{"id":235039,"date":"2026-05-27T09:55:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=235039"},"modified":"2026-05-27T10:23:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T20:23:52","slug":"honolulu-cc-hoolaulea-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/27\/honolulu-cc-hoolaulea-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Honolulu CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba celebrates culture and community"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Students participating in hands-on activities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than 300 students, faculty, staff and community partners gathered at Honolulu Community College in April for the annual Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba<\/span> celebration, held at Hale Kawelohea and the campus courtyard.<\/p>\n

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Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba<\/span> activity booths<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event honors Ka M\u0101la<\/span> o Niuhelewai\u2014the campus m\u0101la<\/span> kalo (taro patch) and cultural learning space\u2014while celebrating Hawaiian traditions, sustainability and m\u0101lama<\/span> \u02bb\u0101ina<\/span> (caring for the land). More than 100 volunteers and facilitators helped organize and lead the day\u2019s events.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe M\u0101la<\/span> has served the campus community with partnerships in many programs on campus,\u201d said Professor Alapaki Luke, caretaker of the Ka M\u0101la<\/span> o Niuhelewai. \u201cEvery April, Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba<\/span> is a time of celebration of m\u0101lama<\/span> \u02bb\u0101ina<\/span> and honoring the k\u016bpuna<\/span> (elders) and mo\u02bbolelo<\/span> (stories) of Niuhelewai that has nourished the Kap\u0101lama<\/span> ahupua\u02bba<\/span> (land division) with kalo and fish that once was cultivated in the wetlands and nearshore loko i\u02bba<\/span> (fishponds).\u201d<\/p>\n

Fulfilling kuleana<\/h2>\n

Participants explored cultural and sustainability-focused activities, educational resource booths, and live entertainment throughout the day. The annual Trash to Treasure contest also returned, showcasing creative projects made from recycled and repurposed materials. Music filled the courtyard throughout the celebration, featuring performances by Honolulu CC<\/abbr>\u2019s MELE<\/abbr> students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n

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Traditional weaving at Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The celebration concluded with a Hawaiian lunch plate featuring food prepared for attendees. More than 360 meals were served.<\/p>\n

Luke said the M\u0101la<\/span> is a living venue to practice the objective of the University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s imperative to fulfill kuleana<\/a> (responsibility) to Native Hawaiians and Hawai\u02bbi.<\/span> He also expressed gratitude to the campus and broader community for supporting Ka M\u0101la<\/span> o Niuhelewai since its inception in 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis celebration was made possible by Honolulu CC<\/abbr>‘s Hawaiian Council Kupu Ka Wai, the Hulili Ke Kukui Hawaiian Center, Ka Ipu Ho\u02bbokele<\/span> program, Ola Niuhelewai program, community partners, and our campus departments. Mahalo nui me ka ha\u02bbaha\u02bba<\/span> (thank you with humility),\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n

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Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba<\/span> attendees wear handmade lei<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=”3″ css=”.vc_custom_1779913426937{padding-top: 20px !important;}” grid_id=”vc_gid:1779913368752-2bb0e640-8fa9-9″ include=”235052,235051,235049,235048,235047,235046,235045,235044″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The annual event helps connect Honolulu CC<\/abbr> to the land.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":235035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[62,71],"class_list":["post-235039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\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