Hawaiʻi Rising

Kūkulu Exhibit, Part 1: Students Standing for Mauna Kea

In this two-episode special, we hear from five students active in the 2019 mobilization to protect Mauna Kea from the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Part 1: "Students Standing for Mauna Kea" focuses on action up on the Mauna during the summer of 2019.

These stories were recorded in conjunction with the Kūkulu Exhibit "Hoʻomana" brought to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa through a partnership between HPF grantee Mauna Kea Education & Awareness and KTUH.

Student voices (in order of appearance): ʻIhilani Lasconia, Makanalani Gomes, and Kāhili Liu-Hanohano.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Behind the Scenes at HPF: Voices of Our Directors and Grantmakers

In this special episode, we take a step back and share some of the voices of the HPF board and grantmaking committee whose volunteer service and leadership behind the scenes is crucial to the work. We ask them: why do you choose to serve with HPF?

Mahalo to these directors and grantmakers for sharing their voices: Ashley Galacgac, Hina Kaʻōpua-Canonigo, James Maunakea Secritario, Jonathan Pilikai Fisk, Katherine Burke, Natalie Debiasi, and Nikki Cristobal.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

63. Kaiāulu ʻo Kahaluʻu: Restoring the Kahaluʻu Loʻi

In this episode, hear updates about the restoration of Kahaluʻu Loʻi with Phillip Kapu and Aimee Sato from Kaiāulu ʻo Kahaluʻu.

Kaiāulu ʻo Kahaluʻu is a grassroots hui created to serve, organize, and uplift community voices of the Kahalu’u ahupuaʻa on Oʻahuʻs windward side. Currently, their primary focus is the restoration of the Kahalu’u Lo’i, hosting community engagement events, and serving and advocating for the Kahalu’u community.

To learn more about the origins of the hui and their vision for the future, listen to our first interview with founders Hiʻiaka Jardine and Jen Nakamura in episode 29: Hawaiian Engineering and ʻĀina Restoration in Kahaluʻu.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

62. Kahaluʻu Kūāhewa: Reconnecting Kānaka to ʻĀina in Kona

In this interview with Jesse Kekoa Kahoʻonei and Kim Kahoʻonei from Kahaluʻu Kūāhewa, we hear updates on their ʻāina restoration and community education work in the ahupuaʻa of Kahaluʻu in Kona, Hawaiʻi.

Kahalu’u Kūāhewa is based in one of Konaʻs largest intact traditional agricultural field systems preserved within a 354-acre area owned by Bishop Estate-Kamehameha Schools. They have documented 3,500 archaeological features, almost all of which are considered traditional agricultural features.

To hear about the origins of the hui and moʻolelo of this ʻāina, listen to our first episode with them: episode 33 Kahaluʻu Kūāhewa (Huliauapaʻa): Food Sovereignty and ʻĀina Education in Kona.

Website: www.kahaluukuahewa.org/

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

61. Kalauokekahuli: Becoming a Koʻokua

An interview with Kāhealani Collins on her experience training to be a koʻokua (culturally-based birth worker) in Ka ʻĀmana Mentorship Program at Kalauokekahuli.

Kalauokekahuli supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people by providing culturally-based perinatal support and education. Through Ka ʻĀmana Mentorship Program, they seek to continue directly addressing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander disparities in birth outcomes by sustainably growing the number of Kalauokekahuli Koʻokua. These new Kalauokekahuli Koʻokua will contribute to the regeneration of a culturally-rooted, extended-ʻohana network by continuing to offer free, high-quality and culturally-competent perinatal care and services accessible for the advancement of the lāhui and Pasifika communities.

Website: www.kalauokekahuli.org/

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

60. Ke Ea Hawaiʻi: Student Voice and Kuleana in the Hawaiian-focused Charter Schools

In our third episode with Ke Ea Hawaiʻi, we hear updates and what's on the horizon for this hui, featuring Laʻakea Chun (current student), Hina Kaʻōpua-Canonigo (alum), and Trevor Atkins (kumu and advisor). 

Ke Ea Hawai’i is an interscholastic student council composed of elected representatives from 17 Hawaiian-focused charter schools. To learn more about the history of Ke Ea and hear from different student voices, check out our first two episodes: Episode 8: News Media for the Hawaiian Kingdom and Episode 44: Normalizing Hawaiian Culture-based Education.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

59. Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina: Building Structure and Building Power in the Lāhui

An interview about political education and building organizational structure with ʻIlima Long, the pelekikena (president) of Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina.

Ka ʻAhahui Hawaiʻi Aloha ʻĀina, or Hui Aloha ʻĀina, was reactivated in 2016 from its original formation in 1893. HAʻĀ exists for the express purpose of perpetuating Hawaiian national identity, the development of a Hawaiian national consciousness, and the restoration of Hawaiian national independence.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Mehana Vaughan: "Hoʻi nā ʻohana i ka ʻāina a hoʻi ka ʻāina i nā ʻohana"

Ma kēia kamaʻilio ʻana, ʻōlelo mai ʻo Mehana Vaughan e pili ana i ka hana o ka ʻahahui ʻo Kīpuka Kuleana ma ka mokupuni ʻo Kauaʻi. Na Kīpuka Kuleana e kākoʻo i nā ʻohana ʻōiwi e mālama a noho mau i ko lākou ʻāina kupuna.

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi special episode with Mehana Vaughan (Kīpuka Kuleana), hosted by Hina Kaʻōpua Canonigo.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

Mehana Vaughan: Restoring Connection to Place at Kīpuka Kuleana

A short companion episode to today's interview with Mehana Vaughan in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. In this excerpt from an earlier interview with Mehana in English, she shares about the origin and the work of Kīpuka Kuleana. Listen to the full  episode here: 2. Kīpuka Kuleana: Protecting Ancestral Lands on Kauaʻi (2021).

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii

58. Nā Moku Aupuni o Koʻolau Hui: Protecting Land and Water in East Maui

Good news from East Maui! In this interview with Nā Moku Aupuni o Koʻolau Hui, Jerome Kekiwi, Jr. and Jessie Kekiwi-Aweau share about a recent win for their community: Nā Moku received a 65-year lease for Keʻanae Uka!

Nā Moku Aupuni o Koʻolau Hui perpetuates the Kanaka Maoli traditional and customary lifestyle of Keʻanae-Wailuanui, Maui. Encompassing nearly 400 acres of loʻi, this area was renowned for taro farming until commercial stream diversions completely dewatered the area. In 2018, the community’s 30-year legal struggle resulted in the largest stream restoration in Hawaiʻiʻs history. With their new long-term lease for Keʻanae Uka, Nā Moku can extend their mauka stewardship and implement a long-term plan for their community's ʻāina and wai.

Tags: Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawaii