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.

The Important Work Continues
He Aupuni Palapala has now digitized over half of the nūpepa ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi stored at Bishop Museum Library & Archives.

The new Central Union Church was dedicated 102 years ago.
The construction of the new Central Union Church [Kaukeano] was completed in April 1924. The ceremonies associated with this dedication ran from the 18th of May to the 25th.

Omens Associated with Hala Lei.
The series “Oihana Kilokilo Hawaii” discusses omens, both good and bad, that are associated with wearing and seeing the hala lei.

A day filled with joy for all.
Eighty-five years ago, Lei Day sounds like it was very festive for the people of Honokaʻa, as described by Hoku o Hawaii correspondent Hattie Linohaupuaokekoolau Saffery Reinhardt.

Errors in Newspapers Corrected Quickly.
Whether a mistake in a newspaper is caught during production or after distribution, corrections could be made and publicized relatively quickly.

Library Week (April 19–25)
In celebration of Library Week, a story on Hoʻokena getting a reading room, and T. K. Robert Amalu’s clever words used to encourage donations.

Law Restricting Hula Performances, 1859.
Newspapers were used to inform the people of what the legislature discussed while in session, and which bills become law. One of the bills considered in 1859 was one requiring a license issued by the Minister of the Interior in order to put on a hula show.

The “gold mines” of Kahului, 1899.
J. P. Iwa reports on a new source of salt on Maui.

The Important Work Continues
He Aupuni Palapala has now digitized over half of the nūpepa ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi stored at Bishop Museum Library & Archives.

The new Central Union Church was dedicated 102 years ago.
The construction of the new Central Union Church [Kaukeano] was completed in April 1924. The ceremonies associated with this dedication ran from the 18th of May to the 25th.

Omens Associated with Hala Lei.
The series “Oihana Kilokilo Hawaii” discusses omens, both good and bad, that are associated with wearing and seeing the hala lei.

A day filled with joy for all.
Eighty-five years ago, Lei Day sounds like it was very festive for the people of Honokaʻa, as described by Hoku o Hawaii correspondent Hattie Linohaupuaokekoolau Saffery Reinhardt.

Errors in Newspapers Corrected Quickly.
Whether a mistake in a newspaper is caught during production or after distribution, corrections could be made and publicized relatively quickly.

Library Week (April 19–25)
In celebration of Library Week, a story on Hoʻokena getting a reading room, and T. K. Robert Amalu’s clever words used to encourage donations.

Law Restricting Hula Performances, 1859.
Newspapers were used to inform the people of what the legislature discussed while in session, and which bills become law. One of the bills considered in 1859 was one requiring a license issued by the Minister of the Interior in order to put on a hula show.

The “gold mines” of Kahului, 1899.
J. P. Iwa reports on a new source of salt on Maui.