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.

ʻIo, King of the Birds, from Kepelino, 1859.
Here is another example from Kepelino’s series of bird descriptions, “He Vahi Huli-toa Manu Havaii,” from Hoiliili Havaii.

Thirty Years of Hawaiian Independence, 1873.
In celebration of Lā Kūʻokoʻa, we look back to the year 1873 and the festivities carried out on its 30th anniversary.

More on Hawaiian Birds from Kepelino, 1859.
Here is more from the Kepelino’s series of bird descriptions, “He Vahi Huli-toa Manu Havaii,” from Hoiliili Havaii.

Political Advertisements, 1912
We turned another page in the 1918 volume of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, which can be seen on the third floor of Hawaiian Hall, in the bicentennial of printing display.

Recording Traditions, Hei, 1916.
Newspapers were used to record traditions, like how to grow different plants, how to fish for different fishes, and how sicknesses were treated.

Hawaiian Language Documents, History, and the Judd Family, 1823–1903.
Gerrit Parmele and Laura Fish Judd arrived in Hawaiʻi with the third company of missionaries in 1828. They and their descendants played key roles in Hawaiian history.

Looking to the Future through Education, 1906—2022.
Some of us on the newspaper team had the honor of attending the ʻŌʻō Awards put on by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce this past Friday.

Another Issue Not Found—Yet—Online
The description provided in an article on the second page of Ka Hae Hawaii printed on December 31, 1856 talks of a larger format newspaper. What is found online however is just the normal, smaller issue.

ʻIo, King of the Birds, from Kepelino, 1859.
Here is another example from Kepelino’s series of bird descriptions, “He Vahi Huli-toa Manu Havaii,” from Hoiliili Havaii.

Thirty Years of Hawaiian Independence, 1873.
In celebration of Lā Kūʻokoʻa, we look back to the year 1873 and the festivities carried out on its 30th anniversary.

More on Hawaiian Birds from Kepelino, 1859.
Here is more from the Kepelino’s series of bird descriptions, “He Vahi Huli-toa Manu Havaii,” from Hoiliili Havaii.

Political Advertisements, 1912
We turned another page in the 1918 volume of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, which can be seen on the third floor of Hawaiian Hall, in the bicentennial of printing display.

Recording Traditions, Hei, 1916.
Newspapers were used to record traditions, like how to grow different plants, how to fish for different fishes, and how sicknesses were treated.

Hawaiian Language Documents, History, and the Judd Family, 1823–1903.
Gerrit Parmele and Laura Fish Judd arrived in Hawaiʻi with the third company of missionaries in 1828. They and their descendants played key roles in Hawaiian history.

Looking to the Future through Education, 1906—2022.
Some of us on the newspaper team had the honor of attending the ʻŌʻō Awards put on by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce this past Friday.

Another Issue Not Found—Yet—Online
The description provided in an article on the second page of Ka Hae Hawaii printed on December 31, 1856 talks of a larger format newspaper. What is found online however is just the normal, smaller issue.