The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa recently concluded its third annual Hawaiʻi Kuʻu Home Aloha (HKHA) summit, a six-day event dedicated to fostering cultural connection, reflection and healing. Beginning on January 17, the summit marked the 132nd year since the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, while honoring the National Day of Racial Healing and Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
The summit brought together students, employees and community members through immersive cultural workshops, including oli (chant), mele (songs) and pilina circles. Hosted by the Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office (NHPoL), the free activities encouraged participants to explore their connections to themselves, others and ʻāina through storytelling and shared experiences.
“One of my favorite things is seeing people from various backgrounds—people who grew up here, people who are visiting, and people who are just making this place home—have the courage and respect to engage with Hawaiʻi,” said Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Punihei Lipe, director of Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao. “Folx learned to chant, sing, share poetry, and be embraced in Hawaiʻi grounded places and spaces without judgment and with a curiosity to learn more.”
Hoʻokuleana ceremony
Special ceremonies at cultural sites across the UH Mānoa campus helped to enrich the event with deeper meaning. A Hoʻokuleana ceremony on the Hawaiʻi Hall lawn formally welcomed UH President Wendy Hensel, with members of the campus community offering oli, Welina Mānoa, to honor her kuleana to the campus community. Additional ceremonies paid tribute to Queen Liliʻuokalani and King emphasizing themes of resilience, justice and equity.
Knowledge from a Zen master
HKHA also included ʻāina-based workshops held across various communities on Oʻahu, along with a keynote by Native Hawaiian leader and Zen master Norma Wong. Wong shared insights on the importance of applying Indigenous and Zen practices to modern life, emphasizing their role in fostering transformational change during critical times.
