E ola mau nā moʻolelo a me ka ʻike o nā kūpuna.
Stories and lessons
that Shape Us.
Come and learn with us. We all are keepers of ancestral wisdom and language. It is our kuleana to pass it on to the next generation.
All Stories:
Hawai’i Suicide Rates by Occupation Study Calls for Attention to Support Farmers
Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Gold with Newfound Attitude
Knee Deep in Aloha
Where the Plate Begins
https://hookuaaina.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Crave_-Where-The-Plate-Begins.pdf More info here!
Mai Hoopalaleha I Ke Kanu Kalo: Instruction from Old – Do Not Neglect Planting Taro
Rice fields, Maunawili. Tai Sing Loo. 1925. Bishop Museum Archives Photo Collection. By the time this photo was taken in 1925, rice had replaced the kalo that was formerly cultivated in this area.This article was published in the Hawaiian language newspaper, Kuokoa...
Our Story
Written by Michele Wilhelm - April 23, 2020It was in 2002 that our vision for Kapalai began to unfold. At that time, Dean was working full time as a DOE teacher at the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility by day and performing as a Hawaiian musician by night. I was a...
ʻĀINA MOMONA
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LAULIMA
Laulima, directly translating to “400 hands,” is another value that builds the foundation for what we do and how we work at Hoʻokuaʻāina. It reflects the communal mindset of our kūpuna, who understood that no one can thrive alone and that great accomplishments are...
LŌKAHI
Lōkahi means unity, harmony, and balance, and it is at the heart of what it means to live well in a Hawaiian way. From a cultural perspective, lōkahi is about maintaining right relationships—with ke Akua, kanaka, and ʻāina. When these connections are healthy, we as...
No Ka ʻīlio Moʻo: A Story of the Cravings for Maunawili Grown Food
Ka Nūpepa Kūʻokoʻa15 Oct 1925, pg. 5By Mr. Geo. PoʻoloaʻŌLELO KANAKA: HE HOʻOLUʻU POKOI kekahi lā, e ʻono ana ka mōʻī wahine ʻo Kaʻahumanu i ka ʻīlio kālua a me ka poi lehua. Na kāna ʻelele a lawelawe aku i kāna kauoha a i ka mea hānai ʻīlio a me ka mahiʻai maikaʻi...
NANI KE KALO
Nani ke kalo sets the tone for everything that takes place at Kapalai, especially how we carry ourselves with our actions. As the main staple of the Hawaiian people, kalo was considered sacred, and when working with or preparing it to be eaten, great respect must be...
Mākālei: A Story of Chief Olomana and the Stewards of Kailuaʻs Resources
In the story of Mākālei ka lāʻau piʻi ona a ka iʻa o Moaʻulanuiākea i Kaulana (the famous fish-attracting branch of Moaʻulanuiākea), Olomana, sometimes spelled Olopana, is the ruling chief of the Koʻolaupoko and Koʻolauloa districts of Oʻahu. His punahele and konohiki...
Hāloa: The Story of Our Ancestor
Hawaiian man pounding ʻai with keiki. 1890s.“Wakea, Sky Father, and Papa, Earth Mother, had a beautiful daughter named Hoʻohōkūkalani. Hoʻohōkūkalani gave birth to a baby boy. Can you imagine her sadness when the child was stillborn? This child, a son, was named Hāloa...