and lighting.”…

A Step Towards Sovereignty

Sunday, September 30th, 2012

For years, there have been talks about bringing back the sovereign nation of Hawaii, for Hawaii to become socially, economically and politically independent of the United States. Kana`iolowalu, a project of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission within the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), may be the first step towards Hawaiian self-governance, according to John Waihe`e, Roll Commission chairman and former state governor.

“There are so many different ideas when it comes to sovereignty, often times it seems disjoining,” said Waihe`e. “Unification is the foundation of our nation.”

The purpose of the Roll Commission is to register Native Hawaiians with the goal of organizing a sovereign entity.…

Learn about Native Hawaiian Roll Call on Molokai Tomorrow

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Kana`iolowalu News Release

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 29, two events will be held on Molokai to educate residents about Kana`iolowalu, a project of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. It is a year-long campaign to reunify Native Hawaiians in the self-recognition of our unrelinquished sovereignty. The campaign has two steps: first, a petition declaring and affirming the unrelinquished and inherent sovereignty of the indigenous people of Hawaii that can be signed by anyone, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. Second, those who are Native Hawaiians and who are 18 years of age or older as of Sept. 1, 2013 will be eligible to register for participation in the organization of a governing entity – also known as a “base roll”.…

Media Literacy

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Alestra Menendez

Media is a means of communication. The exciting thing about media in the 21st century is that it is the hands of the beholder, as opposed to being transmitted by few to the masses, as is the case with traditional news, television and radio. This is especially important for today’s tech savvy youth, and on Molokai, the Molokai Art and Media Academy is guiding youth to analyze, evaluate and yes, create their own media.

From Oct. 1 to 5, the organization is holding a Media Literacy Academy for youth ages 13 to 18 during the fall school intersession.…

Painting a Retrospective

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Painting a Retrospective

Molokai Artist Miyako Yamazaki’s work on display at Arts Center

Contemporary artist Miyako Yamazaki has had her fair share of success as an artist. She has worked as a fashion illustrator for companies like Christian Dior and Barneys New York, designed packaging for Japan Airlines, been featured in prominent galleries in Tokyo, and is a published author of two books. However, she said her aspirations in life were never to be widely rich or successful. Instead, what she truly wished to do was to “paint like a child.” This childlike spirit shines through in her vibrant animal canvas art, which captures the innocence and joy of nature, inviting viewers to reconnect with their own sense of wonder.…

A Night at the Grove

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

A Night at the Grove

Island reggae artist J Boog had concert-goers at Coconut Grove on their feet Friday night with popular favorites like “Sunshine Girl” and “Let’s Do It Again.”  The California native has worked with known artists like Fiji, Peetah Morgan and Monsta.  J Boog released his second and latest album, “Backyard Boogie,” in September of last year, which topped the charts on iTunes reggae.

The all-ages event, presented by HI Finest, also featured Hot Rain, Kiwini and Laga Savea.…