Hawaiʻi Rising

The Pōpolo Project: Redefining What It Means to Be Black in Hawaiʻi (2024)

Happy Juneteenth! In this episode, we’re resharing highlights from an interview from 2024 with Dr. Akiemi Glenn and Jamila Jarmon from the Pōpolo Project. Founded in 2017, the Pōpolo Project is committed to redefining perceptions of Black people in Hawai‘i and creating a deep reconnection to themselves as individuals, to their community, to their ancestors, and to the lands that sustain them.

Listen to the full episode here.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

105. Hui o Kuapā: Restoration and Education at ʻŌhalahala Fishpond

A conversation about loko iʻa restoration and transformative ʻāina-based education with Hanohano and Maile Naehu, who are the head kiaʻi loko and the program director respectively at Hui o Kuapā.

Based in the ahupuaʻa of Kūmimi on the east end of Molokai, Hui o Kuapā educates local and global communities about Native Hawaiian biocultural resource management through the restoration, use, and maintenance of Molokaiʻs loko iʻa (traditional Hawaiian fishponds) and their adjacent lands.

If you listened to last week's episode and hear the first part of this conversation, jump ahead to 18:14.

To learn more, listen to our first episode with Hui o Kuapā from 2021: 1. Hui o Kuapā: Restoring Fish Ponds on Molokai.

Website: www.huiokuapa.org

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

104. June 2026 Community News: Fishpond Restoration with Hui Kaloko-Honokōhau and Hui o Kuapā

Community new for June 2026! After headlines, we share exciting updates from two HPF partners working to restore loko iʻa (fishponds) and addressing multiple crucial issues in the process: rebuilding regenerative food systems, protecting water, facilitating community healing, restoring cultural practice, and more.

• First, we have Loke Aloua, one of the poʻo of Hui Kaloko-Honokōhau, sharing updates from the hui's work at Kaloko Fishpond in Kona, Hawaiʻi. Listen to our first episode with Loke back in 2022 to hear more about the hui's origin story and vision: 30. Hui Kaloko-Honokōhau: Stewards to the Realm of Kanaloa.
• Second, Hanohano and Maile Naehu, the head kiaʻi loko and the program director of Hui o Kuapā, talk about the evolution of their work at ʻŌhalahala Fishpond in Manaʻe, Molokai. In particular, they share about a recent highly impact kiaʻi loko gathering and workday they hosted, where 90% of the kuapā (fishpond wall) was rebuilt. To learn more about Hui o Kuapa's beginnings under the leadership of Uncle Walter Ritte and its transition to the next generation of kiaʻi with Hano, check out our first episode with Hano and Maile from 2021: 1. Hui o Kuapā: Restoring Fish Ponds on Molokai.

Links from headlines:

• To see our grantee partners' events and how to RSVP, visit hawaiipeoplesfund.org/calendar.
• For Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking's Reel Camps, find info here.
• For EA Ecoversity's Youth Culinary Day Camp, find info and apply here.
• Register for Gender Journeys Day here.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

103. ʻŌpio Voices and Leadership

This multi-grantee episode features two organizations that foster youth voices and leadership through the voices of ʻōpio themselves!

First, we hear from the film crew behind the short film "Never Nothing," which premiered at the 2026 Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) ʻŌpio Film Fest in April. These four ʻōpio – Heavenlee Botelho-Sarcedo, Marley Davidson, Zara Speicher, and Alana Creps – produced this film during a weeklong Reel Camp organized by HPF partner Hawaiʻi Women in Filmmaking. To learn more about Hawaiʻi Women Filmmaking, check out our interview with founder Vera Zambonelli in episode 32.

Next, we speak with Kauila Benz-Marrs and Kaʻihe Giminiz, two haumāna who are part of the interscholastic student council Ke Ea Hawaiʻi. Kauila and Kaʻihe also have featured submissions in issue 5 of the Hawaiʻi Rising zine. You can hear more about Ke Ea Hawaiʻi in episode 8, episode 44, and episode 60.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

HR Presents KKCR's Talk Story Radio Kauaʻi: Tina Aiu

Hawaiʻi Rising is excited to share an interview with Tina Aiu, executive director of HPF partner Kīpuka Kuleana, from the KKCR show Talk Story Radio Kauaʻi, hosted by Angela Zusman. Mahalo, KKCR, for this collaboration!

