More than 300 middle and high school students visited Kauaʻi Community College in November for Lā Kūʻokoʻa, which was first celebrated in 1843 to commemorate Great Britain and France signing a proclamation that recognized the independence of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
The students came from Waimea High School, Kapaʻa High School, Ka ʻOhā, Kanuikapono, Kawaikini, and Ke Kula o Niʻihau. They rotated between films, activities such as kuʻi kalo (pounding poi), playing kōnane (a board game), and making kapa (traditional Native Hawaiian bark cloth), presentations and makahiki (Hawaiian festival) games.
“We choose to honor Lā Kūʻokoʻa as a way to instill national pride in our people and because it is a powerful expression of aloha ʻāina (patriotism),” Hawaiian Studies Assistant Professor Pualiʻiliʻimaikalani Rossi-Fukino said. “Kauaʻi Community College has celebrated Lā Kūʻokoʻa for 10 years. We want our students and our campus to honor and uplift the Hawaiian culture, its history and traditions. It also provides a way to teach our students about Hawaiian history, language, art and traditions.”
Kauaʻi CC Hawaiian Club students partnered with the nonprofit Supporting the Language of Kauaʻi, along with Nā Pua Noʻeau (a UH center to increase educational enrichment opportunities for Native Hawaiian children), Kanaeokana (a Kauaʻi CC library), and Kawaikini to put on the event, which was also supported by a Kaiāulu grant from Kamehameha Schools.
