{"id":215304,"date":"2025-05-06T12:13:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T22:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=215304"},"modified":"2025-05-07T09:44:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T19:44:48","slug":"harman-ka-wai-ola-may-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/06\/harman-ka-wai-ola-may-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"A legacy of language, culture and community"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Several generations of Pukui descendants danced to one of her compositions, Kuʻu<\/span> Tūtū. (Photo credit: Kapuaonaona Roback)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article by Native Hawaiian Engagement Director at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo Pelehonuamea Harman was first published in Ka Wai Ola<\/em> on May 1<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The United States Mint has honored Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui on the 2025 Native American $1 coin, recognizing her profound contributions to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian knowledge.<\/p>\n

The coin features Pukui adorned with a hibiscus flower, a kukui nut lei, and a muʻumuʻu<\/span>, alongside the inscription “Nānā i Ke Kumu,” a reference to the influential book series she co-authored.<\/p>\n

As her great-granddaughter, I carry the privilege and kuleana of stewarding her legacy. While this national recognition is deeply meaningful, those who knew her best remember her humility.<\/p>\n

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Panelists H\u0101lena Kapuni-Reynolds, left, and Larry Kimura, right, shared moʻolelo<\/span> at UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s Moʻokini<\/span> Library about Pukui\u2019s influence. (Photo credit: M.Kaimana Vossen)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I know Tūtū Kawena would probably blush at all the attention because she was very haʻahaʻa<\/span>,” reflects one of her descendants. “She documented our culture out of love for her people and because she was genuinely interested in learning.”<\/p>\n

On March 28, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo—where I serve as director of Native Hawaiian engagement—hosted a panel discussion and kanikapila<\/a> to celebrate this historic recognition and Women\u2019s History Month. The event brought together scholars, cultural practitioners, and community members to reflect on Pukui\u2019s enduring legacy. The kanikapila honored her musical compositions. Coupled with impromptu hula offered by attendees, the event highlighted many aspects of her contributions.<\/p>\n

This commemoration at UH<\/abbr> Hilo exemplifies the university\u2019s commitment to bridging academic scholarship with community engagement. By celebrating Pukui\u2019s work, UH<\/abbr> Hilo demonstrates the importance of integrating cultural knowledge into education and ensuring that Indigenous traditions remain a vital part of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s academic landscape.<\/p>\n

Beyond UH<\/abbr> Hilo, the Bishop Museum in collaboration with the Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society will continue honoring Pukui\u2019s legacy with monthly programs, beginning with a special After Hours opening event on April 11 and ending in December. These offerings reflect a broader effort to ensure that future generations connect with her scholarship and its lasting impact on Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The recognition of Pukui on the 2025 Native American $1 coin is a testament to her invaluable contributions and the importance of linking scholarship with community priorities. Through such efforts, places like UH<\/abbr> Hilo play a vital role in keeping Indigenous knowledge relevant, accessible, and deeply connected to the people it serves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pele Harman reflects on UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s celebration of Mary Kawena Pukui, honoring her lasting legacy and recognition on the 2025 Native American $1 coin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":215309,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[33,14],"class_list":["post-215304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaiian","tag-uh-hilo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/harman-ka-wai-ola-may-20252.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215304"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215454,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215304\/revisions\/215454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}