Lā Kūʻokoʻa 2024

     This year’s theme for our Lā Kū’oko’a is Ea! Lifting our Lāhui through Civic Engagement or making the choice to be active participants in our community for the benefit of our people and our ʻāina.

Kanaka ‘ōiwi have always demonstrated aloha ʻāina by being civically engaged and active!  For example, as the most literate nation in the world through the 1800’s, Hawaiians read nūpepa Hawaiʻi (‘ōlelo Hawai’i newspapers) which captured the political actions and social climate of the day.  In 1865, our Ali’i Nui Kamehameha V established the Royal Order of Kamehameha to defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.  When that was threatened, Prince Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole reignited civic organization and founded the Hawaiian Civic Clubs to invite the masses to stand up for our Lāhui.  One such organization was Hui Aloha ʻĀina who sailed island to island and went door to door to get signatures on the Kū’ē petition in opposition to the annexation of Hawaiʻi to the United States. Our history demonstrates that our people believed it was kūpono to be actively engaged.

There are lots of ways to be involved: from educating yourself as a voter and voting, to joining an organization that sparks your passion, to serving as alakaʻi lawelawe by teaching others, to creating new content and sharing your manaʻo to uplift our nation!  Our focus was to offer our haumāna opportunities to learn about and reflect upon their Native Hawaiian identity and consider how they might be civically engaged for the benefit of our Lāhui.

Nowemapa 2024

E Ola! in Action

E Ola! means to live and is a driving force in Kamehameha’s academic culture.  In E Ola! in Action, Midkiff displays the various projects and products created by kumu and haumāna showcasing ʻike kupuna (generational wisdom), aloha ʻāina (love of land and place), and kūpono (moral and ethical living).  Highlights include identity and ʻāina-based poetry, exploration of the ocean’s elevation at our treasured beaches, Lōkahi wheels of personal health and wellness, kapala-inspired artwork, and roots trans-disciplinary resources.  The gallery celebrates the many ways E Ola! is alive in our school.

ʻOkakopa 2024

May Day is Lei Day in Midkiff!  Haumāna and Kumu alike came to Midkiff to learn how to make lei in the hilo and wili style of  lei making, working with various materials from around campus.

Our gallery featured “Nā Lei o Hawaiʻi Nei”, including the various styles of lei making with hulu, pūpū, pua and lipine and the master lei makers of each material.

Haumāna and Kumu also entered their original lei in our Lei Day Contest in the organic and non-organic categories.  All of the lei were so beautiful.  E Hoʻomaikaʻi to the winners!

Mei 2024

Native Hawaiian Plant Month

Midkiff celebrated Mahina Lāʻau Maoli (Native Hawaiian Plant Month) by featuring Native Hawaiian plants used for lāʻau lapaʻau.  Haumāna from the Library Skill classes researched native plants and their medicinal uses.  With their new ʻike, they created an exhibit and hosted a trivia contest and drawing contest.  Winners received liko lehua seedlings provided by Hui Kou and Kumu Nate Nishimura.

ʻApelila 2024

In conjuction with Mahaina Lāʻau Maoli, Midkiff was fortunate to host the Native Voices, Native Peoples of Health and Illness exhibit from the National Institutes of Health.  This exhibit explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness, and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

E Hoʻomaʻamau i ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi!  Normalize Hawaiian Language!

Click on the MOH graphic above for resources on how to use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi every day.

This year, Midkiff focused on ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi all around us in all that we do.  Library skills and digital media haumāna created videos for Puka Mai Ka Lā that featured ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in various activities we do everyday, such as baseball, dorm life, and hula.  Several library skills haumāna also created fun cartoon strips ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi using the Pixton app.  Haumāna got to learn how to make kahili paʻalima ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiʻi Collection with Kumu Kuulei. ʻŌlelo was all around campus as well with ʻōlelo labels for commonly used items in the classroom.

Newscaster Kamaka Pili graciously shared his time with our haumāna to discuss how he teaches ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and moʻomeheu Hawaiʻi everyday through his job and show Aloha Authentic.  One haumāna who attended the session reacted, “When Kamaka stated that it was our responsibility as Native Hawaiians to educate others, that inspired me to strive to make an impact on our community.”

Pepeluali 2024

As in the ways of our kūpuna, Midkiff celebrated Lā Kūʻokoʻa with Mele Aloha ʻĀina.  From our Mele Aloha ʻĀina Album Cover contest to our E Ola Mau Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi! gallery exhibit to our concert featuring The Vitals 808, we honored mele aloha ʻāina, old and new.  Our haumāna also learned from and were inspired by the ʻoiwi leaders of our Lāhui, demonstrating their alakaʻi lawelawe either through cultural practice, research or leadership.

Nowemapa 2023

Lei was abundant on May Day in Midkiff.  Lei-making workshops were held in Midkiff Makai where haumāna learned to make lei with lāʻī in the hilo and hilo maile style.  The Kamehameha Schools Archive also featured various lei in an exhibit at the Gallery; displaying precious lei hulu and lei pūpū from its collection.

Click here for a brief history of Lei Day.

Mei 2023

This Pepeluali, join us in Midkiff for Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi special presentations by community cultural practitioners and fun ʻōlelo activities.

Pepeluali 2023

Click on the image above for more information about Lā Kūʻokoʻa.

Celebrating 180 years since the recognition of Hawaiʻi’s independence!  E komo mai to Midkiff.  Visit our gallery exhibit on the history of Lā Kūʻokoʻa.  Find your homeroom’s quilt patch in our Kapa Kuiki Aloha ʻĀina.  Join us as we hear how our community leaders live Aloha ʻĀina, Kuleana, Mālama, and ʻIke Kūpuna in their daily lives.

Novemapa 2022

Did You Know?

Click on the images for resources on these KS Archive artifacts.

To learn more about the history of Kamehameha Schools, visit the Kamehameha Schools Museum Archive website or email them at [email protected].

ʻAukake 2022