La‘i‘opua 2020’s “Ola ka Lahui” program in which island historians, kupuna, story tellers and artisans share their mana‘o with residents and visitors interested in a deeper connection to Hawaii’s history, arts, and traditions recently got a boost thanks to a Hawaii Tourism Authority grant.
These program will feature events that are important opportunities to improve the sense of community and kuleana among visitors and residents and will allow tourism and communities to enrich each other.
The awards, provided by Hawaii Tourism Authority through the Kukulu Ola Program and administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation, were provided to community groups, practitioners, and craftsmen from around the state committed to strengthening a broader understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian culture through place-based activities and engagement on each island.
La‘i‘opua 2020’s “Ola ka Lahui” programming will kick off March 26 at its Kealakehe location, adjacent to the Villages of La‘i‘opua. This date is especially significant as March 26 celebrates Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole, a leading author of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act which established the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL). Both La‘i‘opua 2020 and the Villages of La‘i‘opua are situated on lands administered by DHHL.
The program’s name, “Ola ka Lahui,” translates to “The Nation Lives On,” reflecting the intent to share the ike (knowledge) and mo‘olelo of Hawaii for generations to come.
Three other “talk story” afternoon events will be held throughout 2022, each featuring an island artisan, storyteller, historian or kupuna. All events are open to the public and, in addition to the talk story, will offer the opportunity for attendees to participate in an art or craft, learning from and interacting with island residents who are sharing their traditions and talents.
Each session will be filmed and aired on Na Leo TV; the events will also be available for viewing on YouTube and through La‘i‘opua 2020’s website, Laiopua.org.
“We are excited to be an awardee of Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Kukulu Ola Program and we look forward to sharing the manao and traditions of our island families with the broader community and our visitors,” said Kawehi Inaba, Executive Director of La‘i‘opua 2020. “It is gratifying to know we are perpetuating our culture through the filming, airing and storing of the talk story sessions, and that generations to come will watch and learn from today’s island treasures.”