Energy and excitement filled the at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo on September 28, when the community came together for the . The annual celebration invited attendees to explore how ʻike ʻImiloa (Hawaiian knowledge) and science come together to honor the connections between land, sea and sky.
ʻ±õ°ì³Ü·É¨¡ marks the change from summer to winter in the Hawaiian calendar, a season known for storms, abundance and renewal. This year¡¯s theme came from the ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç noʻeau (Hawaiian poetical saying): “Pala ka hala, momona ka ³ó¨¡ʻ³Ü°ì±ðʻ³Ü°ì±ð¡ momona ka uhu.” (When the hala fruits are ripe, the sea urchins and parrotfish are fat and ready.)
The proverb celebrates the richness of the season and the value of kilo, closely observing the environment. That spirit guided the day¡¯s activities, which encouraged guests to see their role in caring for the ecosystems that feed and sustain Â鶹´«Ã½.
Hands-on learning
Festival attendees joined hands-on workshops and cultural games, learned about traditional navigation from ʻohana waʻa (Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s voyaging canoe family), and explored a traveling exhibit from INPEACE about loko iʻa (fishponds). Conservation groups offered ways for the community to protect native species and restore natural habitats.
Performers and presenters at the event also shared ʻike (knowledge), ʻ¨±ô±ð±ô´Ç (language) and moʻomeheu Â鶹´«Ã½ (Hawaiian culture), celebrating the strength and beauty of Native Hawaiian traditions.
The ʻ±õ°ì³Ü·É¨¡ Festival 2025, made possible by the generous support of the Ama OluKai Foundation and Kamehameha Schools Kai¨¡ulu.