{"id":228813,"date":"2026-01-29T15:03:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T01:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=228813"},"modified":"2026-01-30T10:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T20:18:33","slug":"uh-libraries-host-ea-exhibits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/01\/29\/uh-libraries-host-ea-exhibits\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> libraries host statewide tour of ‘Activations of Ea’ exhibits"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"exhibit
“Activations by Ea” exhibit at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa’s Hamilton Library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After touring three University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> community colleges last fall<\/a>, “Activations of Ea”<\/a>—interactive exhibits exploring sovereignty and life force—are expanding across UH<\/abbr> libraries statewide this spring. Developed by Kanaeokana<\/a>, a network of Hawaiian language, culture and ʻ\u0101ina<\/span>-based education organizations, the exhibits will rotate through UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a>, Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr><\/a> and UH<\/abbr> Maui College<\/a> from January through early April.<\/p>\n

\"exhibit
K\u012bpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center peer mentors engaging Â鶹´«Ã½Hilo students in activities centered in the Lili\u02bbuokalani activation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The exhibits center on Hawaiian history, while inviting communities to actively engage with ea (life, air, breath, sovereignty, rural, independence). This semester marks the first time the activations will rotate simultaneously across multiple islands, amplifying messages of ea and aloha ʻ\u0101ina<\/span> (love of the land) while uplifting Hawaiian history, culture and language.<\/p>\n

The initiative began during a K\u016bkalahale E Hoʻi<\/span> N\u0101 Wai culture-based professional development training, where Windward CC<\/abbr> librarians explored ways to indigenize library spaces. The idea quickly spread across the UH<\/abbr> system, evolving into a coordinated, multi-campus effort.<\/p>\n

“I was so inspired by the campus libraries tour last semester that I wanted to make sure that every UH<\/abbr> library had an opportunity to showcase the beautiful activations and educate our communities that the ea of this ʻ\u0101ina<\/span> still exists through our history, culture and language,” said Kawena Komeiji, Hawaiian initiatives librarian at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Hamilton Library.<\/p>\n

The exhibit, which toured Honolulu CC<\/abbr><\/a>, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr><\/a> and Windward CC<\/abbr><\/a> in the fall, is made possible through partnerships with Kamehameha Schools Kealaiwikuamo\u02bbo<\/a> and Kanaeokana.<\/p>\n

Exhibit dates and locations<\/h2>\n
\"group
(L\u2013R) Jennifer Duncklee, Kaua\u02bbi CC librarian; Moanike\u02bbala Furuta, Tevairangi Lopez and Makana Garma of Kamehameha Schools at the Kaua\u02bbi CC Library exhibit of Ruth Keʻelik\u014dlani<\/span>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ka L\u0101 Kealaiwikuamoʻo<\/span> Ea and Ka L\u0101 K\u016bʻokoʻa<\/span><\/strong> – A journey centered on Kamehameha III<\/abbr> and his vision of an independent l\u0101hui (group):<\/p>\n

    \n
  • January 12 – February 6: UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Hamilton Library, UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Campbell Library<\/li>\n
  • February 9 – March 6: Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Library, UH<\/abbr> Maui College, UH<\/abbr> Hilo Moʻokini<\/span> Library<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Ka Malu ʻUlu<\/span> o Lele<\/strong> – Explores Lahaina\u2019s sacred history and cultural resilience:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • February 9 – March 6: UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Hamilton Library, UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Campbell Library<\/li>\n
    • March 9 – April 3: Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Library, UH<\/abbr> Maui College<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Ruth Keʻelik\u014dlani<\/span><\/strong> – Honors Princess Ruth Keanolani Kan\u0101hoahoa Keʻelik\u014dlani<\/span> and her commitment to ʻ\u014dlelo<\/span><\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (the Hawaiian language), tradition and her people:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • January 12 – February 6: Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Library, UH<\/abbr> Maui College<\/li>\n
      • February 6 – March 6: UH<\/abbr> Hilo Moʻokini<\/span> Library<\/li>\n
      • March 9 – April 3: UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Hamilton Library, UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> Campbell Library<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Interactive exhibits exploring sovereignty and life force are expanding across UH<\/abbr> libraries statewide this spring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":228822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[33,1057,1305,225,62,63,64,207,128,1465,14,9,60,59,66],"class_list":["post-228813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaiian","tag-hawaiian-language","tag-hilo-library","tag-history","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-library","tag-manoa-library","tag-manoa-native-hawaiian-place-of-learning","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t