{"id":221289,"date":"2025-09-02T16:38:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T02:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=221289"},"modified":"2025-09-02T16:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T02:39:07","slug":"historic-hawaiian-history-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/02\/historic-hawaiian-history-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"Oli, mele mark historic Hawaiian History celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Native Hawaiian leaders participating in Hawaiian history month launch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kapolei Hale came alive with the sound of oli (chant) and mele (song) as Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> launched its first officially recognized Hawaiian History Month<\/a>. The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge<\/a>, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Pono\u02bb\u012b Coalition and the City and County of Honolulu\u2019s Mayor\u2019s Office of Culture and the Arts<\/a> (MOCA<\/abbr>), joined together to welcome the community into a month-long celebration of history, culture and resilience rooted in the legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani<\/span>.<\/p>\n

That legacy is now written into law. In June, Gov. Josh Green signed Act 167, formally designating September as Hawaiian History Month, with its observance anchored around the Queen\u2019s birthday on September 2.<\/p>\n

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Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwoʻole<\/span> Osorio, dean of Â鶹´«Ã½Mānoa Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge and Native Hawaiian opera singer Malia Kaʻai-Barrett<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Hawaiian history is not something in the past, it is living, breathing and shaping the way we care for one another today,” said Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwoʻole<\/span> Osorio, dean of UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge. “At Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span>, it is our kuleana (responsibility) to ensure that Hawaiian history is taught and conveyed responsibly, authentically and with aloha for our people.”<\/p>\n

Among those in attendance were members of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, longtime champions who first introduced the idea of Hawaiian History Month and have steadfastly advocated for its recognition over decades.<\/p>\n

“By designating September as Hawaiian History Month, the State has given us space to reflect and to celebrate,” said Soulee Stroud, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Pono\u02bb\u012b Coalition organizer. “But more than that, it reminds us of our kuleana to carry forward the values Queen Liliʻuokalani<\/span> stood for\u2014aloha, resilience and hope for her people.”<\/p>\n

Art, culture front and center<\/h2>\n

The opening festivities were held against the striking backdrop of the historic ʻUmeke<\/span> Lāʻau<\/span><\/a> (culture medicine), a 22-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall wooden art piece now on display at Kapolei Hale. Created by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer in collaboration with Honolulu Community College carpentry students and UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa art and theatre faculty and students, the ʻUmeke<\/span> Lāʻau<\/span> serves as a living monument of healing and reflection.<\/p>\n

“The City and County of Honolulu\u2019s job isn\u2019t just services, it\u2019s also making sure Hawaiian culture is valued, visible and accessible,” said Jennifer Santos, executive director of MOCA<\/abbr>. “Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale are more than places to do business, they\u2019re part of the heartbeat of our community, carrying culture, history and art for everyone who walks through these doors.”<\/p>\n

In celebration of Hawaiian History Month, MOCA<\/abbr> will present multimedia programming at Kapolei Hale and Mission Memorial Auditorium, along with an in-person talk story session featuring an intergenerational panel of Native Hawaiian voices from across Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> six moku (districts).<\/p>\n

Event highlights (All events are free and open to the public.)<\/h2>\n