He Aupuni Palapala

Cover Image: Detail of front page of the January 1, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Photo by David Franzen, ©2009 Bishop Museum Archives. QM 204791.

He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers is an ambitious, multi-year collaboration between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu, supported by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and with contributions from Kamehameha Schools. Its goals are to catalog the existing nūpepa (Hawaiian language newspapers) in public repositories in Hawaiʻi, recording the condition of each page. It will also redigitize and partner with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Papakilo Database to make word searchable the clearest pages available and to upload them online for free public access.

The Hawaiian language newspapers total more than 100,000 pages of text, encompassing practically all aspects of Hawaiian life, culture, literature, environment, and history—told in the words of Hawaiians of the day.

Aole o’u makemake e paio aku, he makemake ko’u e pololei ka moolelo o ko’u one hanau, aole na ka malihini e ao mai ia’u i ka mooolelo o ko’u lahui, na’u e ao aku i ka moolelo i ka malihini.

[I have no desire to argue, I want the history of my homeland to be accurate; it is not for the foreigner to teach me the history of my people, it is for me to teach it to the foreigner.]

—S. M. Kamakau, “Hooheihei ka Nukahalale…” Ke Au Okoa, 10/16/1865, p. 1

Aole o’u makemake e paio aku, he makemake ko’u e pololei ka moolelo o ko’u one hanau, aole na ka malihini e ao mai ia’u i ka mooolelo o ko’u lahui, na’u e ao aku i ka moolelo i ka malihini.

[I have no desire to argue, I want the history of my homeland to be accurate; it is not for the foreigner to teach me the history of my people, it is for me to teach it to the foreigner.]

—S. M. Kamakau, “Hooheihei ka Nukahalale…” Ke Au Okoa, 10/16/1865, p. 1

Detail of front page of the January 1, 1862 issue of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. Photo by David Franzen, ©2009 Bishop Museum Archives. QM 204791.

Awaiaulu – Ke Kumu Aupuni.

Today we present to you S. M. Kamakau’s account of Kaʻiana [Kaʻianaaʻahuʻula] meeting Kamehameha Paiʻea, as found in the nūpepa, and the English translation by Awaiaulu.

Read More »

Mokuʻāweoweo Lava Flow 170 Years Ago Today.

Pele’s activities these past months have been awesome. 170 years ago, an eruption began lasting over a year. It had Hilo people worried. The story is taken from a larger article first describing an eruption dating back to about 1789 when Keōua and his warriors were making their way from Hilo to Kaʻū and a great number perished due to the scorching sands and poisonous gas.

Read More »

W. C. Lunalilo’s speech on Ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea 160 years ago.

In 1865, there were all types of celebrating here for Ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea—demonstrations of mokomoko (boxing), ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing), uma (hand wrestling), and so forth. There was even western dancing at night and fireworks. But perhaps the main event was this speech by Prince William Charles Lunalilo—which he delivered in English.

Read More »

The Kahului train on Maui.

With the passing of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875, and the subsequent growth of the sugar plantations, an efficient means of transportation was lacking.

Read More »

Rev. Ephraim Weston Clark (1799–1878)

Rev. E. W. Kalaka, translator of many books into Hawaiian including A Dictionary of Biblical Words, dies from what appears as heat stroke. It happened not here in Hawaiʻi—but far away in Illinois.

Read More »

Hawaiian National Museum

Last week we featured articles dealing with the beginning of Aliʻiōlani Hale. This week we talk about an institution that was located inside of that building, the Hawaiian National Museum.

Read More »

Awaiaulu – Ke Kumu Aupuni.

Today we present to you S. M. Kamakau’s account of Kaʻiana [Kaʻianaaʻahuʻula] meeting Kamehameha Paiʻea, as found in the nūpepa, and the English translation by Awaiaulu.

Read More »

Mokuʻāweoweo Lava Flow 170 Years Ago Today.

Pele’s activities these past months have been awesome. 170 years ago, an eruption began lasting over a year. It had Hilo people worried. The story is taken from a larger article first describing an eruption dating back to about 1789 when Keōua and his warriors were making their way from Hilo to Kaʻū and a great number perished due to the scorching sands and poisonous gas.

Read More »

W. C. Lunalilo’s speech on Ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea 160 years ago.

In 1865, there were all types of celebrating here for Ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea—demonstrations of mokomoko (boxing), ʻōʻō ihe (spear throwing), uma (hand wrestling), and so forth. There was even western dancing at night and fireworks. But perhaps the main event was this speech by Prince William Charles Lunalilo—which he delivered in English.

Read More »

The Kahului train on Maui.

With the passing of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875, and the subsequent growth of the sugar plantations, an efficient means of transportation was lacking.

Read More »

Rev. Ephraim Weston Clark (1799–1878)

Rev. E. W. Kalaka, translator of many books into Hawaiian including A Dictionary of Biblical Words, dies from what appears as heat stroke. It happened not here in Hawaiʻi—but far away in Illinois.

Read More »

Hawaiian National Museum

Last week we featured articles dealing with the beginning of Aliʻiōlani Hale. This week we talk about an institution that was located inside of that building, the Hawaiian National Museum.

Read More »

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