On a journey to weave threads of unity and deeper connections, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (NHPoL) Advancement Office hosted the (HKHA) summit January 16–18. The second annual event held at UH¡¯s flagship campus guided haum¨¡na (students), employees and the community through a wide range of immersive workshops on oli (chant), mele (song) and storytelling.
The summit held special significance as it coincided with the 131st commemoration of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the 8th annual , creating a space for contemplation and connection among communities while centering .
“A student reporter asked me if I could summarize the goal of the summit in one word. I said pilina; a connection or relationship to self, others, and/or ʻ¨¡¾±²Ô²¹. And we saw and heard that over and over again happening throughout the summit. So that makes us really happy,” said Kaiwipunikauikaw¨¥kiu Punihei Lipe, Native Hawaiian Affairs Program Officer at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.
HKHA: Harmony through melody
On January 16, HKHA began as a transformative journey for more than 200 participants who gathered under a sprawling tent on Â鶹´«Ã½ Hall lawn. NHPoL team members taught crowd members how to chant Welina ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, a chant composed by UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ ʻ¨lelo Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian language) Professor Keawe Lopes. Dean Jon Osorio shared various mele and described the underlying significance of lyrics for Hawaiian compositions such as Ka Leo O Ka Manu, which represents a call to the children of the land, and Me Ke Aloha Kuʻu Home O Kahaluʻu, a song written about a beloved home that withstands the changes of Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s landscape.
Along McCarthy Mall, faculty, staff and students from a variety of departments at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ set up booths to share traditions and knowledge from Pacific Islander, Filipino, Black, Chinese and Native Hawaiian ethnic populations that have called Â鶹´«Ã½ home throughout history.
Reflections and tributes
HKHA¡¯s second day encouraged participants to collectively reflect on the Hawaiian Monarchy overthrow. Hoʻokupu (offerings) such as lei and oli were presented at Ke Ahu o Kamakaʻeha (Liliʻuokalani altar) in front of Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services. Observances extended to honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a heartfelt procession that directed attendees near the art department to a tribute plaque dedicated to the influential civil rights leader.
As crowds gathered, Niya Denise McAdoo, a graduate student in the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ , shared her pride in her P¨polo (Black) heritage and the roots African diaspora have in Â鶹´«Ã½ that trace back to the 19th century.
“P¨polo people already have such a rich history in the Kingdom of Â鶹´«Ã½,” McAdoo said. “Black, African diaspora, P¨polo people who continue to call Â鶹´«Ã½ home today, we¡¯re just continuing those legacies. I think from building that pilina, from building community and working together and understanding each other¡¯s histories and how they intertwine¡we can continue to build solidarity and work towards liberation for our collective community as a whole.”
More workshops geared toward nourishing the mind, body and heart were shared in the afternoon and focused on m¨¡lama ʻ¨¡¾±²Ô²¹ (caring for plants), storytelling, and even an embodied practice led by Kumu Hula Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani.
Uplifting healing, restoration
The grand finale at on January 18 featured a keynote address by Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani and Gail Christopher, a fervent advocate for racial healing. Christopher¡¯s work emphasizes the importance of holistic healing. Both women discussed overlapping connections they see between their respective work and restoring racial, spiritual and relational healing.
Racial healing rooted in ʻike (wisdom)
UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ was one of the first ten and now one of more than 60 (TRHT) across Â鶹´«Ã½ and the U.S. selected to implement ambitious, visionary action plans that tackle historical and contemporary effects of racism. The is deeply rooted in ʻike Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian wisdom) and led by the NHPoL Advancement Office.