ʻOkakopa 2024 Newsletter

Aloha Hui Members! Welcome back to another Hui newsletter! ʻOkakopa went by just as fast as it came. During this past month we welcomed our transitional month - enjoying the shift that came from the heat of summer and fall into the wet season. This transitional season allowed us a time to grow, nourish and connect. We had the honor of both feeding and being fed through our Moʻolelo Workshop. Welcoming friends from near and far to join us in the celebration of the moʻolelo of our wahi pana - to deepen our collective understanding of the place we reside. The school groups we welcomed from across the island furthered this joy as they took part in the care of our ahupuaʻa. Mahalo nui loa for being a part of our Hui and for your continued support and involvement!

Interested in visiting the Hui? REACH OUT TO US! If you’re interested in volunteering with the Hui either individually or as part of a workday, a community group, or a school group you can fill out this link! Click Here For The Volunteer Form Link!

Lā Ohana: Moʻolelo Workshop

18 & 19 ʻOkakopa 2024

On 18 & 19 ʻAukake 2024, the Hui celebrated the moʻolelo of Hāʻena with our community through a two-day moʻolelo workshop. We welcomed our community partners, Kamealoha Forrest and Pelika Andrade, alongside our Hui members, to share about the moʻolelo of Hāʻena - how they interpret it and implement the lessons learned. During the first day of our workshop, Kamealoha brought down a wonderful group associated with their hula halau as he took us through many moʻolelo of Keʻe. This was an incredible experience for all who joined us as Kamealoha brought us to each storied site he shared on.

The second day of our workshop was filled with so much manaʻo, beginning with our Hui Board Secretary and founding member, Chipper Wichman, who welcomed all who joined us and shared the moʻolelo of the Hui and brought our guests an understanding of the unique place that is Haʻena. Following Chipper, we welcomed the Hui Assistant Director, Billy Kinney, who spoke on the moʻolelo of Pōhaku o Kāne. Tying together the moʻolelo shared, Pelika Andrade with Na Maka Onaona, joined us to finish us off with the mo'olelo of the Piliwale Sisters.

From start to finish, this workshop expressed a deeper understanding and appreciation for Hāʻena and the moʻolelo that lives within the place. We learned how our speakers interpret and carry these stories forward, both in their work and personal lives. As a collective, we fed Hāʻena, the spirits of the place and our own, by sharing and celebrating moʻolelo, as well as through building meaningful connections.

We are thankful for everyone who joined us during this two-day event and would like to extend a special mahalo to our international friends that joined us on 19 ʻOkakopa 2024. Towards the end of the workshop we opened the floor to our friends visiting from Aotearoa who shared about the book they published, "Te Kai a te Rangatira: Leadership from the Māori World,." If you are interested in learning more about them and their book, you can check them out on their website https://www.tekaiaterangatira.com/  or Instagram @tekaiaterangatira.

Interested in hearing what our Moʻolelo Workshop participants had to say? Here's a clip of some of them talking about their favorite parts of the workshop!

ʻOkakopa Spotlight

A Special Mahalo To our Kauaʻi Schools During ʻOkakopa, our education program came into full swing as welcomed many schools to our Hui site. Mahalo Kawaikini Schools, Island School, Ka OHA, the National Tropical Botanical Garden Fall interns, and Kauaʻi Christian Academy for joining us to learn more about our ahupuaʻa and help us care for it!

Mark Your Calendar

Stay up to date with the Hui and Check out our Website Calendar

In case you haven't heard the Hui has welcomed a change that was enacted on

1 Nowemapa 2024. Going forward the Hui has modified our Community Workdays to one time a month on the first Saturday only!

Community Workday 7 Kekemapa 2024 @ Hui Loi 9:00am to 2:00pm Join us for a Community Workday! The Hui hosts Community Workdays on the 1st Saturday of every month. If you're interested in joining us you can let us know by emailing info@huimakaainanaomakana.org Click here for more info on our Hui Community Workdays!