Honolulu’s vibrant community is actively engaged in preserving and celebrating Hawaiian culture through various initiatives that honor traditions and foster cultural education.
Huli Ka Lima: Nurturing the Land and Culture
Huli Ka Lima focuses on mālama ʻāina (caring for the land) in Koʻolauloa by providing community spaces that perpetuate Hawaiian culture through ʻāina-based education and practices. Their programs aim to restore native ecosystems and promote culturally-based Native Hawaiian practices, offering hands-on opportunities for residents and visitors to engage in sustainable practices.
Wahi Pana: Connecting Art and History
The Wahi Pana project, initiated by the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, features art installations across O‘ahu that connect sites with their indigenous, Native Hawaiian mo‘olelo (stories). This project brings together local artists and storytellers to create multi-media installations that activate sites by linking them to stories rooted in Native Hawaiian history.
Mokauea Island Restoration Project: Revitalizing a Historic Fishing Village
In Ke’ehi Lagoon, Mokauea Island is the site of O’ahu’s last Hawaiian fishing village. The Mokauea Island Restoration Project, led by Kai Makana, aims to environmentally and culturally restore the island, recreating a living example of a traditional Hawaiian subsistence fishing village. This effort preserves maritime skills and knowledge that have been part of Hawaiian culture for centuries.
Puʻuhonua Society: Supporting Native Hawaiian Artists
The Puʻuhonua Society is a Native Hawaiian women-led nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi-based artists and cultural practitioners to express themselves and engage with audiences. Their initiatives support artists who serve as translators and amplifiers of social justice issues within the community, operating at the intersections of contemporary art, traditional cultural practices, environmental stewardship, and transformational education.
Puʻuhonua Mākeke: Elevating Local Economy and Culture
Puʻuhonua Mākeke is a market that collaborates with locally owned businesses across Hawai’i, providing a venue for Native Hawaiians to sell their products directly to consumers. This initiative supports the economic well-being of the community, fosters entrepreneurship, and helps sustain local families and small businesses, ensuring that the wealth generated stays within the community.
These initiatives exemplify the community’s dedication to preserving and celebrating Hawaiian culture, ensuring that traditions are honored and passed down to future generations.