In this conversation, Tina discusses the land trust model as an exciting vehicle for systems change as well as the specific work of Kīpuka Kuleana. The full interview can be found in the KKCR archives at kkcr.org.

To learn more about Kīpuka Kuleana, check out their website: kipukakuleana.org/.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

102. May 2026 Community News: Kona Low Flood Recovery Updates

Community news for May 2026: in this episode we hear updates on grassroots response and recovery work since the Kona low storms in March. 

We start with two short status updates sent in by partners:

• Jessica dos Santos (Kūpaʻa Kuilima) has been active with the Lāhui Foundation community hub in Kahuku, Oʻahu.
• Camille Kalama (Koʻihonua) in Waiawa kai, Oʻahu, shares about the flooding impacts in her neighborhood along the Pearl City bike path.

After status updates, we have two interviews:

• Nicole Kahale shares about the ongoing recovery in Waialua, Oʻahu, where she has been part of the grassroots response since day 1. You can find her calls to action on her Instagram account @nicolekahale.
• Micky Huihui, executive director of HPF, uplifts the flood response work of several HPF partners and shares about HPF's Urgent Action support for grassroots hui.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

101. Kona Low Community Response

After the back-to-back Kona low storms in March brought catastrophic flooding to multiple islands, our communities immediately leapt into action to support those most impacted. Over the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed grassroots community resource hubs, donation drives, supply deliveries, and boots-on-the ground volunteer work happening in a big way.

In this episode, we have two short updates from hubs and organizers across our network:

• Hui Aloha ʻĀina o Koʻolaupoko has been running a community donation hub in Koʻolaupoko on the windward side of Oʻahu. They can be contacted at haakoolaupoko@pm.me.
• The Hawaiʻi Workerʻs Center has been carrying out worker wellness checks in impacted areas and organizes a Kōkua Fund, which offers one-time support for workers impacted by the Kona low storms. To reach out for the Kōkua Fund, you can email contact@hawaiiworkerscenter.org or call 808-743-1031.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

100. Mutual Aid Lāhui: Feeding the Lāhui

A conversation with James Auld and Pua Summer from Mutual Aid Lāhui.

Mutual Aid Lāhui empowers the lāhui through education, advocacy, and mālama ‘āina and mobilizes to flank community events and relief work. The Mutual Aid Lāhui crew are passionate about feeding the Lāhui and providing support where it’s needed most.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

99. March 2026 Community News: PFLAG Oʻahu and HAPA at the Legislature

Community news for March 2026! After headlines, we feature interviews with two HPF partners advocating for their communities during this legislative session:

• First, Cameron Miyamoto (co-president of PFLAG Oʻahu) shares about PFLAG Oʻahu's participation in the 2nd annual Queer Day at the Capitol on February 17 and about HB 1875, a bill to protect access to gender-affirming care. To learn more about PFLAG Oʻahu, check out our full-length interview with the two co-presidents here.
• Second, we hear an update from Anne Frederick, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA), and their focus on two legislative areas: getting money out of politics and protecting communities from pesticide drift. To see the data on pesticide use and learn more about the Safe Farms, Safe Food coalition, visit safefarmssafefood.com. To learn more about HAPA, check out our full-length interview with them here.

Links from headlines:

• To see when our partners are hosting workdays and how to RSVP, visit hawaiipeoplesfund.org/calendar.
• The survey on traumatic brain injury uplifted by Kamāwaelualani can be found here.

Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi episodes:

• 98. ʻĪmaikalani Winchester (Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea Honolulu): "Hāpai i ke kuleana"
• 97. Pualiʻi Rossi (I Ola Wailuanui): "He aha ka makemake o ka ʻāina ʻo Wailuanui?"

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

98. ʻĪmaikalani Winchester (Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea Honolulu): "Hāpai i ke kuleana"

A Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi episode featuring ʻĪmaikalani Winchester, lead organizer for the annual celebration of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea at Thomas Square, with guest host Hina Kaʻōpua Canonigo. Also check out our past English-language episode with the organizers of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea Honolulu.

Ma kēia hualono, kamaʻilio ʻo ʻĪmaikalani Winchester e pili ana i ka moʻolelo o ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii