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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.

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On March 21st, 1887, kings Kalākaua and Malietoa Laupepa concluded a treaty in which the latter “freely and voluntarily… enter[s] into a political confederation with… Kalakaua… and… give[s] this solemn pledge that [He] will conform to whatever measures may hereafter be adopted by His Majesty.”

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A 125-Year-Old Message Just As Important Today Than Ever

Dear Reader, 125 years ago today, the Women’s Hawaiian Relief Society prepared a big lūʻau at the Kapiʻolani Maternity Home for the benefit of those who were poverty stricken in the city of Honolulu. This article was a voice of encouragement calling out to those who were able, to help this cause.

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A Lesson in Hawaiian

Dear Reader, the Hawaiian language newspapers on occasion served as a place for vocabulary lists, but in essence told of where its readership was in their Hawaiian and English comprehension.

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Hawaiian-Samoan Treaty of Confederation

On March 21st, 1887, kings Kalākaua and Malietoa Laupepa concluded a treaty in which the latter “freely and voluntarily… enter[s] into a political confederation with… Kalakaua… and… give[s] this solemn pledge that [He] will conform to whatever measures may hereafter be adopted by His Majesty.”

Read More »

A 125-Year-Old Message Just As Important Today Than Ever

Dear Reader, 125 years ago today, the Women’s Hawaiian Relief Society prepared a big lūʻau at the Kapiʻolani Maternity Home for the benefit of those who were poverty stricken in the city of Honolulu. This article was a voice of encouragement calling out to those who were able, to help this cause.

Read More »

A Lesson in Hawaiian

Dear Reader, the Hawaiian language newspapers on occasion served as a place for vocabulary lists, but in essence told of where its readership was in their Hawaiian and English comprehension.

Read More »

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