The history of our Kanaka is one that echoes clearly within the community. We endure despite the impacts of land dispossession, language and culture loss, and the constant onslaught of assimilation into the value system, ways and beliefs of a foreign land and government.
The first foreigners came to Hawai‘i 241 years ago forever altering the narrative of our mo‘olelo. While 1778 marks the arrival of the first recorded foreigner to Hawai‘i, Captain James Cook, it also marks recognition of America’s independence from Great Britain. 115 years later it is America that steals the independence of Hawai‘i, a peaceful nation state within the northern Pacific Ocean.
Mele Aloha ‘Āina/Mele ‘Āina Aloha are songs of our islands, our nation, and our people. They are songs that reflect the love, honor and respect that we have for our spaces and places and the history found within. These songs provide us with the keys to understanding how the generations of our kupuna that have gone on before us once viewed life in our island home. These songs fortify the minds, hearts and spirits of those living now for the dignity and integrity of our future generations to come.
Mau ke aloha no Hawai‘i.
FREE mele workshops
O‘ahu
- May 8 – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Kualoa Ranch Ranchhouse
49-560 Kamehameha Hwy., Kāne‘ohe - May 11 – 6:30pm-8:30pm
Papakōlea Community Center
461 Krauss Street, Honolulu - May 22 – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Community Center at Mā‘ili
7-790 Kulauku St., Wai‘anae - May 29 – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Waimānalo Homestead Hālau
41-209 Ilauhole St., Waimānalo - June 12 – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Nā Lama Kukui OHA, Mauli Ola
560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Honolulu
Learn from Hinaleimoana “Kumu Hina” Wong about how Hawaiian perspectives impact the mele that we sing, dance and chant in honor of our beloved land. This is the second of our Aloha ‘Āina, ‘Āina Aloha Mele Workshop series. Upcoming dates and locations will be updated at www.oha.org/kumuhina.
This community event presented by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is free and open to the public.
